Smyrna times., 1886-12-15

SECRETARY BAYARD, of all the members
of the Cabinet, since the first month that he
took the folio of State has been the subject
of continued and adverse criticism The
goad has been continually in the hands of
editors of certain leading daily papers and
they seemed, as time advanced, to get Sc
verer in their prods. Nor could Mr.. Bay
ard, had he been so disposed, have cried
out for "quarters," for he could well re-
member that when the situation was re-
versed what rapier slashes he personally
dealt upon President Grant and other
prominent officials of that party. Shutting
our eyes to the politics of our State and Mr..
Bayard's relation thereto, and viewing him
in his greatly more elevated position at the
head Of the Government, standing second
only to the President in maintaining the
honor and dignity of the nation, we can but
as Delawareans feel jealous for his standing
before the world, in both State and Ma
tional sense. Passing over the appoint
ments to Office, many of which have been
so severely criticised, the official cores
pOndence which of necessity had to be
withheld US the secrets of the Government
until the proper time for its promulgatiOn,
which was the re-assembling of Congress,
puts Mr.. Bayard in new attitude, elevated
above the shafts of criticism. This is es-
pecially so in regard to the dispute with
Canada over the fisheries outrages. The
diplomatic correspondence, as published
last week, shows that as one vessel after
another was seized by the Canadian author
tiles the State Department reviewed the
law bearing upon the case and protested
against the unwarranted treatment of
American fishermen; and the British Gov
ernment, with unvarying courtesy, ac-
knowledged the receipt Of the remon-
strances, but provokingly deferred until a
more convenient season to deliberate con-
sideration of the matter at ISSUE The New
York Tribune, which as a political adver-
sary used its opportunity to detract from
Mr.. Bayard as a statesman, thus does him
credit in an editorial reviewing the pub
lished correspondence between the two
Governments:
Secretary Bayard's presentation Of the
law and the facts is logical and cOgent; the
literary style Of his correspondence is ad-
mirable for lucidity and directness; but
his tone Is that Of statesman who, while
trying hard to be resOlute and firm, feels
that he has been forced into a hopeless CON
test Even so inexcuSable an affrOnt as the
enforced lowering of the American flag by
Captain Quigley, Of the cruiser Terror,
Is discussed with studied moderation and
seif-restraint. The recurrence of Outrages
does not heat his blood or invigOrate his re-
mOnstrances. 1t only increases his melan-
choly apprehenslOns Of international strife
He has the best ofthe argument throughout
naturally, as it Is controversy with only
one side-but he writes like stasesman
who Is unconscious of the strength of his
position and secretly favors a compromise
Lord ROsebery and Sir Lionel West could
not answer his arguments; they could only
hide behind the CanadiaH officials and
evade the real questions at issue; but they
knew their man. They lost no opportunity
of dangling before his eyes the scheme for
an international tribunal, which he had fa-
vOred but which the Senate had rejected.
The President was armed BY Con-
gress with an adequate weapon for defend
ing American fisheries. 1t was a summary
power OfretaliatiOn on Canadian vessels in
American ports for the insults and indig-
mites to which American fishermen have
been subjected in Canadian ports. The
Secretary of State and the American Min
lister in London are good lawyers; they
make out very strong case they write
well. But action rather than diplomatic
writing IS needed. Why has the Admins
tratlon neglected to use the powers with
which it was armed by Congress?