Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-11
An Incident I'm MT. Adams Life A. o
Correspondents.

During Mr.. Adams career as a correspondent
he succeeded, as has been stated, in securing
the implicit confidence of many officials OF
prominence. Secretary Fish trusted him thor.
ougnly, and would frequently send for him and
talk over important matters of state, carefully
separating that which might be published from
that which it would be improper TO divulge.
never Tor a moment fearing that his listener
would abuse his confidence Tor the sake oil maxi
ing his dispatches more readable. AT times he
would entrust Mr.. Adams with the knowledge
of some proposed policy OF the admin
istration, and allow hlm to feel the
before il should be finally decided upon. une
OF the most important episodes in his liie q
correspondent occurred in relation TO The IA
nous CatacaZy affair Mr.. Adams straight
forward letter to the secretary OF state disclos-
ing the source of a dispatch TO the New York
World not only resulted in the recall OF the
Russian minister but gave evidence OF his en-
treme conscienti business as journalist. Ii viii
be remembered that the Russian Ia MISTER, Mr.
Catacazy, in 1870 and 1871, had become very
unacceptable TO the administration by officious
Interference in matters thai did not concern
him, by embarrassing legislation, misdirectng
pubic opinion, using abusive language towards
President Grant and cleyerly attempting To
carry out his political schemes through inpo-
SitlOn upon the press. An article appeared in
the New York World OF Nov. -, 1870, aileg-
ing violation of the Monroe doctrine by Presi.
dent Grant, in sympathizing with England 10
the treatment of the eastern question, by con-
senting TO postpone the settlement OF the Ala.
bama claims after he had made a statement
United States in the settlement OF the eastern
question, as well AS indignation the part of
Russia with an implied threat Of future conse-
queuces. The article caused quite "A stir i'm dip
lomatic and political circles. Although a tls-
sue OF falsehoods, il bore evidence OF Inspiration
from some one familiar with the Instructions
OF the Russian government 10 its minister. Sus-
picion was at once attached TO Minister Cata-
cazy, although he denied emphatically TO the
Secretary OF state that he had any connection
with the matter.
In answer to a communication from Secretary
Eish as tn = dam mt lattn
which was embodied in the Presidents mes
sage TO the Senate, and which afforded to the
administra alton absolute proof ol Minister Cats-
Gays unfitness TO be recognized as a represen.
tative OF the Russian government atthe national
,, capsa; y; TN iI % le.ter aatea al she Masningiea
have the honor TO acknowledge the receipt OF
your letter OF the Both inst, inviting a dis
closure OF the authorship OF notable letter,
under the caption "Russla and America" from
this bureau, published in The World Nov. %,
1870, and stating that Mr. Catac ezy, the Rus
10 you OF that letter as being 10 him injurious
personally and officially; that he has charac-
surd, and that he has informed you officially
and privately, orally and in writing, that he
had no association with its origin. L tninK my
SELF, and the journal which 1 represent, In
honor bound TO protect IRON disclosure
the source OF any iacts or the bond
fde imparter Of any Information private
ly intrusted TO me or il Tor publication.
Your request constrains me to consider whether
the same honorable obligation (which you
would be the last TO wish me to ioiate) should
seal journalists lips when fciions have been
given him a. facts; when a base coinage OF ialse-
hoods has been passed upon him for his utter
ance and circulated as truth; when lac has been
dealt with In bad faith; when the privity o(
his office has been abused with intent 10 make
him and his jour nal the tool os an unpatrlotic
intrigue. have judged, sir, that in such case,
service as a counterieiter's accomplice may be
declined by the correspondent OF an American
journal and Its columns Withheld nom use In
hostility TO the government and people oi the
United states, and therefore that q just senso
him not 20 reserve the truth, but 10 ais
close it," Mr. Adams then recapitulated> the
specific averments in the letter 10 the World
and then continued: "It should be obvious that
and no journal OF high repute would PUBLISH
these two dozen averments upon any authen.
tlcaton inferior TO that OF member Of the
Russian cabinet, or that Of the Russian envoy
70 the United states, for no other parsonage In
this country, not even the secretary Of stale,
would be aware Of all the occurrences tney
note or guarantee their truth. such guarsn-
tee received Qor in nfteen years professional
experience at this capital had never learned
10 distrust the word Of the minister of any
foreign power speaking OF matters within his
own omciai or personal cognixancel and an &C.
count OF the origin Of this letter given below
was therefore signed by the writer, Witnessed
by me, and sent 10 the editor OF the World Tor
his private Information. The letter In ques-
uon was written by gentleman OF this Once
sent by me 10 obtain from Mr.. Catacaxy news
OF the condition Of the eastern ques-
ton. IL was written from notes made at an
interview OF Mr. Catacaxy's own timing ~ his
own owl, nov nouss; was written under the stlpuis.
manuscript II was derived In whole and
In part from no other source whatever. IL was
left BY the writer for Mr.. CatacAxy's stipulated
times cAllsd for, but witnheid upon Ar. Cata-
Gays statement that he had not yet had tlxno