Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-08-21
while the facts which Sedgwick may

while the facCS winch OeugWlck may /
collect will not be. II there we're
any need for ascertaining facts out
side of these, Sedgwick should have
been sent to find them before Bay
ard issued his peremptory demand
for Cuttings release. 1t is deplor-
ably weak to send him now after
that peremptory demand has been
refused.
1t really looks as though Mr.. Bay
ard felt that he ought to do some
thing impressive, and thinking that
the Canadian fishery question was
somewhat dangerous, he would pitch
in and bully Mexico. He began by
big buster, and has been tapering
off ever since. Mexico, instead of
erouching down, showed fight, aud
then this great republic came down.
The eagle that began to soar and
scream now roosts exceeding low,
for the American citizen whose lib
Grafton was haughtily demanded
was kept in prison. The principle
upon which he was held in Mexico
to answer an offence committed on
our soil has not been abandoned.
He has been tried and convicted
and sentenced to Imprisonment at
hard labor--and now Mr.. Bayard
sends Sedgwick down to ascertain
and report the facts. The Mexicans
think that we strutted into a quar-
rel and then sneaked out of fight.
i The weakness that Mr.. Bayard
has shown in this matter endangers
the peace between Mexico and the
United States far more than would
a resolute insistance upon Cuttings
release for the Mexicans now think
that we are afraid of them, and their
insolence will increase, while We on
our side, conscious of humiliation in
this affair, will be more touchy than
ever and eager for a fight.
1t is tissue Of blunders. The de-
partment should not have taken up
Cuttings case too hastily. Itshould
have made sure of the facts first.
Then when it made the demand for
the release, it should have sent a
few regiments to Eel Paso and ship
or so to Vera Cruz. 1t should not
have clustered with the local author
tiles of Chihuahua, and at the same
time accepted the oral assurances
of Minister Romero that Cutting
would be released. Secretary Bay.
ard has made complete botch of it.
Even a Democratic House of Repre-
sentatives ignored the resolutions of
approval which he wrote and tried
to have passed.
Secretary Bayard's consciousness
of ridiculous failure in the Cutting
case enrages him to the point that
he talks nonsense. His threat of ar
resting Minister Romero and pro.
ceeding against him criminally on
the charge of trying to create sen
timent in this country opposed 10
his demand upon Mexico" is silly to
degree hardly to have been ex-
pected from q man of his experience
in public affairs. If Romero has
hocdvinked and outwitted Bayard,
Is is Just exactly what the Mexican
goverament expects him to do. The
word diplomacy" has for centuries
Ebeen regarded as the art of lying,
and for Secretary Bayard to go to
Romero Tor facts, or to accept the
verbal assurances Of Romero that
Uniting would be released, only
shows how unfortunate 1t is to have
iso guileiess and condding person
u charge q onr foreign relations.
but e tl!e thrsat Of sproceedIng
agaiass Romero 1criminally" is
re threat Of proceeding
Res7 " certain uanghty Republicans,
3ana incIudf0e ex.Winisfer John w.