Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-10-15

The article which made the trouble be
tween Mr. Phelps and Mr. Rice, was one
of series of open Letters to Prom
inent Persons" and was printed over the
signature of arthur Richmond, in tine
North american RcricC for last Janu-
airy. Its authorship has been commonly
attributed to William Henry Hurlbert
who, it is understood, wanted the Eug-
lish mission and expected to get it. 1t
was a caustic criticism of Mr. Bayard' S
official conduct in the Kelley matter, the
negotiations with the Dominion premier
to nullity the action of Congress in regard
to the fisheries treaty, and other public
matters, accompanied with a number of
personal allusiors-as to a current report
that Mr.. Bayard claimed descent from the
| Chevalier Bayard who was never mar
| ried-showing obvious and bitter personal
malice on the part of the magazine writer
While it embodied some fair points
against Mr.. Bayard, it was, as Il whole, 4
very abusive article to find place in q
non partisan review, like the NprH
ImCricUH. 1t contained the following
not uncOmpiimentary allusiOn to Mr.
| Phelps
! do not wonder that your colleagues wcr,
| struck dumb with dWaZcmCnt when You
I quietly announced to them in IL room a. TIA,
| White House on the morning of sunday. tn,
/ Eth of March, that the question of the Eng
| llsh mission had been settled the day bc
| fore between Yourself and the pr ilcat 10y
the selection Tor that conspicuous post of an
able lawyer from the republican state of Yer
Hont, VIII $50 name had never TIL that mo
mrut teen SO much as mentioned in COnucC
! tion with the appointment.
1t is suggested that Mr. phelps's cours,
in declining to introduce the editor of tn,
RCrioW was perhaps influenced to som,
extent 10y the second secretary of tn,
American legation in London, Mr.. Herr,
White of Maryland, who is connected
with Mr.. Bayard by marriage, and whC
naturally resented the attack on hi
patron and family connection. Is is hardl,
necessary, however, to seek other explain
ation.than Mr. Phelps own friendship 70
and admiration of Mr.. Bayard, and hi
habit of handling without gloves thos
whom he dislikes and despises
diplomatic caution" of which we hea
so much, commonly forbids the giving o
reasons for anything, until it becomes ali
sOlutely necessary so to do. And what
ever may be thought of the course of Min
lister Phelps in refusing to present Nj
Rice to the Prince of Wales, concerning
q which opinions differ widely, few ca
: doubt that it was impolitic on the part Q
, Mr., Phelps to give his reason in writing
Had he confined himself to the statemeu
that he was under no personal or oncia
= obligation to present anybody to tn
q Prince of Wales; that his reasons wer
! satisfactory to himself, and that he shout
not allow himself to be called to accour
for emitting an act of courtesy left entir,
ly to his own discretion, Mr.. Rice woul
= have had no correspondence he cared t
publish and Mr., Phelps would have save
e, himself from good deal of sharp crit
. cism, for which, it is true he probabl
cares little. In the correspondence, +,
y garded as an epistolary tilt, Nh phell
r. has decidedly the advantage of Mr.. Rc
A., as regards keeness, point and dignity
: expression.
/ Has anybody heard of Arthur q. Sed,
e | wick lately p Wash inUfuD crime