Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-27
a RETIRING

- hNNA - ~ ~
1t was a very distinguished company
that sat down at the farewell banquet
given to Minister Phelps by the lord
mayor Of London. The occasion was
marked, also, by exuberant evidences
OF good feeling toward the American
ambassador. Tho lord mayor declared
that the high esteem in which Mr..
Phelps was held by the British nation
had helped to a closer friendship be-
tween the two nations, and when the
minister arose to respond to the toast
in his honor he was given an ovation.
He cXtollcd England's greatness, as
sured the distinguished company that
he felt battered ut the array
around him, and said America
owed its greatest debt to England for
literature, art and science, an acknow-
lcdgment which stirred his listeners TO
the.utmost enthusiasm. To crown the
expression of English admiration for
Minister Phelps he will tomorrow
dine with the queen ana remain over
night at the palace.
No American minister has received
llplt 'lSulhR NlSlltN NOilSsi'l lulpil llOIll
any foreign people, and yet it is not Il
matter of which the American people
can feel proud. The truth is that all this
show OF friendlincss and courtesy, If it
has any sincerity, is personal rather than
national. One London paper that has
the courage of It's convictions declared
that the recent action of the United
@ 4. , 4-, rA.,,r ,,,,4 ,,,FAa,,ar 80 .l-, die
missal of the British minister, rendered
the entertainment to the United States
minister inopportune, if not indecorous.
1t cannot be doubted that this expresses
the general sentiment of the ruling
class in England. The tribute paid to
Mr.. Phelps vas personal, not national.
He had most fully commended himself
to the favor and friendship Of the 10
bility and a]ristOcracy Of England, by
showing on all occasions how much
more he is in sympathy with English
policy and principles than with those
of his country, and they were
anxious TO attest their appre-
citation of this condescension. For
three months Great Britain has not
been represented by an ambassador in
this country, and the indications are
that the British government does not
intend to send one here during the term
of the present administration. Therc
could be no nor distinct expression of
unfriendliness thar this, ana it would
seem to be sufficient to have justified
Mr.. Phelps, not only as the representa-
tive of this government, but as the APP
pOintec of an administration which it is
the obvious desire of the English
government to rebuke, to have de-
clined any public entertainment. But
the American minister to England has
no such patriotic impulse. If he has
ever been able to understand that Lord
Salisbury has deliberately intended to
afrront this country, his superior re-
spect for English opinion would not
permit him to show the least resent
ment. Never before has the United
States been represented at a foreign
court by q man who so completely lent
himself to the influences surrounding
him or did so little to elevate his couu-
try in the public opinion Of the nation
to which he was accredited. From the
outset Minister Phelps has shown a
concession to English opinion. and a
sycophancy to the ruling class Of Eng
land, which have justly caused him to be
condemned by all self-respecting Ameri-
cans at home and abroad, and one such
will ~feelany qualification at tho honors
marking the close of his diplomatic
career. However pleasing his own
memories and the recollections OF those
with whom he Il associated abroad,
his record is not regarded by his coun-
try men as greatly to the honor of him
self or his country.