The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-23
B.fNCROFT STRIKES BACK.
His Reply to Secretary Biaine's Letter to
the Pre- siLen-,


WASHINGTON. May 22.-Fredeiic Bancroft
| latc Librarian OF the state Department, who's
| nomination as Consul to Brunswick. Germany
Secretary Blaine. by letter. requested the Pres
ihent to withdraw tonight furnished tn,
press with tho following reply:
wAsHrSG1os Nay -. 1852.
The Hon. Juues G. RrinS Secretary II Snts
Sir The statements mi AIDE by you in your lette. 4
the President. recommending the withdrawal OF M,
nomination MS United States Consul to Brunswick
Germany and furnished by TO the press OF thu 2Ol
inst, demand prompt answer.
The remark able tone OF your letter 10 less sur
rr!sng than the fact that You now assign entirei,
different ground for nv removal from that you CAV.
when trst Intercepted in my behalf on the subec
on that occasion yon assigned as the only
my removal that had been absent without permission
delivering lectures, which IN ALL occupied my time 70,
tu: few days annually. Ars not the new charges
contained in your letter of Friday made necessary by
the fact hat YOU were confronted with your writ
ten permission to Go the very thing omplained off,
1t isa well Known fact in the department that it was
not until several days after you had resolved upon my
removal and had commissioned my that you
began an inquiry for the purpose OF finding jusitc
ton TO- your action wh'cn might perhaps also
t,es aEm"nsn The charles now made are plainly
on S"ur part shall not Sum them Necessity
Before entering INTO direct reply to your state
that IN dserminins upon your aetio yon did not
smlt the On who alone has an intimate and personal
been Prosecuted puder his immedia,e direction. and
duties You only 10 him absolute ignoraucs Of
when he MAS absent from the CITY.
Justify your unprecedented action in removing mo
from IL. ro.t OF librarian by the erroneous statement
predecessor. Mr.. Dwight, was removed by secretary
hazard az Mr. Dwight resigned TO accept more lucra
a man whose life has been devoted 10 library and
and newspaper notor,ey which ponicians some time:
Gsys5 qassy o psn, smp9 vi, T.nn the as
between your power and mine to make any threats
charges You % me With
ssccsp. a ron:nl;hip: I mercy insisted thai must
regret that you shout have drawn others into ,hi.
stance. sought his own transfer {" another bureau
work % OF ~ II:
library and for conduct on certain occasion OF
%"ab err"e. were as to The "n' MS
rerar To- In % % %
,aeror BY The as.mx SsSrsy These the .ce
what you are Pleased to style practical non'inter.
YOU state tina, during the las, summer "annrreled"
with the late Third hssstsnr secretary OF State. In.
department. ranno, cot 10 tax. part in anr con.
,5Sys,sy niss,"S n% n "i,sn' %S proS
CARRIED accounts. III III. cases mentioned above
acting Secretary OF STATE. who found %
crnsure my conduct. the records In the will
show,
From Your lnisapprehersiom OF the foregoing facts
You fall into the complaint that am lacking IN tact
That question whi"h cannot discuss It is posi-
pie that many Will wonder how you expected tactless
Librarian I" prove thrtful tOnsul.
Librarians OF experien'e Viii smile at your complaint
mat III. who has the custody and selection
nj the best libraries in the word IN international
And diplomacy, and who i; also custodian Of the vast
s'9rcai records ~ the department. Is not qualified
Tor The place unless lie Is also prrcca, printer You
VIII bear me out in tie statement ihat the department
has never employed professional proof readers in this
work But the proof reading has been performed by
IN! SELF and assistants, without any complaint being
founl against our WORK.
some may share my nmnhemcnt that It should have
taken y0u tbIce discover my inetciency hut
perhaps you will nnd an explanation for this in tho
fact hat IT Is only recently that II has become
snry for you 10 make permanent place for pro-
tiyc in the department over which YOU preside. and
where according to your own declarations, inc0mpe.
tency may flourish and want oi ABILITY and merit are
not eau for immediate removal
Considering these inIspWtabl- facts. can II he ex.
rertei that civil seryre r-rn.rs and fair minded peo
p" ~ general viii really br!"N" that the Department
81 state never changes its subordinate officers except
for good AID sufficient ca!sc'f Respectfully YOURS
fMEpkgir BANCROFT