New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-30
LIGHT ON A LITERARY RING.
SOME DISCLOSURES" WHICH DISCLOSE
NOTHING.
THE WASHINGTON POST" MAKES AN UNJUST
ATTACK UPON WILLIAM HENRY sMlln AN
CONNECTION WITH HIS EFFORTS 10
OBTAIN COPIES OF TIE MADISON
pApEpS
fBY TELEGRAPH TO The IRIBuSE.]


Washington Dec. 29.-The recent disclosures !"
9TH. Washington POST regarding the existence oil
literary ring with headquarters IN Boston, new"
York and Washington" disclosures by Tie way
which didn't dsclose-are now said' upon inc s"u''
authority 10 have been Inspired BY Ni"iam i'i''
smith the well known journalist. author ana pouoi""
This at any rate. Is the conclusion "h'cL any o"'
reading an article in this mornings Io't upon 'D,'
snbiect must necessarily reach OF course the aricie
does william Henry Smith gross injustice. for no one
hnouinc him would for a single moment believe MN
cspabe OF employing this method OF "squarhe ao'
commits, with man who has ceased t. be an e"'p'ose
OF the State Department for nearly ihree years ~
likewise does injustice TO Mr.. Dwight, the onclH 'o
erred TO as having while holding the post oil Lora"n
In the state Department, used Ills place CA
plot for his own interest and advantage ana that Of
lila lends the various manuscripts ana archlves placeu
In his charge
Mr. Dwight who Is at present the librarian OF the
Boston Public Library incapable OF so dls"ohcS''
not 20 say childish action William Henry Sni''
lndscreet friends assert that. ever since "'rneiu
Administration he has tried. and tried III Win, 10
gain access TO the socallcd Madison papers. Lucy
maintain that their efforts lied to- the discovery
that Mr.. DWIGHT, The lbrarIN, lived In the same
house with Mr. Adams. OF Boston, ana was one VI
the latter,s closest and most intimate friends. Ihey
also Earned that Mr. Adams ana henry Capo'
Lodge together with some Others, oohsu'u'eu VI"
ring which obtained exclusive access 10 C1ese dVeu
ments" 1t required, OF course, no dlscoVtrer 10 %
certain tie fact that Mr. Dwight AVed WIN ''''
Adams nor that they were friends. 1t was Known
10 everybody In Washington. But 1t did require so'
imagination TO connect that fact with the existence
~ "uterary ring whose sole object was appaiei'''
70 antaponlze william Henry smith in his ehue"N''
70 secure copies OF the Madison papers -,
An altogether different light Is thrown upon ms
controversy Ly william L. Curtis On c! OF '"' 'u'e'
of American Republics. He SAID To-Day
~Nr Smith asked me during the Bayard Admimsuo-
,,o, 90 r,atc ARRANGEMENTS FOR him to obtain copy
- cer,,in horizons OF tho Madison papers MT h'S
ord gave instructions 10 Mr. Dwight to flrnlah INC
every facility I'm this work. Mr.. p"lGh' Fv'eN'"
me kindly and offered desk ana stationery ~ NV
Library and | selected a man u do inc "o'"'
wrote 10 Mr. smith regarding what he ia" "oHe' 'u
he appeared very wei satisfied lHch came Wv
Question as TO what letters should be takch' 'f'
smith asked TO have all the Mad son lccrs when lAd
not been previously published. could not maze
the IL cton, tie appointed conld mol ana 'i''
Dwight refused lie said that he would ho' ul''
take 20 assume the ponsl0lhty lr ""EpVu!' O"'
that If Mr. smith would indicate what papers IL
wanted tic c.erI would make copies. bnt he was not
going 10 select them TO- Mr. Smith or anyb'dy else
l thought Mr.. Dwight was right and Mr.. smith
,hought 50 too for he said that he would come over
here look over the papers and make tho e9.ccuohs
Tie matter was then dropped. did not near any
thing from lin until Mr.. Blaine came In. DO io'
remember whether Mr. Bancroft Mr. Dwight Wa
then Librarian.
Il saw the Librarian. whoever he VAS, and Mr.
Browh the cA!ef clerk Of the State Department Thy
told ne that could copy any document vented,
and showed me alcoye fl tie second story Of tn
library whore there was a desk and said might have
tha; place to work IN. asked n there was ans
body there to make the copies. and Mr. Brown sus
zested that | employ 4 well known member . ih"
METROPOLITAN Club. who AZ that I'm" was o'' OF en-
documents should De copied. Mr.. ~uiA asked ilr Iil
that referred ~ certain object IN t"r Nanis
papers. which again lsought ~ Uic sam, "bJ'.'"
fhlt va. made before Mr. Dwight. 'r Nr. b1n'ipI, "T
whoever wa, Librarian. lie declined t0 make N Sch
ton bui said iaaf Nr. smith or ans nA' 10 Ulhi,
designate. couh 20 through u' p'i"'s AMI examine
them for himself
II was decided according 10 NV rccoNcc'ion nat
Mr. smith should come TO Va al.-'uu and sitter 81
over the paper, himself Nv .-fur'i"us g. iIr
couylst selected. The Librarian. bon d-'I lHS 90 ir"
DE secctlnu gs,v. several - Il ra. Do. lli L. '. %
fcc.sary 10 ascertain their contents, t.c 90, Tat Ar
an not know which lad been puhi-fd before. nnl
'Aiid HAT be- might dhcr IN judgment Win NT'
-rlifl as 10 their Importance
The CORE, ponGcut u The Tribune f., i'om per onal
experience allie - bear testimony Ia IT.
Dwight universal Courtesy aA f"ad.ne.
% cblise al hoo havns en .,'S' 4, ", ~,
time In the five year That Doc know W. Dwight WIZ"
fl" latter occupying the post pi Librarian DID Doe
lave an9 difficulty u securing permission either -
Inspect or copy ~" documents ani nrhiF"- p1c =
drcul' 10 prove that anyb. dy 'lsr hd had diirr
~ ~