The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-23
BY Way Of Apology to Minister Pierce.

With his usual journalistic enterprise and
fine sense OF what is interesting to Ameri-
cans at home. Mr.. JAMES GORDON BENNETT
has caused to DO telegraphed to tho Ne,o
York Herald a full summary Of a letter
written by the Hon. GILBERT ALLARoUND
PIERCE to the Paris edition OF Mr.. +
NETS newspaper. Whether this letter was
written from Lisbon or not. we are unable
to say. Nor is the date Of Mr.. P1ERcE's
letter revealed by Mr.. BENEFITS despatch.
| Wherever and whenever written. the COM
munication from our Minister to Portugal
shall nave the candid consideration due to
the high post nominally occupied by It's
author and the peculiarly interesting char
acter OF his diplomatic career.
Mr.. BENNETT reports the Hon. GILBERT
ALLARoUND PIERCE as alleging:
1. That he was entitled to 1.-THE legal
allowance Of sixty days to reach his post"
2. That 1t "only took him forty-one days
to do So"
8. That he would. however. have got
| there in even q shorter tim than he did
but for the cholera in Marseilles. In order
to avoid the quarantine in Spain he waited
until the scare was over. and spent ten days
In visiting the Italian cities"
4. That 1.-THE further charge that no gave
q Lisbon date In his letter to the Min
neapoiis Tribune for the purpose OF deceiv-
ing this State Department. is ridiculous"
8. That he has resigned his Office as Min
lister to Portugal. and Is ~anxiously awaiting
the arrival OF his successor In order that he
may come home.
6. That he Is not q iunketudinous old ed
itor. and that The SUN owes him an apol-
ogy for describing him as such.
We shall consider the Minister'S state
ments categorically. Nothing short Of cat
egorical treatment fits the case Of the Hon.
GILBERT ALLAROUND PIERCE.
Minister PIERcE's assertion that he was
entitled to 1.-THE legal allowance" OF sixty
days In which to reach his post Is contra
dicted by Section l.74O OF the Revised Stat
utes. The law provides that no Minister
Resident shall be entitled to compensation
for his services Except from the time
when he reaches his post and enters upon
his Official duties to the time when he
ceases to hold such Office. and for such time
as is actually and necessarily occupied In re-
ceiving his instructions. not to erceed thirty
days. and in making the direct transit be-
tween the place OF his residence. when
appointed. and his post OF duty. at the
commencement and termination OF the
period OF his official service, The next
section provides that no Minister Resident
Shall be absent from his post for a longer
period than ten days at any ono time with
out the permission previously obtained OF
the President. The following section. No.
LAP. prescribes that mo diplomatic OIL
Ger shall receive salary for time during
which he may be absont from his post, by
leave or otherwise. beyond the term OF sixty
days In one year; but the time equal to
that usually occupied In going to and from
the United States. In case of the return on
leave OF such diplomatic officer to the
United States, may be allowed In addition
to sixty days" 1t will be seen at a glance
that Minister PIERCE mlsrepresents
the law in order to cover his own
delinquency. The sixty days absence
with pay Ia the maximum allowance
for absence. with pay. during an entire
year OF service. and the additional time al.
lowance for crossing the Atlantic refers
only to the case of a Minister who, after
actual service abroad. comes homo on a
vacation by the permission Of the Presl-
dent. His travelling allowance on the wny