Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-13
A M BAS SADOR BAYARD
Disappointment and Ambition Oonsu T ing
Him.
Cause of His Diplomatic Failure
What VIII He Do
Now.

There is no topic so fruitful of specula-
| tion in political circles as the extraordinary
| career that Mr.. Bayard so far has run as
| ambassador to England. In some quarters
| this speculation is a trifie ill-natured, being
| pitched somewhat in an undiscriminating
| partisan key; but in others-and these in
| clude quarters democratic, as well as quar-
! ters republican-the comment is both dis
| eliminating and severe
1t is compliment to Mr.. Bayard tina t
everybody should be surprised at his course.
| He stood for many years as one of the
| most impressive of the public men of
| America. He had figure, address, lineage
| ard cultivation. That he had patriotism,
nobody would have doubted In fact, while
| in the Senate he was repeatedly pointed out
| to Observation-Disclosures among the num-
| ber-as a very fine specimen of the kind of
men developed by and under popular gov
ernment. Had any doubling Thomas sug-
gested limitation to Mr.. Bayard's sphere
Of usefulness, and named diplomacy as that
limitation, some individual among the
"strong ard turbulent people who lnhablt
this country would have replied, with the
spirit of prophecy surging within him, that
diplomacy was Mr.. Bayard's most con
spicuous and most cherished possession.
But, as a matter of fact, the strong and
turbulent individual would have been very
sadly mistaken.
Why He Failed.
What is the true explanation of Mr..
| Bayard's failure? Those who know the man
and are familiar with his history ascribe
it to two causes.
o. A disappointed ambition.
(2) An overweening ambition.
Mr. Bayard's star as an active political
quantity set in 1854. Until that year he had
cherished an ambition to be President, and,
as many of his friends thought. with eN-
cellent chances of securing his partys NOM
| ination for that office. He had been one of
the party's leaders for many years, and
! had rendered some important services. The
east, it is true, had always been little cold
but the south admired him eXtravagantly
Ought not the south at last to he permitted
to name the candidate? The east, in sue
cesson, had named Seymour. Greeley, Til
der and Hancock. and all had failed. Why
not give the south a chance? But the east
again prevailed. and this time with a man
whose selection very plainly conveyed to
Mr.. Bayard the intelligence that toward the
White House there was no thoroughfare for
him. Seymour. Greeley. Tilden and Han
cock were all national figures. Mr.. Bayard
could yield to them without impairment of
prestige or the loss of hope But Mr.. Cleve-
lands nomination clearly proclaimed new
lea sdership. and that new party era had
begun. Mr.. Bayard saw this, and, in ac-
cepting office under Mr. Cleveland, assent
ed. though bitterly disappointed. to the
new Us6ehsation. He was forced reluctant
y
to have the qualities necessary to control
his turbulent countrymen.
Trying n New Field.
Baked of his ambition to be President.
Mr.. Bayard then decided to try for laurels
in the domain of diplomacy. He accepted
the English mission with the cordial indorse-
rent of all of his friends, and with a deter
m!nation to shine at the court of st. James.
1t was not an easy berth even for Mr.. Bay
ard, as in order to conspicuously succeed,
he had to consider the notable successes of
10th Mr.. Lowell and Mr.. Phelps. who had
preceded him there. His immediate pred
ecessor, Mr.. Lincoln. while acquittirg him.
self with much credit, had followed less
snowy lines of winning favor. But Mr..
Lowell. by the aid of finished scholarship,
and Mr.. Phelps. by the aid of felicitous
speaking, had served brilliantly in the post
ard made deep impression on the English,
These We're the marks by which Mr.. Bayard
must guide If he was to achieve anything
strikingly individual. And so he began his
'ahors. And they truly have turned out to
he labors. While man of liberal education
ard Information. he had no scholarship to
match Mr.. Lcwell's and. while a good
sneaker. he had no such happy power at
dirr er table or upon the platform as that of
the accomplished Vermont LAWYER. So he
fegan sreering his course somewhat between
those lines, and has ended by running IN
the British flag instead Of that of his own
country
The Logical Result.
This is the view of matters taken by men
entirely competent to form view. and vino
are not ill-natured in examining the ques-
ticn. They regret Mr.. Bayard's failure. on
his own account as well as on account of
the country, but it is entirely logical to
them. 1t grows. as they see IL, both out
of his temperament and his environment.
And the worst of ii is. they believe that in
all he has said Mr. Bayard has gone on
record strictly in accord with his own feel
ingS. They do not doubt that his own fail
IRE to achieve supreme leadership at home
has soured him toward his country and
diminished his respect for popular govern
ment, ard in the matter of his effusive bid
for English favor by extreme praise of
English institutions they trace the tenn
reramertal weakness of a constitutional
courtier He is like an old beau, who. hav-
frg failed in his first Suit-in Mr. Bayard's
case the presidency-presses the second
with undue warmth, and unconsciousIy be
comes more diyerting or repelling than at
tractiva or convincing.
What VIII He Do Nowf
What notice, If any, is Mr.. Bayard likely
to take of the action of the House? How
will he explain 1t to his English friends?
Will he point to it as another evidence of
the turbulent character Of the American
people? Will he say to Lord Salisbury that
it is nothing but an electioneering trick?
Or will he refuse to notice 1t altogether
ard In justification of such a course reflect
upon the remarks of one of the democrats
who defended hin, and could see no differ
ence between the discussion Of domestic
topic by the President, charged under the
Constitution with such discussion, and its
discussion by an ambassador to a foreign
court, charged both by usage and law to
abstain from such topics?