Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-12-07
BAYARD DECLINES THE GIFT
Writes o Letter Full of Gratitude to the
London Telegraph.
SAYS HIS OFFICE PREcLUDEs ACCEPTANCE
subscriptions VIII he Returned, but
Newspaper Claims the Responses
Have shown the Good VIII he
tween the Two Nations,

LONDON, Dec. 7.-Mr. Bayard, the United
States ambassador, has written to the Daily
Telegraph, under date of Saturday, confirm
ing the report (cabled to the Associated press
on Saturday, that he would decline the
preferred Christmas gift intended as a com
pliment to him and in honor of his efforts
to bring about an era of good feeling be-
tween the United States and Great Britain.
He has asked the proprietors of the news
papers not to proceed to carry out their
kind and generous proposition" along the
lines planned. He then proceeds to describe
the manner in which he first learned of the
proposal Thursday afternoon by reading the
announcement in the columns of the Tele-
graph. He says that he was naturally deeply
touched and gratified, still more when the
following issues of the paper contained so
many spontaneous tributes of respect and
kind feeling from men of all classes, occupa-
tions and varying degrees of fortune. Con-
tinuing, he says: "a few hours of reflection
here brought me to the sober judgment that,
holding my present office, invested with its
discretion and duties, | should scrupulously
respect and obey the spirit as we'll as the
letter of my countrys law, written and I'M
written, which inhibts any one holding an
Office of trust or profit under the United
States of America from accepting without
the consent of congress, any present from
any king prince or government The rea-
sons for this inhibition apply with special
significance to the representatives OF the gov
eminent abroad
Mr.. Bayard continues his comment, re-
marking that republican forms of govern
ment require strict and delicate obedience
to such principles, so that not even the smell
of smoke can Turk in the folds OF official gar
mento.
"The ermine of the Judge" says Mr..
Bayard, SHOULD not be more stainless than
the robe of the law giver nor that of the
legislator than that of the executive Of
ficer.
"The patriotic and admirable intent of
your influential journal has been surely
accomplished, for it has evoked much ex-
pressions OF widespread sympathy and APP
proval as like the breath of the ocean Will
fill the sails of two great ships or state
as they are borne onward by the Irresistible
currents of our common civilization.
Ambassador Bayard concludes with an
expression of sincere gratitude. and says
that while l live | will not cease to thank
the people of these islands for the whole
hearted and unstinted welcome and warm
hospitality showered upon me and mine.
am sure | serve both countries best when
| decide as ambassador not to receive the
valuable and most delightful present pro-
posed
In an editorial the Telegraph announces
that the donations will be returned, and
repudiates the charges of "meanneSs and
presumption " but mo regrets for the ac-
ton taken" are expressed, since such
prompt sympathy throughout England and
America has been produced, as evinced by
the cablegrams received from Frederic X
Coudert, Il. L. Godkin Ex-Governor Flower,
Bishop Potter, President Eliot of Hartford
university and others.
In conclusion, the Telegraph says edi-
torially: IF the effort failed of its imme-
date and innocent purpose it has gone far
enough to prove the sincere good will of
the nation toward Ambassador Bayard."