Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-06
OUR AMBASSADOR BAYARD
Is Again Brought Into Prom
inent Notice
BY THE LONDON PRESS.
Is is Proposed 10 Raise Funds by Contribution
to Buy Hin a Christmas
Present.


the sun Publishing Association EVERY
self-respecting American in London is
indignant over the spectacle presented
during the past three days of a promi-
nent newspaper "cadging" the British
public to send in their shllings to buy
Christmas present for the ambassador
of the United States to the court of st.
James. 1t is the source and method Of
raising the so-calIed national tribute
which irritate and disgusts more than
the thing itself. This statement implies
no serious reflection upon the Daily Tele-
graph which ranks as an enterprising
and influential journal in English esti-
nation. 1t has its peculiarities. hOWev-
er. One is to start some idiotic, silly
discussion every summer and run it as
the most prominent feature of the paper
until everybody is sick of any allusion
to the subject. Another is to start some
popular Christmas subscriptions list early
In December and boom the thing in every
possible way until the arrival of the
holiday brings welcome relief to the
readers of its columns. The lists are
daily printed under head lines bigger
than any others in the paper and every
body who sends a shilling is entitled to
write letter from a few lines to half
a column in length which the Telegraph
object Of the Daily Telegraph's ostenta-
tious benevolence was the crippled chill
dren of London this year 1t is the Ameri-
can ambassador. Last years fund was
raised to provide toys for delighted bene-
ficiaries; this year it is to buy q beau
tiful set of Shakespeare works for the
grateful representative of the American
people. 1t requires three columns OF the
TeleSraphs valuable space today to
make known the fact that about fifty in
NJ f.,1t
q shilling to five guineas to swell the
fund. Sir Henry Irving and Dean Hale
are two contributors whose names will
be recognized by the American public.
Then there are interviews with various
anonymous influential Americans resi-
dent in London" who say nice things
about Mr. Bayard personally, but it is
noticeable that they refrain from char
acterizing the Telegraph's gift project"
1T is significant also that reports from
America regarding the effect of the pro-
posal on public opinion there is quite
contradictory. The Telegraphs cores
pondent quotes Mr.. Coudert, Ex-Governor
Flower Bishop Potter and President
Eliot, of Harvard, as expressing much
pleasure over the tribute to the Aemeri-
can ambassadors amiable qualities on
the other hand all the other correspond
ents who mention the matter say that
pubhc sentiment on the subject is mix
ture of disgust and Indignation. The
silent with respect to the Telegraph's
perennial eccentricites, but this time the
Chronicle has been moved to protest
Yesterday and again today it denounced
both the bad taste and the morale of the.
project 1t says today:
1--WE should have thought that the ma
tural objection to such q gift would be
obvious even to those who are not famil-
lar with the technicalties of diplomacy.
First, such proposal must be in the ma
nj Tn hn ,nrf
They know perfectly well that no am
bassador of a European power would be
allowed TO consider the acceptance of
such a proposal and therefore they must
conclude that in the eyes OF the proDosers
the American representative is placed on
"a level of less dignity. Second, Ameri-
cans, like any other sensitive nation UNI
der the same circumstances, will feel
the implication that their ambassador is
being rewarded FOR something beyond
the performance of his duties and they
will naturally say that they only desire
him to be treated with perfect justice,
not with favor. The Telegraph's pro-
posal was quite certain to evoke com
ment in the United States hostile to Mr.
Bayard himself such as that teegra pied
by our Washington and New York CORE
spcndents today and thus to defeat it's
own end a slight acquaintance with
American affairs would have enabled our
contemporary to foresee this. From
every point of view the proposal was
mistake and none the less so because we
all cherish regard and sincere respect for
MI. Bayard and because the sentiment
which prompted itw as one shared by
everybody. Lord Mayor Philips we OBJ
serve, in sending five guineas 10 the fund
for a gift to the American amba ssador
what a shock the mere words convey
says that he is proposing to entertain
Mr.. Bayard at the Mansion house. This
is ma tural and perfectly proper tribute
of good will and if the journalists OF Lon
don should desire to do the same there
iS no consideration, except, perhaps that
Mr.. Bayard himself would prefer that
there should be some bounds to our af-
lection, to hinder them from carrying out
their hospitable DESIRE
There is a painful uncertainty with re-
gard 10 the attitude of Mr.. Bayard him
self towards this mistaken attempt to do
him honor. Most of the Americans in
London expected that not later than to-
day at least, the Telegraph would with
draw, with what grace 1t could, it's unpre-
cedented proposal Unfortunately there
is nothing to indicate that Mr.. Bayard
has made any protest English reporters
have endeavored to interview him on the
subject, but lie has refused to see them.
His secretary, it is said, is authority for
the statement that the Telegraph's inten-
fions were unknown to him until the first
appeal for funds was printed Thursday.
/ do not think any American correspond
ent has felt called upon to ask Mr.. Bay
ard whether he proposes to allow one of
the principal journals of London to tout
for funds to buy him a Christmas pres
emit 1t must be admitted that his po-
siton is an awkward one, but so is that
of every one of his fellow citizens in Lon
don. They will soon give expression TO
their resentment If he does not put a
damper on the proposal.
1t has been so long since 1t was possible
to record anything like a sccessful move
in British diplomacy that 1t Is matter
of some satisfaction to call attention to
the clever outwittng of France in the
latest Egyptian complication. The deci-
sion of Caisse La Dette Publique in the
funds for the expense sof the Dongola
expedition was apparently adverse to
Great Britain. 1t was sought especially
by France in the thought that it would
much embarrass Lord Salisbury. The
British premier has. however, turned it
most skilfully to his own account and
it is now clear that the French govern
ment has stupidity been playing the Eng
lish game for him. Great Britain cares
nothing for the half million pounds in
volved. She is only too glad to advance
the money, even if there is no chance of
its being returned. The decision enables
Lord Salisbury to say that Egypt pos