The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-21
In Palliation of His Attack
Upon His Country
TRANSMITTED TO The HOUSE.
Together With Copies of Speeches
That Offended Americans.
HE Ambassador Declares There Were
Mitigating circumstances. and That
the Reports OF the Addresses Were
Inaccurate. but He Does Not EN-
press Penitence.

/ Washington City. Jan. s-The presi-
/ dent, IN his reply 10 the house resolution
l ealing for information as 10 what has
4 been done In the matter OF tie speeches
delivered by Ambassador Bayard. trans
1 mits copies OF TIE two speeches in fuu.
and also copies 0f letters from Mr.. Bay
ard explanatory OF them. No action was
/ taken by the president on the speeches
ept 20 notify Mr.. Bayard q the action
1 O. he house.
The correspondence begins with the fol-
/ lowing letter from Mr.. Bayard TO Secre-
i tary Olney. dated London. December Il.
1 last.
1 Sir: Observing the proceedings. as re-
4 ported oy telegraph In the puodc news
4 paEers OF this country, Of the United
4 States house Of representatives in re.ation
y q a speech read by me on the evening Of
i the Ith ult-. before the Philosophical IN
4 stitute Of Edinburgh. have the honor 70
/ inciose herewith, for your inspection.
printed copy Of the address in question.
4 In the absence OF precise Information
1 OF the text Of the resolution SAID to have
/ been adopted by the house. and not pro-
1 posing 10 anticipate the action OF either or
A both houses Of congress, yet observing that,
4 In the course Of the discussion, reference
L was made to the personal Instructions OF
4 tn department OF state 20 the diplomatic
OH ,ers of the United States. / respect
II
sections, in order that your attention may
1 be drawn 10 the fact that the address In
l question was delivered before an instltu-
ton purely literary and scientific In its
\ character. and wholly unconnected with
/ political parties, which had honored TWO
1 OF my official predecessors with similar
II Invitations which in both cases had bean
accepted; subjects political in their nature.
Il Democracy and The Law of the Land
/ having been selected and treated
with distinguished ability. No political can
VaSs was pending or approaching in this
Il country when my address was made. and
| no interference or participation in local
or party political concerns in this country
i was therefore possible.
The address consisted OF my personal
opinions upon governmental Institutions IN
| general. the moral forces and tendencies
L which undcrlie them. and the government
al policies which assist in the conversion
OF the freedom Of the individual ds an cs-
+ sential integer Of human progress and Of
4 the permanence Of civilization. The tIdg-
ments so delivered were formed by me al
ter careful dellberation. and in their pre-
sentati0n sundry historical facts and arSu-
ments tended to sustln them were adj
L vanced When the congress shall have
Ecoucluded its action on the subject, IL Is
possible that / may desire TO submit fur
ther statement. but meanwhile | consider
III proper 10 place before you the address
itself in full and the facts connected with
its delivery. / have the honor to be sir.
4 your obedient servant,
IT. F. BAYARD."
\ "P 81 find. on reading over this note,
! that Mr. Lowelrs address on Democracy
was delivered by him before the Midland
Institute at Birmingham. an association
similar in character and its purpose to the
Edinburgh Philosophical fnsttut.on-"
on January 3 Secretary Olney cabled TO
Mr. Bayard for details as 70 the BostAl
speech. and on January the ambassador
replied in letter which, after promising
70 forward the newspaper report or the
speech and discussing the history OF the
bos or school he seys:
: The exercises were OF very simple
and informal nature, and without note
or prepared word Of any kind / made a
short predatory speech and handed over
the prizes TO the successful competitors
In the afternoon we adjourned 10 a pub
lie hall or hotel where dinner was serv-
ed and. as is customary here, there were
toasts and responses. and l responded 10
the health of the president of the United
States and subsequently 10 a toast TO my
Self. So far as / am concerned, every
thing was impromptu and kindly. hui
morous. post-prandial tone prevailed. It
seems a reporter was present, but did
not see him. nor did know that any re-
port had been made until the local news
paper was sent TO me few days after in
London. l sent a copy 10 Mr.. Cleveland
because the report contained a kindly ref
erence 10 the family home circle of the
| president. And. as l have grandchildren
IN Boston, I sent copy into that house
hold This was the whole OF the publ
! cation in the United States Of which I
have any knowledge. / must except an
elaborate editorial in the Philadelphia
| Ledger. Eravely censuring the c0nstiJu-
ttonal views which the editor supposed 20
have been expressed by me. The occur
renee was early IN last August and had
passed ont Of my memory until ii was
mai the basis Of a resolution Of tmpeach-
nent By the United States house Of repre-
entatives as a high crime and Tnisde-
neanor' under the constitution.
! "I beg leave 10 thank you for your
Tompt information OF the nature OF the
house resolution. in regard 10 which. as 70
very other matter desire and intend that
ny position. acts and opinions should be
rree from any misconception and be per
gectly transparent 70 the president, your
Delf and my fellow countrymen"
Two DAYS later Mr Baysrd sent 20 Score
ary olney the Boston newspaper CONTAIN
ng reports % his speech there. and in
transmitting them wrote:
.'Sundrv discrepancies are obvious IN
hes two reports. and they are such as
Are usually incidental under similar cir
umstances. but as 20 the remarks attribut-
a 70 me 7 spoke without preme3itation,
rithout notes. unaware OF a reporters
fesence and have no means OF recollec-
lon tnow somewhat vague) 20 enable me
> correct either report Therefore, 1 snail
OF now essay IT, although il IS obvious
ae reporter failed 20 catch nv words
sorue times IN Latin). and confused them.
lut both reports are sufficiently fun and
ecu-ate 90 describe the purpose of my vis-
and the general nature and intent OF my
suarkS.
III it - desired . gather the actual prr-
r5rt and meaning q any statement s. would
opear 70 be necessary thar phrases shofl1
II De- separated from 1he context alr th3t
PARTS should 1e CONSIDERED ia taeir re-
atton - esch other ard as tnN bouorsols
jtise ~ repres@utative nave. 81 tne grave
rercIse % tre.r public duty. instituted in
nry int1 what has heeu said an @ re
ne on the occasions referred 20. -ne,ua-
the circgrns1ances attendant, u may
Z D. 8arsas0ratos 70 re O. express fne
% mat IN simple justice = ftfl p.fiiea-
D. ~ THE remarks un3@-gnl1g crlficte1s
ay a~-arnqauv tbe eEprra-.11 O. any
dgn.ut thy may ar-1ve AZ - tn prem
es.
rn-lana Ie.Y-- TIRE ~fuuf5 Laureate.
ro~so- lar ~ -AIr-cst aEyne+y IN E.rE-