Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-02-01
SHOULD BE RECALLED.
A Democratic Paper Demands the
Recall of Ambassador Bayard.


New York Herald (Dem.).
Now that the House is in possession
of all which Ambassador Bayard has
to say in explanation of the offense
which that body rightly deemed too
fragrant TO be permitted to pass with
out notice, nothing remains but to
vote a resolution of ceusure unless
Mr.. Cleveland at once recalls Mr.. Bay
ard.
So far from excusing or extenuating
the offense the explanation aggravates
it. The passages of the offensive
speech, which were embodied in the
House resolution, and which were TAX
en- from imperfect newspaper reports,
were, unless satisfactorily explained
away, sufficiently insulting to the peo-
pie Of the United States and discredit-
able to one of their highest diplomatic
representatives abroad to call for
prompt rebuke; but the sentiments ex-
pressed and the language used are
shown to be even more abusive and
inexcusable by the text of the har-
angue which Mr.. Bayard himself has
now furnished.
The offensive utterances are admit
ted, and the only explanation offered
is that 1.-THE address in question was
delivered before an institution purely
literary and scientific in character, !"
that mo political canvass was pend
ing" and that the judgments SO de-
livered were formed aftertareful delib-
Grafton.
Does Mr.. Bayard assume that an
American ambassador abroad has the
right to abandon his post of duty at a
critical moment in international af-
fairs to go around the country max
ing harangues vilifying the people he
represents, provided only that it be
done with careful deliberation" be-
fore institutions 'purely literary and
scientific" and no political canvass is
pending?
As for the foolish utterances at the
Boston school, Mr. Bayard contents
himself with saying that he was SIM
ply replying to "a toast to himself
at IAN ancient foundation of modest
proportions, that everything was
irnpromptu, and kindly, humorous,
postprandial tone prevailed, and that
he never suspected there was any re-
porter present to publish what he was
going to say. Under these circum-
stances a slur on the American people
BIZ their own ambassador would seem
to be entirely proper, and that the
crowd didn't object to it is shown by
the batch of newspaper puffs of him
self which Mr.. Bayard takes occasion
to forward to the state department.
These are spread at great length on
the pages of the Congressional Record,
and from one it appears that few
Bostoniaus seemed to realize that we
had in our midst a man who in his
own country is almost as great as Mr..
Gladstone is here" But for this 'slack
of appreciation of the guest, his re-
marks would not have been Interrupt
ted by the cracking of filberts.7
Such are the lame excuses which
Mr.. Bayard offers to his government,
the House of Representatives and the
people of the United States for going
around the country on lecturing tour
when he should have been attending
to his official duties, and for viiifying
the nation whose good name it is the
duty and should be the pleasure Of
everylAmerican diplomatic representa-.
tive to uphold. That an ambassador
shown by his own attempted defense,
guilty of such misconduct is unfit te
represent this country abroad is no,
open to question. 1t is an offenss
which richly merits the recall of the
offender, and if Mr. Cleveland fails sc
! to deal with it promptly the House
should not hesitate or delay to take
such action as the case demands. /
nothing is done precedent will be es
tablished which will be taken as Ii
cense for every ambassador and min
lister Of the United States abroad t.
neglect his official business to run a
round making rnischievous harangue.
that can only bring ridicule upon oul
diplomatic service and discredit upor
the United States.
Mr. Bayard should Be recalled i
once.