The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
BUYING BAYARDAPRESENT


4 LONDON PAPER IT. OUTING FOR
FUNDS FOR mi PURPOSE.
The American Colony Disnpproves or tho
UndiEniaed Idea - No Word from Mr..
Bayard Y~et-Frnnce Plays Right Into
EnGIand's Hand In Egyptisa Matters
The Man Who Tried TO Rig the stock
Market Has TO BEG tor M~ercS-Leopoid
de RothschiId Wins Over 3 900 In
the Year's RaeinE- B,snnrck's Revela-
tions Cause Uncnsinesa at the British
Court-The Dilemma OF n Boston Woman
Special Cable Despatch to The suS.
LONDON, Dec. 5.-Every self.respecting Ameri-
can in London 10 indignant over the spectacle
presented in the past three days of a prominent
newspaper cadging the British public to send In
their shillinEs to BUY q Christmas present for
the Ambassador OF the United states TO the
Court Of st. James. 1t is tho source and
method of raising the so-called national tribute
which irritate and disgust moro than the
thing itself. This statement implies no serious
reflection upon the Daily Telegraph, which ranks
as an enterprising and influential journal In
English estimation. 1t has Its peculiaritics.
however, ono Of which is TO start some idiotio
silly-season discussion every summer and
run 1t as the most prominent feature OF
tho paper until every pouy 10 blCk VI
any allusion to the subject. Another is
to start some popular Christmas subscription
list early in December and boom the thing in
every possible way until the arrival of the holi-
day brings welcome relief to its readers. The
columns devoted to these purposes are printed
under headlines bigger than any others In the
paper. and everybody who sends n shilling is en-
titled to write u letter of q few lines to n half
column In length, which the Telegraph will
faithfully reproduce. Last year the objects Of
the Daily Tele0rdph's ostentatious benevolence
were the crippled children OF London. This
year 1t is the American Ambassador. Last
years fund was raised to provide toys for the
delighted beheHeiaries. This year 1t is to buy n
beautiful set of Shakespeare's works for the
grateful representative of the American people.
1t requires three columns of the TeleQrdph's
valuable space to-day to make known the fact
that about fifty individuals have sent sums
varying from one shilling to Eve guineas to
swell the fund. Sir Henry Irving and Dean
Hole are two contributors whose names will be
recognized by the public. Then there are inter-
views with various anonymous Influential
Americans resident In London" who say nice
things about MIR. Bayard personally. but 1t is
noticeable that they refrain from characteriz.
ing the 7ele0ruph's gift project.
1t is significant also that the reports from
America regarding the effect OF the proposal on
public opinion there are quite contradictory. The
Te~logrdphs correspondent quotes Mr.. Coudert,
Mr.. Godkin, ex-Gov. Flower, Bishop Potter. and
President Eliot of Harvard as expressing much
pleasure over the tribute to the American Am
bassador's amiable qualities. On the other
hand. all the other correspondents who mention
the matter cay that public sentiment on the
subject is n mixture OF disgust and Indignation.
The other London journals have always been
silent with respect to the TcleGraph's perennial
eccentricities, but this time the Chronicle has
been moved to protest. Yesterdays and again to-
day IL denounced both the bad taste and the
morale of the project. IT says to-day:
I'VE should have thought that the natural OBJ
lection to such q gift would be obviou| even to
those who are not familiar with the technicali-
ties of diplomacy. First. such q proposal must
be. in its nature. offensive to the American peo-
pie. They know perfectly we'll that no Ambassa-
dor of q European power would be allowed to
consider the acceptance OF such a proposal. and
therefore they must conclude that in the eyes
of the proposers the American representative is
placed on u level Of less dignity. Second.
the Americans, like any other sensitive
nation. under the same circumstances, will
ice! the implication that their Ambas-
saGur 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 IeicJrdph's proposal was quite certain to
evoke comment in the United States hostile to
Mr.. BAyard himself, such AS that telegraphed
by our Washington and New York correspond
ents to-day. and thus to defeat its own end. \
slight acquaintance with American affairs
would have ena bled our contemporary to fore
BEE that from every point of view the proposal
was a mistake. and none the less so because we
all cherish a warm regard and sincere respect
for Mr.. Bayard and because the SEN
timent which prompted 1t was one
shared by everybody. The Lord Mayor. we
observe, in sending Ave guineas to the su bscrlp-
tlon for the GIFT TO the American Ambassador.
says that he Is proposing to entertain Mr.. BAY
ard at the Mansion House. This is a natural
and perfectly proper tribute of good will, and
if the journalists of London should desire to do
the same there is no consideration. except. per-
haps. that Mr.. Bayard himself would prefer
that there be some bounds to our affection. to
hinder them from carrying out their hospitable
desire"
There is painful uncertainty with regard to
the attitude of Mr.. Bavard himself toward this
mistaken attempt to do him honor. Most Ameri-
cans In London expected that not later than to-
day. at least. the Telegraph would withdraw,
with what grace 1t could, from it's unprecedent-
ed proposal. Unfortunately there is nothing to
indicate that Mr.. Bayard made any protest.
English reporters have endeavOred to interview
him on tho subject. but he has refused to sec
them. His secretary. 1t is said. is authority for
tho statement that the Telegrdph's inten-
lions were unknown to him until the fret
appeal for funds WAS printed on Thursday.
lido not think any American correspondent has
felt called upon to ask MIR. Bayard whether he
proposes TO allow one of the principal Journals
III London to tout for funds to buy him n Christ
mas present during the next three weeks. 1t
must be admitted that his position Is an awk-
ward one, but 80 10 that OF every ono OF his
fellow citizens in London. They will soon give
expression to their resentment il he does not.
10 has been so long since 1t was possible to
record anything like a successful move In Brit.
ish diplomacy that 1t is a matter OF some salts
faction to call attention to the clever outwitting
Of France in the latest Egyptian complication.
The decision of the Cuisse with regard to the
funds for the expenses of tho DonRola eIpedi-
tion was apparently adverse to Great Britain.
IL WAS sought especially BY France In the belief
that IT would much embarrass Lord Salisbury.
The British Premier has, however. turned II
most ekilfuIly to his own account. and il liz now