New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-23
THE STANDARD or AMBiSSiDORSHT

The Bayard incident. as our European friends
would phrase IL, may now be reckoned dcfn-
itcly closed. II will hot be rcopcncd. and will
scarcely, in this generation. BE- repeated. The
Ambassador has declined TO accept the pro
posed National Christmas gi!t' from 'hc con
stituency OF an entcrprising English ncwspa-
per. and his library will moi. therefore. be- at
present enriched with the fine old editions of
Chaucer and Shakespeare recently had in
view. More precious TO him than even such
treasures, however. should be the conscious
ness of having resisted though tardily. an al
Turing but evil temptation. II 10 that he were
able TO add the assurance that all his Ambas
sadOra duties had been discharged to the sat
isfaction Of his own Government and to the
best possible advantage of his own land the
present Christmas might well be the merricst
In all his long and eminent career.
Unhappily there is reason 10 doubt whether
Mr. Bayard is entitled to such assurance. He
may not personally appreciate or even perceive
his lack Of IT. for his conception Of Ambassa
dorial duties IL marked with some curious aber
ratiOns. In his letter declining the "Chrlstmas
gift he speaks Of his efforts TO establish be-
tween the two great English speaking coun-
tries relations Of unbroken harmony and
good WILL" and expresses in language which
barely avoids the reprOach Of fulsomeness his
gratitude for the whole hearted, unstinted well
come" and the warm hospitality" showered
upon him during his residence near Her Maj
esty's Court. Now all that Ia very fine, but it
Is not business and busness-his country's
business-is the prime duty OF an Ambassador
1t is we'll to promote harmony and good WILL
But there was surely not such lack of them
between the countries that II was necessary TO
send an Ambassador over for that sole purpose
And. like some other things harmony and good
will are better insured by deserving them and
living up to them than 10y much talking about
them. 1t is quite possible to protest too
much" with disastrous results.
1t is, Of course, desirable that an Ambassa-
dor should be not only persona grata to the
Government to which he is accredited. but also
respected and liked by the people Of that coun-
try. Such conditions will generally facilitate
the performance Of his real work. and give his
representations added weight. But the cult
walton Of such relations Is not his real work.
but, on the contrary. may be carried so far as
to interfere with and nullfy the latter. Ex-
cessive popularity is always a ground for sus-
pciOn. When the man with whom you have
to make a bargain Is too delighted with your
that you have given him the better of IT, The
more the English exalt Mr.. Bayard the more 1t
Is evident that they think he has served their
interests rather than American interests. As
n matter OF fact, II 10 we'll known that In the
most important negotiations between the two
countries Mr.. Bayard has cut no figure what
ever. for the simple reason that Mr.. Olney
found him useless. While ne was making amia-
BILE addresses TO applauding British audiences
the real work for which lie was sent to London
was being done by others.
The fact cannot be too clearly kept In mind.
both by an Ambassador and by his countrymen
ST home that his first business Is to give salts
faction to his own Government and to his own
people. and to further their interests TO the
utmost. Whenever he sets before his mind
as the chief thing TO be accomplished an I'M
usual popularity among the people Of the coun-