New-York tribune., 1896-02-05
AZ AvRaSS4DOR ~ DISTRESS.

Mr. Bayard appears to be esSaylng the role
either Of martyr or Of ullJozcr; AT the present
moment it IS uncertain which II 1t be the
former well and good. Every man 10 his own
taste The Ambassador has out Of his own
mouth been convicted OF n serious breach or
proprlety-to put the matter mlldly-and has
not bcttered his standing by his lame efforts at
explanation and excuse. There Is no proof that
his offence was committed with malice aforc-
thought 1t may be charged entirely 10 post
prandial inadyertcnce. and to the undiplomatic
bent OF his cultivated mind However that may
be- Congress is unqucstionably competent 10 cX
press It's opinion Of the matter, and even TO put
on record its dsapproval of his conduct. IL rests
with Mr. Bayard to decide whether he will take
the lesson 10 heart and thus enhance the useful
ness OF his services TO the Government and the
Nation, or will deem it necessary TO make this
incident the close OF his long and more or less
eminent public career If the latter be his choice,
the ancient and honorable grammar schools of
Great Britain will be entitled TO commiseration
on the loss Of one of their most accomplished and
complaisant prlzc-day orators; and there will be
a snug berth open for some other loyal retainer
Of the Administration.
While we should regret 10 see Mr.. Bayard thus
wearing the crown Of martyrdom, even though
self-imposed we must say that 1t IS preferable
that he should do so rather than ramp and rear
as a would b. 'budoZer' Of Congress. Nothing
could be more impcrtlnent than for him 10 try
to bluff" that body by threatening to resign If
1t dare to censurc him. Such conduct on his
part would warrant immediate censure. Ever
since Mr. Cleveland, with arrogant condesccn-
sion complained Of "having Congress on his
hands," there has been entirely too much EXecu-
tive meddling with the legislative branch OF the
Government. The President has had his per
sonal representative In each house, and white
House pressure" has been brought to bear sys-
tematically upon legislation. This bill mustn t
pass, because the President doesn't want 1t
"to" THAT bill must go through, because the
President wants it to-" All this Is a violation
Of the spirit Of the Constitution, and must be
rcpugnant TO every selfrespecting Represent
atiye and Senator, and to every one who does
not want to see the President and Congress as
sumo the relations once held by the dctatorial
Emperor and the servle Senate Of Rome. 1t is
bad enough for the President himself to try to
dictate to body which is his peer; but il Is abso-
lutcy ntolerable that every Ambassador and
Consul and Thirteenth Assistant Auditor and
!
the same game "Bulldozng' Of that kind will
scarcely work with the Congress Of the United
States. 1t Is scarcely conceivable that Mr..
Bayard, with his long experience in that body
and his high regard for its dignties and priv
leges, should think Of making the attempt.
Perhaps the most extraordinary feature of the
whole incident Is to be found in the tone Of the
British press. We do not blame Englishmen for
loving Mr.. Bayard. His personality Is attrac-
tive especially In his post-prandial hours; and
/ he has been an uncommonly good friend and
! faithful servant OF John Bull for many years.
But II Is nothing less than disqualification for
Englishmen to uphold him in his i'll service Of
his own country. They know perfectly well they
would not tolerate such conduct on the part Of
one of their own Minsters-not for n moment.
If any British Ambassador should speak Mr..
Bayard has spoken, he would be recalled in dis
grace within twenty-f four hours and every re-
spectacle paper III the Kingdom would say he
we'll deserved his fate. For English papers 10
say what they are now saying is either to set
themselves down as hypocrtes, or to init
mate that the standard Of honor and pro-