The herald., 1896-01-21
BAYARD'S SPEECHES
The Ambassadors Reply to the Request for
Information

The Ambassadors Reply to the Request for
Information
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2O.-The president,
in his reply to the house resolution calling
for information as to what has been done
in the matter of the speeches delivered by
Ambassador Bayard, transmits copies of
the two speeches in full, and also copies of
letters from Mr.. Bayard explanatory of
them. No action was taken by the presi-
dent in the case except to notify Mr.. Bay
ard of the action of the house.
This correspondence begins with the fol-
lowing letter from Mr. Bayard to Secretary
Oney, dated London, December II:
Sir: Observing the proceedings, as re-
ported by telegraph in the public news
papers of this country, of the United
States house of representatives, in relation
to a speech read by me on the evening of
the 9Th ultimo before the Philosophical in
stitute of Edinburgh. have the honor to
enclose herewith, for your inspection, a
printed copy of the address in question.
"In the absence of precise information of
the text of the resolution said to have been
adopted Ivy the house and not proposing to
anticipate the action of either or both
houses of congress, yet observing that, in
the course of discussion, reference was
made to the personal instructions of the
department of state to the diplomatic otli-
GERS OF tDe UnlteQ otdteS-l respectfully
advert to Article VII and its subsections-
in order that your attention may be drawn
to the fact that the address in question was
delivered before an institution purely lit
erary and scientific in it's character and
wholly unconnected with political parties -
which has honored two of my official pred
ecessors with similar invitations which, in
both cases, had been accepted: subjects,
political in their nature, Democracy, and
The Law of the Land, having respectively
selected and treated with distinguished
ability.
mo political canvas was pending or ap-
preaching in this country when my address
was made-and no interference or partici-
patton in local or party political concerns
in this country was therefore possible.
"The address consisted of my personal
opinions upon governmental institutions in
general-the moral forces and tendencies
which underlie them-and the government
al tendencies which assist in the conversion
of the freedom of the individual as an es-
sential interger of human progress, and of
the permanence of civilization.
"The judgments so delivered were
formed by me after careful deliberation,
and in their presentation sundry historical
facts and arguments tending to sustain
them were advanced.
"When the congress shall have con-
cluded it's action OH the subject it is pos
statement. but meanwhile, l consider it
proper to place before you the address
itself in full and the facts connected with
it's delivery.
~ have the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
1T. +. BAYARD."
P. ST. find on reading over this note
that Mr.. Lowell's address on "Democracy'
was delivered by him before the Midland
institute at Birmingham. an association
similar to the Edinburg Philosophical in
stitution.
January 3, Secretary Olney cabled Mr..
Bayard for details as to the Boston speech
and January 4, the emba assador replied in
a letter in which, after promising 10 for
ward the newspaper report of the speech
and discussing the history of the Boston
school, he says:
1.-THE exercises were of a very simple
and informal nature and without note or
prepared word. | made a short speech
and handed over the prizes to the success
full competitors. In the afternoon we adj
journed TO public hall, where a number
dinner was served and, as customary here,
there were toasts and responses, and re-
sponded to the health of the president of
the United States and subsequently to a
toast to myself.
$50 far as I was concerned everything
was impromptu and kindly, humorous,
post-prandial tone prevailed. A reporter
was present, but did not see him nor did
know that any report had been made un-
til the local paper was sent me tew DAYS
otter in London. 1 sent a copy to Mr..
Cleveland, because the report contained a
kindly reference to the family home circle
of the president. And as l have
grandchildren in Boston, Mass. / sent
a copy into that household. This was the
whole of the publication in the United
States of which have any knowledge. l
must except an elaborate editorial in the
Philadelphia Ledger, gravely censuring the
constitutional views which the editor sup
posed to have been expressed by me.
"The occurrence was early in last August
and had passed out of my memory until it
was made the basis of resolution of inn
peachment by the United States house of
representatives as high crime and msde-
meanor' under the constitution.
II beg leave to thank you for your prompt
information of the nature of the house pro-
ceedings, as 1 desire and intend that my
positions, acts and intentions should be
free from any misconception and be per-
fectly transparent to the president, your
self ana my fellow countrymen."
Two davs later MIR. Bayard sent to Sec
retary Oiney the Boston newspapers con-
tanning reports of his speech there, and
in transmitting them wrote:
"Sundry discrepancies are obvious in
these Two reports and they are such as are
usually incidental under similar cltcum-
stauces-but as to the remarks attributed
to me, l spoke without generalization,
without notes, unaware of reporter s
presence and have no means OF recollec-
ton (now somewhat vague) to enable me
to correct either report. Therefore, l shall
not now essay it, a though it is obvious the
reporters failed to catch my words (some-
times in Latin) and confused them.
"But both reports are sufficiently full
and accurate to describe the purpose of
my visit and general nature and intent of
my remarks.
"If it is desired to gather the actual pur-
port and meaning of my statement it
would appear TO be necessary that phrases
should not be separated from the context
but that all parts should be considered in
their relation to each other, and as the
honorable house of representatives have,
in the grave exercise of their public duty
instituted inquiry into what has been said
and done by me on the occasions referred
to, including circumstances attendant, it
may not be unreasonable for me to en-
press the hope that in simple justice full
publication of the remarks undergoing
criticism may accompany the expression
of any judgment they may arrive at in the
premises"
Anti-i ynciing Law Passed
COIIrMpIAsS c.. Jan, 20,-The anti