Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-09
CENSuRED BY A PARTY VOTE.
London Standard, March ii.

By q majority of more than 100, the
House of Representatives, yesterday,
after prolonged debate, passed vote
OF censure on Mr. Bayard, the Ameri-
can Ambassador in London. His
offence, it will be remembered, is that
in two speeches, delivered at Edin-
burgh and Boston, he ventured to criti-
else some of the institutions and poll
tical tendencies of the United States.
The remarks that were most keenly re-
sented in Washington were those which
dealt with the extravagances Of protec-
tioni5m and the evils ii brings In its
train. As this is one OF the main issues
between Republicans and Democrats,
and since he is himself leading ad-
herent of the latter party, he undoubt-
edly gave handle to his adyersaries.
They complain, with some show of
reason, that he has forgotten the politi-
cal neutrality required Of statesman
who represents his country at foreign
court Perhaps we should not quite
relish it If our own Ambassador at
Paris or Berlin were to express his
views of aome current domestic quea-
ton. such as tho policy of the govern
ment with regard to education. But the
grievance against Mr. Bayard is ridic-
ulously exaggerated. The opinions he
put forward were stated in the manner
OF a political philosopher rather than
OF partisan; and the most Jealous
scrutiny would not discover any at
tempt 10 exalt Mr.. Cleveland at the ex-
pense of his opponents. And tho CEN
sure would carry more weight il it did
not happen 10 be passed by an almost
solid Republican vote, being supported
by only six of the Democrats. The
resolution itself Is not matter of much
Importance, since tho practice of the
United States is to lay very little stress
on the views of the House Of Represen-
tatives with regard to what we should
call foreign Office business. Virtually,
that is left to the Senate and the
President. Unless he is called to ac-
count by ono of those authorities, Mr..
Bayard will be at liberty to 10 on here
as II nothing particular had happened.
Ho would find in the language used by
some of his critics the best OF excuses
for taking that course. 1t was urged,
for instance, that his indiscretion had
been rendered the more serious by rea-
son OF mis- great public services and
high personal character Manifestly,
therefore, he would be entitled to say
that there was no general dissatisfaction
with his conduct as Ambassador. Nor
wouli he go very far wrong if he ig-
nored the rebuko as being inspired less
by sensitive regard for the diplomatic
proprieties than by a wish to hit Mr.
Cleveland through one of bis most dis
tinguished friends. With the Presidun-
tial election SO near at hand, when a
change at the White House would be
followed by his own retirement, it
might be inGonyenient TO find sue
cessor for the brief interval. These are
considerations which may very we'll
prevail against Mr. Bayard's natural
unwlllingness to accept the slight put
upon him, and an equally natural de-
sire, by emancipating himself from
official control, to throw himself into
active controversy at home and get his
revenge on opponents who have taken
an ungenerous advantage of what, at
the worst. was very slight breach of
decorum. There is another motive, a
far stronger one, which should we
think, determine him to remain at the
post of duty. That the bitterness dis
played in the earlier phases of the
Venezuelan question has given way to
friendly tone between the London and
Y ashington governments is largely due
to the personal eXertions of Mr. Bay
ard, and no successor could take up his
work quite where he had left it.
Though there is no reason to fear re-
vlval of tho feeling reused by President
Cleveland's message to Congress, now
that tho Americans have had tima to
understand the merits of the case,
and to realize the honest intentions Of
British statesmen, the settlement might
he retarded if stranger were intruded
into 1t. Without any wish 10 take
sides in what is purely matter for the
people of the United States, we may
say, without offence, that Enalishmcn
would be genuinely disappointed if
Mr.. Bayard's stay in this country were
abruptly terminated He set himself
from the time of his first appearance,
not only to bring about cordial un-
derstanding between tine two nations,
but also to understand the English
in most essential respects SO like. in
minor points 80 unlike, the American
character. 1t should not be reckon cd
against him that he has, from associa-
tion with us, imbibed one of our peeu-
liarities-the taste for self-crticism.
We are all fond of finding fault with
our own characters and institutions,
though we are unalterably convinced
that both are the best in the world. If
Mr.. Bayard fell into the same moral
mannerism, it is equally certain that
the United States contain no citizen
who is prouder of his nationality, and
have never sent representative TO this
country who was more resolved to as
sert their rights and claims. 1t is not
because he ia weak Ambassador. who
might be caioled, that we wish him to
remain with us, but because he is
essentially strong man, respected in
both countries. We hope, therefore,
that the little cloud will blow over
quietly. Mr.. Bayard is by no means
the first American Minister who has
been censured by a party vote.
Honornd at Harvard.
G. P. Miller Rumford, son of Henry
p. Rumford, cashier of tho Central
Bank, has again carried off the first
Y,riyn af tha ayb;lft 1f tLn rl