Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-12-31
THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR



as her Majesty is still automatically
described meeting of tho
Mechanics Institute last night at
Burnley, and distributed prizes to tho
successful students. Mr.. Bayufd is
master of the graceful aud dignitied
oratory suitable to an Ambassador on
public occasion. But it is not of
mechanics institutes in general, or OF
the Burnley Institute in particular,
that the many friends Mr.. Bayard has
made in this country will be thinking
just now. Mr.. Bayard has been in
England for three years and half.
But be cannot. it ia to be feared, re-
main in England. ut least as the official
representative of hie own country,
much longer. He is Democrat, and
the new President OF the United States
is u Republican. 1t is true that Mr..
Mckinley was not elected by strict
party vote, and that he owes his suc-
cess to the Sound Money Democrats.
But We are afraid that will not inter
fere with tho application of the old
Roman maxim that to the conquerors
belong the spoils. The American Mug
wump votes against his party on
national grounds with his eyes open.
He knows the effect upon his political
friends, and perhaps upon himself.
President Cleveland was first elected
as a result Of Republican revolt
against the late Mr.. Blaine in 1884.
But he formed Democratic cabinet,
and appointed Democratic Ministers
abroad. 1t was at the beginning Of
his second and still current Presidency
that Mr.. Cleveland sent Mr.. Bayard to
London in the place Of Mr.. Robert
Lincoln, son of the illustrious
Abraham. Mr.. Lincoln was the last
Minister and Mr.. Bayard the first
Ambassador who came to this country
from Washington. The social dis
tinction between an Ambassador and
Minister in England il one of the most
ridiculous among the solemn pluusi
bilities of the world. An Ambassador
takes precedence of all her Majesty's
subjects except the Royal Family. A
Minister ranks between Duke and
Marquis. There Ia somewhat more
important diplomatic difference, ihas-
much as an Ambassador, being the
direct personal representative of the
Head of the State from which he
comes. can demand an audience from
the Head of the State to which he goes
whereas Minister can only request
one. Notwithstanding the change Of
official title which was OF course made
simultaneously at Washington and
here, the Ambassador of the United
States preserves tho simplicity Of
equipage and costume which Ameri-
can Ministers formerly adopted. An
amusing contrast is furnished by the
plain carriage of the Envoy from the
wealthiest community in either hemis-
phere and the gorgeous coach which
conveys to Court the Ambassador of
bankrupt Turkey.
1t was. perhaps. fortunate for Mr..
Bayard that he did not Immediately
succeed Mr.. Lowell, the greatest among
American men of letters Mr.. Lowell
delivered in England addresses which
are classics, perfect models OF form
and sparkling with the raciest humor.
His appointment was felt by Englisn-
men as compliment, and the author
of the Biglow Papers was nowhere re-
garded as stranger. Mr.. Bayard,
though he had been Secretary of State,
and occupied a leading position in
American politics, had to introduce
himself. and to make his own way.
How we'll hs did it everybody knows.
He had great natural advantages. His
fine presence, his serenely courteous
manners, and his polished eloquenoe
made an immediate impression. Very
few inhabitants of these islands know as
much about them as Mr.. Bayard knew
when he presented his credentials.
Whatever historical spot or monument
might be shown him he proved to be
as we'll acquainted with it as il he bad
lived In this neighborhood all his life
Indeed. it would be very difficult to
find any branch OF knowledge 10 which
Mr.. Bayard was not at homo. He
belongs to a political family, which
for three generations havo sat for their
native State of Delaware in the Ameri'
can Senate. Indeed, MIR. Rayard is
rather too keen politician to suit the
taste OF all his countrymen. The House
of Representatives passed vote OF
formal censure upon him for two
speeches delivered last year at Edin 4
burg and at Boston, in Lincolnshire,
respectively. at Boston no spoke in
rather heightened and telling way
about the position occupied by the
President of the United States, who
"stood in tho midst Of strong, self
confident. and sometimes violent people,
men who sought to have their own
way" cit took real man, he
added, 'sto govern the people of the
United States" Ihia passage appears
to have been interpreted in Congress as
proposal for establishing despotism
in America. But Mr.. Bayard was
obviously eulogizing the actual Consti-
tuition of his cou1try as it exists at the
present time. The powers of the Presi-
dent are very great, thoroughly we'll
known, and most strictly defined. All
Presidents act up to them, and Ameri-
cans never dream of blaming Presi-
dent because he has put his veto upon
bill passed by both branches OF the
Legislature. A French jurist said
with much shrewdness that England
was republic with an hereditary
President, and America a monarchy
with an elected King.
When President Cleveland's message
of last December excited temporary
feelings of mutual irritation between
Great Britain and the United States,
the friendly influence Of Mr.. Bayard'
personality had an invaluable effect.
Wherever he went he was received with
perculiar cordially, and his speeches.
full Of genial tact, net with unhounded
enthusiasm. No one man did SO much
as Mr.. Bayard to restore those gond
relations which have just had such
splendid and beneticeut results. How
far Lord Salisbury's agreement with
Mr.. Olney is palatablo to hia own
political followers may indeed bs open
to considerable doubt. No member of
the government eycept the Prime