The herald., 1896-12-07
And Asks That the Subscrip=
tiOns Cease
A FEW HOURS REFLECTION
Convinces Him That Acceptance Won'd
Not Be Legal
The Newspaper Will Return All Contri-
buttons, but Has No Regrets for
the Action Taken.
Associated Press Special Wire


LONDON, Dec. 6.-Mr. Bayard, the
United States ambassador, has written
to the Daily Telegraph. under date OF
Saturday, confirming the report cabled
to the Associated Press on Saturday that
he would decline the proffered Christ
mas gift intended as compliment to
him and in honor of his efforts to bring
about an era of good feeling between
the United States and Great Britain.
He has asked the proprietors of the pa
per not to proceed to carry out their
kind and generous proposition" along
the lines planned. He then proceeds to
describe the manner in which he first
learned of the proposal Thursday after
noon, by reading the announcement in
the columns of the Telegraph. He says
he was naturally deeply touched and
gratified still more when the following
issues of the paper contained so many
spontaneous tributes of respect and kind
feeling from men of all classes, occupa-
tions and varying degrees of fortune.
Continuing, he says: "a few hours
of reflection have brought me to the
sober judgment that, holding my pres
and duties, 1 should scrupulously obey
the spirit as we'll as the letter of my
countrys law, written and unwritten,
which inhibits any one holding an office
of trust or profit under the United
States of America from accepting, with
out the consent of congress, any pres
ent from any king, prince or govern
ment' The reasons for this inhibition
apply with special significance to the
Nt,Ecf ,tnt tsx-n Of In ont
abroad"
Mr.. Bayard continues his comment,
remarking that republican forms of
government require strict and delicate
obedience to such principles, so that not
even the smell of smoke can lurk in the
folds Of official garments.
'The ermine of the judge" says Mr.
Bayard, SHOULD not be more stainless
than the robe of the law -giver, nor that
of the legislator than that of the execu-
tive.
THE patriotic and admirable intent
of your influential journal has been
surely accomplished, for it has evoked
such expressions of widespread sympa-
thy and approval as, like the breath of
the ocean, will fill the sails of two great
ships of state, as they are borne onward
by the irresistible currents of our COM
mon civilization
Mr.. Bayard concludes with an express
sion of sincere gratitude, and says that
while I live I will not cease to thank
the people of these islands for the whole
hearted and unstinted welcome and
warm hospitality showered upon me
and mine. 1 am sure serve both coun-
tries best when decide, as ambassador
not to receive the valuable and delight
full present proposed
In an editorial, the Telegraph an
| nounced that the contributions will be
returned, and repudiates the charge of
'meanness and presumption" but mo
regrets for the action taken" are ex-
pressed since such sympathy through
out England and America has been
produced, as evinced by the cablegrams
received from Frederick r. Coudert, E.
l.. Godkin, ex-Gov. Flower, Bishop Pot
ter President Eliot of Harvard univer-
sity and others.
In conclusion, the Telegraph says edi-
torially: IF the effort fails of its imme-
date and innocent purpose, it has gone
far enough to prove the sincere good will
of the nation toward Ambassador Bay
ard"