The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-21
BAYARD'S TALK
IS EXPLAINED,
The ambassador Says There
Were Discrepancies in
Reporting.
NO WORSE THAN OTHERS.
Pleads That Predecessors Made
Speeches by Request of
the English.
EXCUSES FOR HIS UTTERANCEs
Correspondence With the Diplomat
Sent by the President to the
House of Representatives.

cred at Edinburgh, Scotland, and Boston,
England, by EN- AMBASSADOR Bayard was de-
llvered by one of the Presidents secre-
taries at the close of routine business.
The President transmitted report from
the Secretary of State in addition to other
papers, which says:
"ln response to that part of said resolu-
ton which requests information as to the
action taken by the President concerning
the speeches therein referred to, l reply
that no action has been taken by the Pres
ldent, except such as is indicated in the
report and correspondence herewith sub.
mitted."
The Secretary of States report, after re-
citing the resolution, simply presents the
correspondence with Mr.. Bayard on the
subject and says that aside from these
COMMUNICATIONS no action has been taken
by the department.. The first letter is
from Mr.. Bayard to Secretary Olney,
dated London, December II, in which he
says he observed from the newspapers in
England the action of the House of Repre-
sentatives looking TO his impeachment,
and incloses printed copy of the Edin-
burgh address. Mr.. Bayard adds:
In the absence of precise information
of the text of the resolution said to have
been adopted by the House, and not pro-
posing to anticipate the action of either or
both houses Of Congress, yet observing
that, in the course of the discus
sion, reference was made to the
diplomatic officers of the United States-I
respectfully advert to article and its sub
sections, in order that your attention may
be drawn to the fact that the address in
question was delivered before an institu-
ton purely literary and scientific in its
character and wholly unconnected with
political parties-which has honored two
Of my official predecessors with similar in
yitations, which in both cases had been
accepted-subjects political in their ma
ture Democracy and The Law of the
Land), having been respectively selected
and treated with distinguished ability.
No political canvass was pending or ap-
preaching IN this country when my ad-
dress was made-and no interference or
anticipation in local or party political con-
Germs in this country was therefore, pos
sible.
"The address consisted of my personal
opinions upon governmental institutions
in general-the moral forces aud tenden-
cies which underlie them-and the gov
ernmental policies which assist in the
conservation of the freedom of the indi-
vidual as an essential integer of human
progress-and of the prominence OF ciyili-
cation.
1.-THE judgments so delivered were
formed by me after careful deliberation,
and in presentation sundry historical facts
and arguments tending so sustain them
were advanced. When Congress shall
have concluded its action on the subject it
is possible that may desire to submit a
further statement, but meanwhile 1 con-
slider it proper to place before you the adj
dress itself i'll full and all connected with
its delivery.
Mr.. Bayard adds in a postscript: 81 find
upon reading over this note that Mr.. Low
ellis address, Democracy was delivered
by him before the Midland Institute at
Birming association similar in its
character to the Edinburgh Philosophical
Institution"
Secretary Olney Immediately on receipt
of this cabled the ambassador on January
8 that the House resolution asked not only
whether the Edinburgh speech was made,
but also whether in the Boston speech he
used the words, "The President stood in
the midst of a strong, self-confident and
oftentimes violent people-men who sought
to have their own way. It took real man
to govern the people of the United States"
Mr.. Olney's dispatch also asked Mr..
Bayard to send any additional statement
regarding the Edinburgh speech he de-
sired to make, and said the resolution
ocHaA w hat
had taken on the speeches. Mr. Bayard
cabled the following day that he would
comply, and under the same date wrote
confirming the cablegram. In his letter,
dated January he says he was selected
to deliver the prizes to the graduating
students of the Boston Grammar-school,
which he did in spirit of good will.
"In the afternoon" he continued, tive
adjourned to public hall, where dinner
was served, and as is customary here there
were toasts and responses, and / responded
to the health of the President OF the United
States and subsequently to a toast to
myself. So far as | am concerned every
tnlng was lmpromptu, and a kindly,
humorous, post-prandial tone prevailed.
1t seems reporter was present, but did
not see him, nor did / know that any re-
port had been made until the local new3-
paper was sent to me few days after in
London. sent copy to Mr.. Cleveland,
because the report contained kindly
reference to the family home circle of the
President, and, as have grandchildren in
Boston, Mass, L sent copy to the house
hold. This was the extent of publication
IN the United States of which L have any
knowledge. I must except an elaborate
editorial in the Philadelphia Ledger,
graveiy censuring the constitutional views,
which the editor supposed to have been
expressed by me.
1.-The occurrence was early in last
August and had passed out of my memory
until it was made the basis, or one of the
bases, of resolution of impeachment by
the United States House of Representa-
tives as high crime and misdemeanor
under the constitution"
Two days later, January 6, Mr.. Bayard