Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-11
THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR.


sheneld, Eng, Independent, Feb. 18TH
At the Sheffield Press Club dinner on
Saturday night, Mr.. Bayard, the
American mbassador, made a speech
which raised that function to a moral
dignity 1t Inns rarely il ever touched
before. Americnn Governments have
been singularly wise, or fortunate. in
the choice OF the representatives they
have sent 10 England, but never was
barpier choica made than Mr. BayGr1.
From the first, Englisbmen have felt
that In Mr.. Bayard il summed up all
that is choicest in the American peo-
ple-frcshuess Of thought, generous cul-
ture, a rare catholicity of spirit, and
that dignity which accompanies the
power that 10 quite euro of itself.
Why Mr.. i,ayard has succeeded SO
completely in winning not only the adj
miratiun hut the affection of English /,
uen may be road through his speech of
Saturday night. America Is the land
of noble sentiment carried into the
region OF public affairs. IL it seems,
sometimes, that she falls of in moral
stamina, when 1t comes TO the point OF
putting her sentiment into act-as 10
| threatened now in tho case of the Arbi-
tiation Treaty--ws know right well
that in tho minds OF the beat Ameri-
cans, BY whom she ought to be judged,
there is no such falling off. but that
| thought, and heart, and hand arc ut
ono, and OF this splendid unity of
philosophy and sympathy aud deed Mr..
| Bayard Is the type and exponent. AS
| be reminded his hearers. no came to
Sheffield first among provincial cities
after his arrival in this country, and
4 ....k CA nr Iau pE 10
| last OF the public engagements he will
fulfil before returning to his native
| land.
We QUESTION whether thu representa-
| tive OF any foreign country, when leav.
| ing our shores. has ever left warmer
he lrts behind him than will be left by
4 Mr.. Bayard. Englishmen OF every rank
| ip every part of the British Islands
who know anything of public affairs
| can recognize the justice OF his sum
ming up OF his work here-that he has
done what he could; that he has no
| need to wish anything unsaid that he
has said and the lust phrase of his
| summary-the wish that he could have
done more.--is but the aspiration OF our
1 common humanity, at its best. when
it counts up final results. Ii seemed on
| Saturday as IL Mr.. Bayard, feeling that
he iR leaving us coon. and that his
privilege of speaking from the vantage
ground of the Ambassadorship will
soon expire. sought TO say n straight
and manly word upon that high plane
Of human intercourso where we staud
Dtrippad Of pretences and conventions
and 0wn the very truth. And the wore
he spoke WAS this-that the Ambassa
doris between ration and nation, and
the Journalists OF nation and nation,
are doing essentially the same worl
and are sharing the same responsible
ties OF just judgment. Of kiadly appre
cIaton, and OF manly and sincere
mutual understanding. L. is their mis-
SION, in common, TO help communities
separated by distance and by variety O
environment to be fair and g0nerous Il
each other.
| No wiser word could be spoken to tn,
press. 1t will apply, too, in the mar
rover sphere than that to which Mr.
Bayard specifically referred. The pres
may do much, should do much, to hell
sections Of the people OF u country Or |
locality to understand each other; i
should act az paciiier and an inter
prefer, rathor than stirrer up o
strife and an agency for propagatini
Misunderstanding MIR. BRyard hrough
parting word TO us as pressmel
worthy of the widest acceptation, and
in doing 50, he gave the Press Ciul
dinner a new dignity