New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-24
PARTY HONORS Mr.. REID.
REPUBLICAN CLUB DIMES.
Sir Percy Sanderson Greets I'm
bassador- Leaders Speak.

Reid. American Ambassador to the Court Of St
Jamess. at a dinner in the clubhouse No. -
West 4Otn-st. last night Before the dinner a
reception was hed. and the 242 guests met 3ir
Reid Lieutenant Governor NJ Linn Bruc~
stopped few moments with the Governors
stan. Both the reception and dining rooms wsr,
decorated with roses. palms and sreenery. Tx
British and American flags were crossed above
the centre of the guest table
President Louis Stern OF the cIub presided
The speakers of the evening were NJ. Reid. SIR
Percy Sanderson Consul General at New-Tork
City; Senator Chauncey NJ. Depew. Charles
Emory Smith and Edward Iauterbach. TT.
Rev. DR. r. s. Macarthur ASKED grace. Mr.
Reid was the first speaker He was received
with enthusiasm. Mr.. Stern in introducing him.
said:
Rarely have the members Of this club assem-
bled to do honor to more distinguished gem
tleman than he who is our guest tonight. Your
career, Mr.. Reid. has been so phenomenal that
you must possess that magic touch that turns
everything into success. 1t is unnecessary u
recount the innumerab bic honorable positions
you have graced here and abroad
In sending 10 the Court of the British Empire
man VINO mas achieved such distinction, the
President Of the United States has again given
the American people a proof Of his excellent
judgment, and we believe Mr.. Ambassador, that
you Will draw closer the bonds Of friendship and
cement still the cordial relations that exist
to-day between the two English speaking na-
tions of the earth.
MIR. REID'S SPEECH
Mr.. Stern then proposed toast to Nfr. Reid.
and the glasses were lifted with applause: Mr..
Reid then rose to his feet. He said:
I shall not try to tell you how much I appre-
clate the honor you do me. To be sent OF thus
by this great militant Republican club OF the
metropolis seems almost like special and for
NAL ratification of my appointment by the party
give. and earnestly trust that you and your
party. which have tried to serve so long, may
not hereafter see cause for dissatisfaction in the
discharge Of the great duties now lntTusted TO
me.
And yet, let me say at once that I do not en-
ter. and you would not expect me TO enter,
upon these duties partisan No politics
will or be known in the embassy. Demo
Gratis or Republicans. independents, Prohibl-
tionists, Populists, woman suffragists or mis-
cellaneous TefOrmers, foreign voters or native.
candidates defeated or candidates elected. all
are American citizens. all support the President
and the government the embassy represents.
and all alike in their right to regard the
American Ambassador as their public servant
When William Jennings Bryan expressed his
thanks for treatment at our embassies. which
was plainly due TO a man whom nearly half
the American people had more than once ap-
proved for their highest office, and when the
President responded that. If any Ambassador
had failed to extend such treatment in such
case. his shrift would have been short, there
was fit recognition of what has been the uni
form policy Of our government and what II
should always remain. No Ambassador has the
! right to carry his politics on the outward
voyage beyond Sandy Hook From that mo-
4
/ ernment of the whole American people, and the
service he is sent to render is due alike 10 all
Would il be trespassing ON too delicate ground
if L ventured to suggest that the converse ought
to be true;-that there ought 10 be no politics
1t is Of course matter OF plain rational inter
est. TO speak of national Self-reSpect that
a diplomatic officer, like his colleagues OF the
army and navy. while engaged IN active service
is entitled to support from home, and should be
held secure from attacks in the rear Is IL NOT
Just as plain that his work should be passed
/ solely
equally secure from mere partisan attack?
There have been good many alarming re-
ports recently as to other kinds of aJtaCk-at-
tacks from the front and by friends-which one
Of your representatives at least may have 70
encounter Here is great London newspaper,
describing in detail the trials of "a prosecuted
Ambassador Why" it frankly asks.
bassador? We turn him into sort Of lecturer and
demand from him at eysry turn sPeeSnes ane yss
lands End to John O. Ciroats in placid forgetfuI-
ness that he may after all have some business Of
his own or his co5ntTys TO attenG 10 one san an
preparing himself for the fray by rereadng all the
sSn2aadr sEsfSs skeShss Of b
bushel. working up local color and debating not
6eIoreand VIII ne ne Feel Se bigseif 4 free M man
Now gentlemen. will YOU please to observe
| under what sort of cross fire your hapless
| Ambassador Is placed You see the demands.
| and vet YOU are aware that all these expected
| speeches. and even the talk am now infiicting
upon YOU. are In violation OF the Axed and long
Here. if I may venture on the indiscretion ot
| quoting it, here are its precise terms:
pate in any manner in the political concerns oc
| the country of their residence and they di-
Ieoted especially to refrain IRON, puolS expires
sioEs of opinion upon local political or other sues
tions arising within taeir jurisdiction II is
deemed advisable to extend a similar prohSitioi
against public addresses unless upon eNcepticnaI
festsl occasions the country of official residence.
fa Fye9 ss gpen 6sndin sg in h Unte states or sss
| where should be carefully avoided
1t is interesting to recall that when this sweep
ing prohibition first reached me in this Identical
| language sixteen years ago. it came included
| in and made part of my instructions in
official circular authenticated by the significant
Nothing be plain5C than the situation
! thus created The only excuse am able To
! make for this little speech tonight. the only
excuse | shall ever be able to plead here or ON
the other side of the water. for any similar
lapses in the future. is that il shall clearly D.
near that. no matter how much I talk do
not say anything, Even on that plea I should
hardly dare TO rely we're not reasSured by tbs
fact that my talk from time time during a
number of years has thus far been apparently
regarded by the department. as fairly conform
| ing 70 that standard and being entirely in
noCuOus.
Really gentlemen. however much apDesraDres
may sometimes tend 70 a contrary view the
work of speeChmakinE is the chief duty for
which the country sends out its Ambassador.
There are graver tasks. and by the record as
to them the final Judgment is made up. We
have long been admirably served in Loudost
Nevertheless, ReVerdy Johnson and James Rus
sell Lowell and Edward ]. Phelps and Robert
| 7. Lincoln and Thomas F Bayard. and then
/ the man who passed from the ArpbasSsdorShiD
TO the front rank of modern Secretaries John
Hay. and now our laurelled and radiant Choate
not to speak or OtherS.-aI men | have been
proud to claim my friends. and the least Ns
whom, IL there is least among them. 7 am
grateful to be thought not wholly unworthy 10
foIIow.-aIl more less in spite Of thernselv es
| drifted into becoming known occasional and
| always successful speechmakers