The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-19
LOTOS FAREWELL TO REID.
NEW AMBASSADOR PLEADS FOR
NEWSPAPER uODERATIGN.
Suggests That We Are sometimes Intern.
perate In Our Comment an Foreign
Anairs-Japs, lie SAYS. Have Taught
Us n Lesson on the NaCp Of secrecy.

The Lotos Club last night gave Mr. White
law Reid the new Ambassador 10 Grea
Britain, his Goclspeed to his post at {
dinner which was Of remarkable size ano
frilliancy for one so late N the dMnel
season. The Lotos dining rooms were
fairly ablaze with dogwood roses and purple
lilacs. About $50 members Of the club
we're present.
The menus we're large portfolios which
included japan proof etching OF Mr. REID
which was inscribed with record of the
various diplomatic posts he has filed
About Mr.. Reid and President F. T. Law
renee Of the Lotos at the center table sal
Clark Howell of the Atlanta Constitution
NJ. H. de Young Of the San francisco
Chronicle Charles r. Miller of the
Nev York Tunes. Melville F. Stone
W. H. McElroy, Edmund Clarence
6tedman, President Nicholas Murray But
Ter, e1-Mayor Seth Low, the Rev. DIR. Mlnot
j. Savage, the Rev. Dr.. Elm st Nj. Sti es,
the Rev. Or. Donald Sage Mackay,
William W. Walker, Senator Chauncey NJ.
Depew and George H. Daniels. Others
who were there were Justice Vernon Nj.
Davis, Jesse NJ. SeligmAn, John de Witt
Warner, Emil Boos and DR.. II. c. du Val.
President Lawrence started the speaking
at 10 O'Clock. Turning to the guest of the
evening he said;
THE connection between the Lotos Club
and the guest in whose honor we assemble
tonight dates from the earlier days OF both.
Almost from the organization of the club
he was a leader among those who laid the
foundation for its future. And as we have
watched his later career in which one dis
tinction has rapidly followed another, it has
been one Of the happiest memories and i'll
spirations of this club that for fourteen
years he presided over its affairs so wise
and successfully as to furnish an example
which, however those who came after him
might strive to equal they could never hope
to excel
He went forth from us to become the
Minister of the United States to the Repub-
lie Of France. and we his old friends of this
club have felt a sense of pride and almost
personal participation in all his achieve
ments since.
Tonight we hail the Honorable Whiteiaw
Reid as the Ambassador Of the United States
to the court of st. James, the most dis
tinguished station which can be held by an
American abroad.
1Thc relations between the United States
and Great Brita in are so important that they
cannot be erestlnated. In a large sense
these two great countries hold in their Keep
ing the peace, the advancement and tho
welfare Of the civilized world We may
be assured that through no act of our dis
ever be endangered. We know that what
ever emergency arises the interests of this
country will be safe in his hands. As his
friends, as members Of this club and as
tinction which has come to him rs the crown
ing honor of a great public career
many napkins Mr.. Reid rose and said:
Let me take the opportunity before
this club, so largely made up OF members
nf the md pthprs ,,f 1itnrorv and
artistic pursuits, to say further that the
thing that has touched me most of all is
the unbroken good will expressed with
such heartiness and without distinction
of party by my colleagues in the press Of
the city and State of New York, among
whom / have lived and worked and done
my share of fighting for more than a gem
GRAFTON.
May I presume a little on this? I would
like to take the liberty of pointing out that
other work may now bring different duties
No one, trust, will ever find me unmindful
Of the rights and the just claims of the
am the proudest to have served No man
can have spent his life in newspaper work
without being led by all his habits and
instincts to sympathy with newspaper
efforts. And yet may l hint that there
may, in fact, there must come time when
1t will be my duty to report first and ex-
cluAvely to the Government instead of
reporting 10 the newspapers!
It Is perfectly true that an open course
Il the best; that a free people wish to know
from day to day what is being done in their
name and by their authority; that our
Government is not adapted to secrecy
movements and its policy
But the Japanese have been showing
On great scale that there is duty in
war which under any sagacious Govern
Inent must come before the duty Of furnish
Ga hs,lla rrr fhn dali nj,
macy, II 1t Is to be sagacious or successful
even the diplomacy Of republic, must be
somewhat in the same class. Neither can
always be advantageously conducted ooram
sThere Is another phase Of our news
paper activities that merits more serious
consideration from all of us than we gem |
orally give it. The free press largely rules
2 free country. 1t may make peace or war;
Of fomanting very grave difficulties Which
It never desired or intended or even Thought |
OF. Is 1t not time for the press, when |
u exercises the power, to recognize also
the obligations of MISREPRESENTATION,
moderation and scrupulous regard both |
others2
I'VE have ourselves resented at times
with 1nwonted asperity the slightest foreign |
sions. More than once those OF us ofmaturer
years have seen this country lashed into a
fury almost belligerent merely by
critical or carping references in foreign
newspapers. 1t might be we'll now in some |
quiet hour, to consider the other side and (
reflect how they may feel over our free
spoken comments lon their affairs.
DO not misunderstood me. I am ar
raigning no one, and making no criticism
Of others which / do not take to myself
also. But has not the time come in the de-
velopment of this country and in the in
creased intimacy and importance of its
relations to other countries when we NAV
advanta geously practise little more re-
serve in commenting upon other peoples
affairs. little more mpartialitv between
countries at war, and a friendlier tone to
each when we ara on good terms with both
and have every interest to remain so? What
Is good poLcy for individuals in the disa-
greements of their neighbors might some
times in these International cases he pretty
good policy for newspapers, too and for the
people at large an attitude of friendly
neutrality while meantime diligently mind
ing their own business and letting that Of
other people alon'."
Edmund Clar7n1e Stadman spoke briefly
of the achievements of Mr.. Reid as a war
orrcspondent and a. friend and patron
Of lit raturo.
Ey-Maynr low said the best advice he
could offer tho now Arlbass ador was that