New-York tribune., 1909-11-15
SIR. e. MoNsoN ON WASHINGTON.


TO the Editor OF The Tribuu.
Sir: In the obituary notices OF SIR Ed
nu1d Monson a rather notable episode In
This distinguished diplomats career has
been generally overlooked. refer 10 his
remarkable eulozy on Washington. which
was pronounced under such exceptional
circumstances as 10 Justify. perhaps. the
retellins OF the incident
In the winter OF 1897 a group OF Amer
leans IN Paris was making preparations TO
celebrate Washington's Birthday bv a
public banquet and was looking about for
a suitable presiding officer. At one OF the
meetings % the executive committee
sussested-and = happy thought it turned
out 70 be-ths name CT the newly arrived
British Ambassador To France. The other
members Of the committee. while OF
course. recognizing the excellence OF the
choice, naturally doubted the probability
or an acceptance. But at this moment the
Hay-PauEceIote treaty OF arbitration was
pending In the United States Senate and
the present good understanding between
England and America was not then so
nrInIy cementsd. So IL occurred 70 me
that for reasons OF Ia haute politique''
Sir Edmund might Just possibly seize this
occasion TO help on the good cause
The matter was laid before him by Sir
Austin Lee. the ambassador agreed TO
come. and on the evening fixed a soodIy
company gathered around him in one OF
the big dining halls OF the Hotel Conti-
mental. When the time came for the
speaking. Sir Edmund rose drew from his
pocket a typewritten document and read
very clearly and earnestly carefully pre-
pared address which he had entitled:
Washington and tie Mother Country"
We had naturally expected that the chair
man would make some remarks but we
were not prepared for this frank recogni-
tion OF the justice OF the American cause
In INC. When the speaker sat down and
the hearty applause had ceased the Rev.
Dr. Tying. who, Ike every American pres
ent, was much impressed by this generous
and unlocked for tribute. voiced the feel
inss OF all when he proposed in some well
chosen words that the speech be printed
az the expense OF the Dinner Club So a
few weeks later IL appeared in q neat
pamphlet from the Oxford University
Press. delicate compliment to ST. Ed
Inund. who was a Ball!ol honor man.
Among the half dozen distinguished
Frenchmen at the dinner table was the
late NJ. Ferdinand Brunetiere. who. il I re-
member correctly, sat next 10 Sir Edmund.
NJ. Brunetiere. who was a member OF
the French Academy and editor Of the
Revue des Deux-MOndes." vas also
struck By the significance and merit OF
the address. and then and there asked
permission to publish It in French in
his famous periodical. where il had the
place OF honor in tbs mid March number.
"Brunetisre's translation is admirable
xiv Of
me the proofs to correct. but 1 hardly
touched them"
Opposite Sir Edmund az table was NJ. De
Biowitz. VINO always knew a good thing
when he saw it,: consequently. the speech
appeared in full in the Times OF the next
morning. accompanied hy an approving
leading article.
The tenor OF the address. the STATEN OF
its author. the occasion OF its delivery.
and the wide publicity given to ia. were
the cause OF IL receiving much attention.
Sir Edmund was even severely criticised
In certain Tory quarters In England for
this surrender TO the Yankee" But what
would these squirss have said IL the, hal
known the whole genesis OF the NATTER
For instance. IL was proposed TO pur this
epigrsph on the title page OF the nam
phleI: Washington. The greatest man OF
our own or OF any age.-Lord Breughar1
Edinburgh Review October. ISss" Sir
Edmund was asked II he had any obtec
ton. and his written reply was: Il aulte
approve Of Lord Brougham's motto"
IL has always seemed ta me that Sir
Edmund Monson would rot have taken
this unusual step unless authorized to do
so by Lord Salisbury. who then presided
over the Foreign Office. and my view was
strengthened q few weeks later by this
sentence in lette~ from Jchn Hay. who
was at that moment Secretary Cf state in
Washington: your 2sd OF February was
great success and the speech OF Sir
T.. Mopson an event Of no less than inter-
national Importance"
THEODORE STANTON.
Paris. october 81. 1895