Evening journal., 1911-09-07
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Intrigue That Robbed a
Worthy Man Of HiGh Honor
By Holland.

Richard Henry Dana, Jr., will be
longest remembered as the author Of
that great sea classic, Two Years
Before the Most" the first American
work TO be widely translated. But
among the lawyers OF his time, and
especially among those who made a
specially of international law, Danas
reputation as a lawyer was even
greater than that which he popularity
enjoyed as the author of one of the
most popular books Of>the day.
When Dana was at the height of his
fame as the master of international
law, President Grant found il Eeces-
sary TO remove John Lothrop Motley
from his post as Minister to Great
Britain on account Of insubordination.
The cause Of the removal was general
ly known; nevertheless, both the Pres
ident and his Secretary of State, Ham
ilton Fish, were severely criticised for
removing Motley, the general esteem
in which he was held as author and
historian causing the administration
critics TO overlook the fact that Motley
had fatty refused to obey the instruc-
tions of his immediate superior, Secre-
tary Fish. Especially in Massachusetts,,
Motley's own state. the people were in
dignant, they taking it, apparently, as
an affront to the state because Motley
had been removed from his post OF
high distinction.
Six years later, in order to quiet the
hostile feeling in Massachusetts, TO-
wards the administration, when the
President received the resignation OF
General Robert G. Schenck, Of Ohio
Motley's successor as Minister to Great
Britain he determined TO nominate a
Massachusetts man for the post. Sec
retary Fish recommended the appoint.
ment of Richard Henry Dana, Jr., urg-
ing that he had won fame both as an
author and a master of international
law. The President at once warmly ap.
proved the recommendation. and ia
due course sent Danas name to tn,
Senate, fully believing that conhrmE-
tion Of the appointment would follow
within day or two. That was In 1876
But the next day." said the late
Colonel George Bliss. for many years
an intimate friend Of Richard Henry
Dana, Jr., and long a Republican party
leader In New York state, zone of the
Massachusetts congressman called
upon the President and reported that
Ben Butler, who had a personal griey.
ance against Dana, and one or two
other prominent men of Massachusetts
had begun an intrigue with the avowcd
object of prevailing upon the Senate
not to confirm Dana's appointment. in
view of this fact. the Presidents caller
hinted, it perhaps would be the better
part of the President to withdraw the
nomination of Dana.
L will not withdraw it, President
Grant replied, grimly. If Massachu-
sets, through the intrigues of Butler
and others, is able TO defeat the nomi-
nation of Richard Henry Dana as Min
lister to Great Britain, then / want that
record made. l want it known that, Il
Dana's nomination is rejected, Massa.
chusetts did It,
We'll, the intrigue was successful
Dana's name was rejected by the Sen
ate. But that made no difference in hi
position with the public. They knew
that he had richly deserved the homo
because Of HIS legal learning, his pa
triotism, his character. The fact tina
the public stood by him consoled Dan
greatly. but the blow that Ben Butle
and his intriguing associates induce
the Senate to give Dana was one fror
which Dana never fully recovered I
his dying day Secretly, he ever grieve
over IL, and often to his most intimat
friends he would speak In sorrow q
this chapter I'm his career. IL was th
one great sorrow Of his life"
Copyright, 1911, by e. J. Edwards. A
Rights Reseryed.)
NJ. i'm .