South Bend news-times., 1921-05-27
HARVEYAN DIPLOMACY.


new sde-Iight ts thrown upon the quality Of
patriotism and the probable consequent diplomacy
OF Col George Harvey ambassador 70 che court Of
St Jamea by a speech delivered IN the house Of
representative at washington by Congressman
Stevenson OF South Carolina II appears that Har-
very. back in 1905. delivered speech before the
St. Andrews society Of Charleston that has since
been published IN a volume entitled. THE rover
OF Intolerance" 1t explains somewhat the frame
Of mind OF the not only as he spoke before the
St Andrews society but he recently addressed
the Pilgrims society of London, in which he almost
apologized for the American revolution and the in
dependence Of the United states. In his address at
Charleston, back in 1906. the colonel said.
at the outbreak Of the Civil war Of my
immediate ancestors living were two grand
fathers. my own father and nine uncles. They
were northern men; not Of them had
crossed the Mason and Dixon line. They re-
garded slavery with adherence. but none of
those twelve men ever lifted hand against his
white brother In the south. From their
zneager store and from necessity eleven OF them
furnished the federal government with sums Of
money fixed for the procurement OF substitutes.
one uncle, perhaps the best able Of the twelve
10 do So absolutely refused chewed the
cud Of bitter reflection for two years in the
county Jail I make boast Of their action.
claim for them no credit Whether at
the time, under those circumstances should
have done as they did. do not know. but the
facts family history and constitute basis
Of my assertion that have absolute and
unqualified right speak you Of the
south the words OF a fraternal heart"
And we are told that the speech not
cordially received even in CharIeston-which
may weu believe. since the south. though rebellious
ut the time to which ne refers has never been Of
a temperament that admires "slackers." An appeal
10 southern audience, based on the fact that Of
his eleven immediate ancestors. all northern
not one had gone into the war on the side Of the
Union. While clear Of purpose. Congressman Steven
son assures us that the speech failed to evoke ap
plause. The congressman says:
"Col. Harvey had not, even up TO 1905. come
TO any conclusion whether he would have fought
IN the Civil war IL he had had chance, on
the side OF the Union"
and the gentleman from south Carolina thereupon
asks quite pertinently IT, in view Of the ambassa-
dor's London speech
"he might not feel that the same sort Of dis
claimer OF any family participation in the war
of the revolution would commend him to the
people Of Great Britain"
when the colonel spoke In Charleston.-whatever
the term "coloner' IN his case may mean,-he ap-
parently considered himself something of am
baszador TO the southern people and as such he
Gained
a-an absolute and unqualified right to speak 10
yog men Of tho south the words of fraternal
But as both the people Of England and the south
adnlire men who fight for what they believe in.
this method Of approach probably has taken
much better in London than it did in Charleston.
we do not regard probable that a man with
such family record, having one does nothing
TO cover up. and who after 40 years has made
I'D his mind whether he would have fought for
the union. would ever receive invitation to ad-
dress the men who wore the blue or the gray.
either one.
The greatest northern democrat OF Civil war days
Stephen A. Douglas-saw his duty and was not
at all reluctant in saying So Two days following
the bombardn1ent Of ~. sumpter. and exactly four
years previous TO the assassination Of Abraham Lin
coin Douglas who had been Lincoln's rival for the
presldency visited the white house. and was pri-
vately received by the executive. What passed be-
tween these two remarkable during the two
hours that elapsed the world Will never know, but
this we do know. that the following mOrn.ns
when LancoIn.s call for volunteers was telegraphed
throughout the country. there accompanied the mes
sage the authorized declaration Of Sen Dougas:
while 7 am unalterabIy opposed 10 the ad-
r1inistrrron on all the political issues, 1 am
prepared 10 sustain the PRESIDENT in the eN-.
ercse OF all his constitutional functions TO
rreserve the Union maintain the government
ana defend the federal capital"
Enough, Both the great chieftains had spoken,
and the followers or Douglas-vtth the exception
OF such as the antecedents Of Col Harvey-side by
side with the followers OF Lincoln. marched the
nations defense.
Does America want such men az this represen nting
her in foreign courts and in speeches ike that one
IN London telling the people OF foreign lands what
the ideals of America are; apoiOgizing FOR our in
dependence of Great Britain, repudiattng our ex-
pressed ideals the time OF our entrance into the
worlc war and preaching for us gospel OF ma
teriaI.srn. greed and seashness not at all eharac-
teristic of the great mass Of our people?
col Harvey should be recalled from London. and
II might not be out Of place IL fun, complete and
irpartia justice IS 10 be done that he be given an
ambassadorship back 10 the south this time not 10
CharIesson. however. but 10 Atlanta