Year: 1876

The Vienna Scandal


Mr.. Jays letter exhibits the shameful
Vienna scandal in a new dress, or rather in
a new state of undress, for he strips it quite
as naked as the decencies of public discus-
sion and the forms of courtesy due from a
recent member of the diplomatic service to
the government will allow. When exhibited
in this near approach to perfect nudity that
scandal is not an attractive spectacle Mr..
JAY was in position to be thoroughly ac-
quainted with the facts and with the impress
sion they made on the government to
which he was accredited and other foreign
governments. 1t is not surprising that he
was stung and mortified at the time when
every token of scorn for our government
pierced the sensibilities of its representa-
tive nor is it strange that traces of the
indignant modification he then felt color the
language of his review The prostitution OF
such an occasion, intended to represent the
civilization and highest culture of the par
ticipating nations to purposes of vulgar
jobbery and base gain, would naturally iri-
cense q Minister who had any pride
of country. That disgraceful jobbery
took the most revolving of all
possible forms in the establishment OF
numerous grogshops in connection with
the American part of the exhibition. The
drinking stands would have been an offence
against decency even if corrupt means had
not been resorted to to get admission for
them, and they were doubly odious and
detestable by their dishonest origin.


The first mistake made by our government,
according to Mr.. Jay, was in the selection OF
the American Commissioners. They ought
to have been gentlemen and representatives
of the best culture of the United States. In,
point of fact they were low greedy adven-
turers, who were glad of an opportu-
nifty to traffic in the honor of our govern
ment in a manner which was equally
insulting to it and to the government which
had invited American participation in the
exposition. Another gross blunder was per-
petrated in composing the American Com
mission, in great part, of former citizens OF
Austria then resident in Vienna, in violation
of the etiquette to which the house of Haps-
burg attaches great importance. When our
government was informed of the scandal, in
stead of investigating it in New York, as it
ought to have done, and nipping it in the
bud, it waited and let it show its hideous
face in Vienna, and then suspended the
scandalous Commissioners. Mr.. Jay thinks
that the temporary Commissioners appointed
in their place discharged their duties with
fidelity, but the government listened to SLAM
ders and published insinuations against them.
The investigation of the scandal by the
American Senate was a sham investigation.
because the Senate formed its opinion on
garbled documents furnished by the Execu-
tive Department. The government publicly
censured its agents for things which they did
in strict pursuance of its own instructions.
1t whitewashed one of the worst offenders by
appointing him to an important consulship.
The damaging statements which we have thus
summarized are supported by Mr.. Jay with
an array of facts and proofs which make an
unpleasant impression.


Mr.. Jay complains of the injustice of the
government in publishing, without note or
comment, in selections from official papers,
a statement that members of the temporary
commission were largely interested in one
or more sewing machines. "It is hardly
strange" he says, ,''that to the publication
of such a charge by the apparent permission
of the State Department against its foreign
agents some significance should have been
attached in Europe, where the governments
frankly recognize the duty of loyalty
toward their agents, especially when they
are unable to protect themselves,
and where the simple dictates of public JUS
tice, personal integrity and national honor
render it impossible that government,
however tempted to reverse its policy, should
expose its foreign agents to misrepresenta-
ton, contumely and reproach for no other
reason than that they have faithfully exc
cuted its orders" Nobody can mistake tha
severe implications implied in this significant
language. We need not commend Mr.. jays
comments on the Vienna scandal to the
special attention of the public, for they ara
of such nature and come from so authori-
tative asource as will completely secure them
against neglect


PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.


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