The Daily Telegraph has been betrayed into an indiscretion. Its
conductors have opened a national subscription to present a testimonial to Mr. Bayard, the American Ambassador, upon his departure from this country, and have headed it with a cheque for a hundred guineas. The testimonial is to take the form of certain rare and precious early editions of Chaucer and Shakespeare, which Mr. Bayard will both under- stand and value. Mr. Bayard deserves all honour in this country and his own, if only for his efforts to make them understand each other, but a national present to an Ambassador is a grave mistake. His successor would be supposed in every crisis to be seeking one, and would be compelled to be acrid to avoid the imputation of seeking popular favour. Ambassadors should remain entirely independent of the peoples as well as
the Courts to wince t, y ul eoited, and to which they may in the course of tb• ; r duty have to say unpleasant things. It is disagreeable to have to add that such a testimonial, even if politely declined, as we are sure it would be, would greatly impair Mr. Bayard's justly high standing among his own people. The Orders and snuff - boxes which European Sovereigns have occasionally presented to Ambassadors are sanctioned by a till d tional etiquette, which the Daily Telegraph cannot plead for its well-meant but, we greatly fear, injudicious proposal.
Previous page
