The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-13 00:00:00

much

JOHN LATHROP _MOTLEY.

Mr.• REVERDY JOHNSON has publicly announced
his resignation. 44 Eight or ten days ago," said his
Excellency, in a graceful and becoming speech, " I
sent it to Washington ; and I will shortly return
home, never again to see my many kind
onlefriends onpe rthhaipss nsideetvhe ocean." He expressed a warm
wish for the diplomatic success of the next Minister,
a gentleman of great talent and literary fame. In
a few words, he replied to some ill-mannered re-
marks of the Imes, and we congratulate Mr.
JOHNSON that that journal has swung round the
circle, and now fires its bolts at instead of soft-
sawdering him; and we only hope that Mr. MOTLEY
may not have the bad luck of being patronised by
Printing-house-square. No American Minister
could have a worse introduction to his fellow-
citizens ; indeed he must be strong in their affec-
tions and respect to withstand the laudation of the
7 Ines. The latest news by mail from America
spoke of Mr. MOTLEY'S nomination as certain. Many
weeks ago information was given to us through a re-
liable source, that it would be so, as that gentle-
man was backed by the influence of Senator Su3r-
NER, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, who, since the retirement of Mr. SEWARD, is
all powerful in these matters at Washington. JOHN
LATHROP MOTLEY, of Massachusetts, was born on
the 15th April, 1814. He graduated at Harvard
College in 1831, and proceeded thence to Europe,
where he travelled extensively. The first book he
published appeared in 1839, and gave a graphic and
amusing sketch of German society. His talents were
shown so conspicuously as to attract the attention of
DANIEL WEBSTER, then Secretary of State, who
appointed him Secretary to the American Legation
at St. Petersburgh. On his return to the United
States he devoted himself to literature, and be-
became a regular contributor to the North Ame-
rican Review, and a writer of fiction. It was dur-
ing this period that he matured the idea of his
great work, to accomplish which he recrossed the
Atlantic in 1851, and took up his residence at
Dresden. There he diligently commenced the col-
lection of materials, but it was not till 1856 that
the first part came out, entitled the " History of
the Rise of the Dutch Republic." Four years
later it was followed by the " History of the
United Netherlands," works which placed the name
of MOTLEY on a firm pedestal as an historian. The
year following, that is in 1861, be was selected by
Mr. LINCOLN for the Embassy to Austria, where
he was well received as his literary fame was then
widely known, though the Hon. ANSON ButzuNGAME
bad been rejected by the EMPEROR on account of the
sympathy he had formerly expressed for the pa-
triots of the Hungarian revolt. The world is faith-
liar with the extraordinary way in which Mr.
MOTLEY left that post, but it is too amusing to
emit this portion of his career. A man, who de-
scribed himself as of New York, and called him-
self GEORGE W. M'CRACKEN, after spending the
early part of 1866 in European travel, wrote from the
hotel Meurice, Paris, a letter to the PRESIDENT,
giving a full report on the American Diplomatic
Missions to European nations. The insolence of
this proceeding was only excelled by the manner in
which it was transacted. He commenced by telling
the PRESIDENT how hostile to him were the majority
of the Ministers and Consuls, more especially of the
New Englanders, a very indifferent set collectively
and individually, who furnished most. " Mr.MOT-
LEY does not pretend to conceal 4 his disgust,' as he
styles it elegantly, at your whole conduct. Having
been appointed exclusively by CHARLES SU3INER he
applauds him and his revolutionary doctrines, de-
spises American Democracy, and proclaims loudly
that an English nobleman is the model of human
perfection. There is not in all Europe a more
thorough flunkey or a more un-American function-
ary. He tells every traveller that SUMNER is en-
tirely justified, and that you have deserted your
pledges and principles in common with Mr. SE-
WARD, who, he says, is hopelessly degraded." This
was but mild abuse to what Mr. M`CRACKEN.
launched at other Ministers and some Consuls. Yet
the PRESIDENT was so ill-advised by SEWARD (we

suppose) as not only to read this production, but 50
to notice it as to demand explanations from those
whose conduct it impugned ! Mr. MOTLEY, in in-
tense disgust, resigned, but the Senate, annoyed at
the PRESIDENT'S folly, would not sanction a succes-
sor, and one of the reasons for tying up Mr. JOHN-
SON'S hands was furnished by this incident. it was
more than a year afterwards before Mr. WELL;, the
present Minister, was confirmed. A glance at Mr.
MoTLEY'sdiplomatic correspondence, at hisspeecbes,
and at his conduct through life, refutes Mr.
M'CRACKEN'S assertions. If JOHN LATHROP MOT-
LEY be not a genuine American, we do not know
who is ; and the two other men with whom Mr. -
M‘GuAcKEN associated the Minister are of the same
type--CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS and ANSON BUR-
LINGA3IE. Mr. MOTLEY has written too much for
the wor:d not to be aware of opinions expressed so
distinctly and in such terse language. For instance,
it may be taken for granted that he advocates
Free Trade. On the 23d October, 1864, he said
in one of his despatches from Vienna, " There is a
strong party in Austria who believe that the old
system of exclusive tariffs, and of what it is the
fashion in many parts of the world to call protec-
tion of native industry—that is to say, taxation
of the mass of consumers of a country for the
benefit, not of the National Treasury, but of a
certain class of producers—is an error, and a veil
expensive one. But the production of beet-root,
sugar, and native tobacco, of spirits, wines, which
could be purchased far more cheaply and of better
quality in foreign countries, has been immensely
stimulated by Protection, and the class interested
are too powerful not to oppose with success any
sacrifice of their vested interests." His despatches
abound with paragraphs showing how grossly mis-
informed M'CRACKEN was. The man who "de-
spises American Democracy" says, " In Europe•to
be powerful is to be venerated ; to be weak is to be
trampled upon ; therefore, the public opinion of
Europe is, and ought to be, of comparative indif-
ference to us." Again, " I may be over-sanguine,
but a doubt has not yet crossed my mind that the
American Republic based upon Constitutional law,
popular self-government, and the great principles
of reason and justice, will suppress an insurrection
made for the perpetuation and extension of African
slavery, and of the abrogation of the first principles
of freedom; I expect as much to see the sun set at
noonday as to witness the destruction of our noble
Commonwealth and its dismemberment into a
jarring, warring Europe, without the historical
excuses of Europe." In another despatch he says,
" A contemplation of European politics leads us to
the sincere prayer that America may never be
Europeanized." No one could read his letters with-
out feeling the impression that here is a man who
believes in the " Manifest Destiny." He does not
express it, neither speaking nor ;writing spread-
eagleism; but the idea is not the less conveyed, and
this is he who "despises American Democracy." Nor
is the charge of his thorough flunkeyism less re-
futed by these despatches; but it must be recollected
that we are not defending Mr. MOTLEY from Mr.
Al'enAcKEN's ridiculous attack, but using it as a
means for conveying to our English readers some
idea of the new Minister. In alluding to European
sentiment regarding the war he wrote, " The
opinions held by the influential minority are manu-
factured for them by their public preceptors, who
make up what is called the public opinion of
Europe. Now there was a time when this tribunal
was regarded by us almost with reverence. That
day is, I trust, gone for ever in regard to American
affairs. The result of a final analysis of that opinion
is simply this : It is desirable that the great Arne'
can Democratic Republic should be destroyed ; an
energetic and admirably organized insurrection 15
attempting its destruction, therefore that insurrec-
tion should be encouraged in every possible way."
Again, " The thinkers of Europe, so far as I know,
without a solitary exception, and the labouring
classes, wish success to the American Republic.
The dominant classes, with individual and illus-
trious exceptions, together with the idlers, who
are unwilling or unable to form opinions for
themselves, desire the success of those who are
attempting its destruction." lie remarks bitterly on
the opinion prevailing in the upper classes, and con-
trasts their ignorance and prejudice with the more
truthful and generous sentiments of the great un•
represented, voiceless mass of humanity, the toil-
ing millions whose plrt in life, according to the
European scheme, which he often condemns, is to be
governed and to hew wood and draw water for thole
who govern. 7n his despatch, No. 36, Oct. 5, 1863,
he pays this generous tribute to the Eng:ish masses
" The heroic attitude of the working classes of Eng'
land, steadily withstanding the acts and misrepre-
sentations of demagogues, will ever be cherished as
a manifestation scarcely less sublime than the
heroism with which Americans of all classes have
been ready to lay down their lives that their own
country might live ; nor shall we ever forget that
the journalists who have defended our cause among
a host of enemies have been unsurpassed in the
whole history of the periodical press, for know-
ledge, ability, and nobility of sentiment ; that some
of the most eloquent and honoured public men of
England have spoken words which have echoed in
every American heart, and that the loftiest and
most earnest thinkers, both of England and of the
Continent, the true and permanent guides of public
thought, with scarce an exception, have expressed
themselves, in regard to the great revolution now
going on in America, with a wisdom, and breadth Of
vision, that do honour to the age." Mr. MOTLEY
received the honorary degree of D.C.L. from the
University of Oxford ; and he is well known to the
literary men of England, in the libraries of which
country much of his researches were made. The
appointment will be as well received in America
as here, for Mr. MOTLEY is a genuine represented
tive, and long and strongly attached to that party
now all dominantlin the Republic. —Anglo-Anieri-
can 2 intes.

DEATH OF EDWARD BATES.—This well-knowo
statesman expired at St. Louis on Thursday, March 25
aged 75. He was born in Goochland County, VirginiAt
Sept. 4, 1793, and remained comparatively unknown be'
yond the State of Missouri, whither he had emigrated,
till 1847, when he was appointed delegate to an In'
ternal Improvement Convention held at Chicago, whorl
the talents he displayed brought him into public notice•
In 1850 Mr. Fillmore offered him the post of Secretary of
War, but he declined it ; and in 1860 was a prominent
candidate for the Presidency. On the first ballot the
vote stood :—For Seward, 1731 ; for Lincoln, 102 ; for
Simon Cameron, 501 ; for Salmon P. Chase, 49 ; and
for Edward Bates, 48. On the seeond ballot Mr'
Bates had 35, and on the third 22, his strength gradually
going over to Mr. Lincoln. After his election, President
Lincoln selected Edwin Bates for Attorney-General, which
post he resigned in 1E64, when he retired into private life
at St. Louis, whence he never after emerged into actitte
politics.

A flying machine, it is announced, has recentlf
been invented by a citizen of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania/
and the model is said to exhibit groat ingenuity. The
wings are 15 feet in length each, and together will cover
900 square feet of sui face.

General Samuel Fessenden has died at Portland+
Maine, at the age of about 85 years. He had been eminent
as a lawyer, citizen, Mason, and politician, and was once
grand master of the Masonic fraternity in Maine. 11e
leaves a largo family of descendant; many of whom at°
distinguished in tho public service, Senator Fessendeil
being his eldest son.