The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-20

Tnc Foreign Pslscy 81 this Admin str,sa.,-
Astsniahing Letter 81 SECRETARY uarcy.
We spread before our readers this morning.
the richest treat of the season. We venture to
say that an executive document embracing
more important and interesting historical facts,
more extraordinary revelations or more valua-
BILE suggestions, has never emanated from the
State Department II throws the Koszta letter
completely into the shade. 1t gives view SO
clear, so minute, SO comprehensive and COM
plete, Of the transactions Of our diplo-
matte corps in Europe, under the man-
agement Of Marcy. that in perusing it the
reader will be surprised as well as delighted
at the immense amount Of practical information
which 1t embodies. 1t is as full of meat as an
egg, and plain as pike-staff in its exposition
of our foreign policy under Gen. Pierce.
1t appears that the public are indebted for
this letter to our active confidential incognito
who styles himself Punch at Washington"
From the letter itself, it seems that. becom-
ing concerned on account OF the :" I'M
pleasant controversies" resulting from the
various attempts made by our Ministers
abroad to gain admission to Court in the cos
tune of DR.. Franklin, under different modiiica-
tions, the Senate Committee ON Foreign Rela-
tions resolved to know all about it. To this
end, it further appears they delegated their
chairman, Mr.. Mason, to call upon the Presi-
dent, and in confidential way to ask him to
communicate to the Senate all the facts cores
pondsnce and papers relating to the troubles
Of Meesrs. Soule, Belmont Vroom, Buchanan,
and others, upon costume; and oil such other
facts and suggestions as might be deemed use
full for the information Of the Senate To this
application of Mr.. Mason are we and the
country indebted for the free and familiar ex-
position of all the matters in question, given in
this beautiful and interesting off-hand con6den-
tial letter Of Secretary Marcy.
Our Premier recommends several changes in
our diplomatic corps Among them he pointed
ly suggests the recall of Mr.. Mason; but we are
indeed surprised at Mr.. Marcy g choice of sub
stitute though it shows therein that he has
much of that political sagacity which his friends
have always awarded him. He proposes no.
thing more nor less than the appoint
ment Of JAMES GORDON BENNETT as Minis
ter to France. as the surest method of
hushing up the Scarlet Letter." but we
say to Marcy and all concerned, that we cannot
accept even the mission to France, short of an
order OF permit from the White House to pub
lish that invaluable letter.
The plot of the French and English ambassa-
doris, and certain members of the Spanish no
bility, to overreach us in the acquisition of
Cuba, by driving our whole legation out of
Spain, and by coup d'ftat against Queen Isa-
bella, is most astounding disclosure. The
pluck Of the elder and the younger Soule was
perhaps all that averted the overthrow of
Queen Isabella's government, and the estab-
lshment Of an English and French protectorate
at Madrid, which would have permanently closed
the door against us as to the island of Cuba
Then, again, who does not admire the spirit of
Marcy in requiring Mr.. Seymour to call upon
the Gear, and inquire of him whether he did or
did not make certain highly offensive remarks
against our government, in connection with the
Koszta letter, attributed to him in private
letter from st. Petersburg? And who does not
admit the sagacity of Marcy in his wise obser-
vatons upon the recall of George Sanders, de-
creed by the Cabinet?
But by far the most valuable things in this
frank and familiar letter Of Marcy, are his re-
concentrations concerning our general Euro
pean policy. He proposes, first, in the pending
crisis, to stick fast to the safe and certain land
marks of mastery inactivity" II we do no
thing at all, we can surely give no offence.
Next. he proposes the repeal Of the circulars of
June last upon diplomatic costume, and that
our diplomats shall conform to the fashions of
the Court to which they may be severally as
signed, excepting square democratic patch in
some conspicuous place upon the breeches,
marked "FIFTY CENTS" as q symbol of our re-
publican economy and simplicity.
We have thus the entire schedule of our
European diplomats and diplomacy, in what has
been done, and in what is proposed laid down
in black and white. Excepting the gold lace
and black velvet disturbances, nothing much
has been done; and it is proposed to do nothing.
If this policy, with the aid of that democratic
patch, does not secure our neutrality with all
the powers Of Europe, including Russia and
Turkey, we don't know what will. The editors
of the London journals have asserted that we
have no foreign policy. Let them read the let
ter Of Marcy, and be convinced of their mistake
Let everybody read it. 1t is great State
paper, great and rich, full of good stiff common
sense; and it may be a long time before we shall
have such another
How THE STEETs ARE CLEANED-Mr. George
White, Superintendent of Streets is quite in
dignant at the imputation thrown upon the
street cleaning department by Alderman Mott,
and pronounces the whole story "a base and
malicious fabrication" We can well under
stand the causes of Mr. Whites peevishness;
uhoxa h uholo L.