New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-03
DIPLOMATIC GRAsDRU rs.

|
| 1t nay be stated as profound philosophical
truth that the Importance Of the demonstrations of
American LepS.i lions abroad is really not worth
line of comment but great stress being laid upon
| them by politicians of whatever European coun-
| try and deductions portentous being made there
from, we are induced to allude to the subject
An ambassador or Minister Of one European
Power at the Court of another. however, is per-
son of immense consequence. He is palaced like q
King, and his surroundings on public occasions
are regal Every step that he takes is under the
immediate eye, and proceeds from the immediate
orders of his Government. When he speaks, q
nation speaks, when he walks nation walks, when
he takes pinch of snuff nation sneezes.
It was thought necessary, when our Federal
Government was originally formed, to make pro-
vision for diplomatic intercourse, though ii must
not be forgotten that Resident Ministers were not
the fashion under our early Presidents-these
being an institution Of modern loaves-and-ilshes
invention From our Resident Ministers abroad
having nothing to do-great matters being made
the subject of special commissioners or special
MDisters-if they are permitted to represent US
at all at foreign Courts the least they can do is,
without sacrificing their persOnal dignity to be
civil to the Courts where they are placed And this
cirlity does not, as foreigners suppose comprehend
the immense national sanctions attendant on the
action of European Ministers at European courts
For example, when Te Deum was sung at NOtre
Dame in honor of the taking of SevastopOl Mr..
Mason was officially present, though the repre-
sentatves in Paris of other neutral Powers stayed
away. We hold Mr.. Mason was quite right in
going, because, having nothing to do it was we'll
to improve any bit of fun that might offer, and
having no special instructions from his Govern
ment on that point, it was proper for him so
to attend; and the nation he represented
was not compromised, for we affirm that it is ar
rant nonsense to clothe such simulacrum as the
institution of en- American Minister Resident with
the powers conferred on European diplomats OF
the same standing. The attendance OF Mr. Mason,
however, on the occasion in question, was made
in Paris matter Of political significance, while in
fact it meant just nothing at all, even perhapsa
little less osgnate example to this, though the
boot is now on the other leg, has just been
offered in the csfe of visit paid by the new
q. S. Minister in Greece to the Minister
of Russia who returned the compliment on the
deck of one of our American shipSof-war. Shortly
afterwsrd the American squadron sailed for Con-
stantinople, and as the United States Minister did
not psy the Same compliment to the representa-
tives of France and England, the political quid.
nuncs of the classic city have discovered terrible
symptoms of an alliance between America and Rus
sia They judge rightly according to the European
standard in such matters, but are wrong az re-
CARDS the Americans, who care not for the under
done or overdo1e airs and graces of those solemn
shsms, their Ministers abroad. We hope to re-
cord many suoA things, now for one belGgerent
and then for another, just to teach Europeans not
to attach any Importance to the official sttitudin-
izing of the men Who represent us in Europe,
who, almost without exception, are political loaf
ers of no consequence at home, and not much
more abroad. But, as most Of them are sent from
home merely to keep them out of political mis-
chief, we rather like, asa matter Of ordinary hu-
mainly, to see them having high old time of it,
whether they flourish at Napoeonic Te Deums in
gold laced livery like Mr.. Mason, or snuff the las
cious stonch of garlic among Piedmontess counts
like Mr.. Daniel, or hob. o mob with Russian mag
nfcio like the fellow whats bis name y whose
last official exploit has given occasion to this
Athenian hubbub and to our remarks.