The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-11-19


In the Letters which we have published with
in the principal European capitals, strik-
ing coincidence of sentiment has been
manifested on one pont-namely, the
low estimate entertained abroad of Ame-
rican diplomacy and its representatives
This is not the first occasion on which COM
plants of this kind have been made through
the same channel The niggardiy scale on
which our diplomatic and consular officers are
remunerated, has>of necessity laid the founda-
ton for such statements. Amongst nations
where moral influence and position are based
almost entirely upon appearances, and where
literally no man is esteemed an honest one,
unless he has good coat to his back, it can
not be expected that republican simplicity
should find much appreciation. In the person
of Franklin, the remarkable genius and cha
raeter of the man were only placed in more
striking relief by the modesty of his
habits and the plainness of his attire.
But unfortunately since his time we have had
but few diplomatists who could pretend to
anything like the same intellectual considera-
tion.
In but too many cases the poverty Of official
talent has been on a par with the poverty OF
official remuneration. Owing to the awkward
working Of our diplomatic system, our repre-
sentatives at the European courts have, in fact,
generally speaking, been men who could nei-
Their impress by their mental gifts nor by their
official splendor, one or other; and indeed
more commonly both of which conditions are,
amongst the over refined and luxurious nations
of Europe, considered essential to diplomatic
efficiency. In a measure, according to the
honesty and responsibility of the administra-
ton of the day, these deficiencies have been
more or less manifest. A cabinet having re-
gard to the interest of the country abroad
usually selected for diplomatic posts men who
were possessed either of the qualifications of
talent the additional private resources ne
cessary to sustain such position. Under adj
ministrations where these Offices were the
reward Of mere partisan services and political
subserviency, the persons chosen to fill them
were not of course, those who were exactly
calculated to remedy the defects of a system,
which, although apparently consistently re
publican in theory, became inconvenient and
absurd in practice.
To the rectifcation of the anomalies
thus created our efforts have been always
steadily directed. 1t did not require
the evidence afforded by the injadicious
character of the appointments made by
any particular administration to direct our no.
tice to them. An attentive observation of
their results abroad had long since convinced
us that the salaries appropriated to our diplo-
matte agents were insufficient to enable them
to fulfil their functions with that degree of
dignity and efficiency which are expected from
The representatives Of great nation like this.
1t is not exactly in character with our preten-
sions in other respects that our diplomatists
should be reduced to the meanest and most dis
graceful shifts to keep up the appearances
which their position entails upon them. The
inconvenient necessity of lodging bailif or
keeping out of the way of dun, is somewhat
calculated to interfere with the GOODNESS, self
possession, and .clearness of perception, to say
nothing Of the social condition, which the dis
charge Of such important political duties re.
quires And yet at this climax of personal and
official misery, if we are to credit the state
ments Of our correspondents, American diplo-
macy in Europe has very generally arrived.
Owing to the extraordinary character of
the appointments made by the administration
of General Pierce, the evils already resulting
from confessedly bad system have been ten
fold aggravated. Not contented with select
ing, with some few creditable exceptions, men
without talent or political reputation, it has
thrust into these diplomatic posts adventurers
entirely without means, and, in some instances,
deeply in debt. The consequence is, that we
have had the honor of furnishing European
diplomacy with class of unfortunates, whose
consideration in the capitals to which they
have been accredited is on level with that Of
the Jeremy Diddlers of the stage.
Lamentable as is such q state of things, we
have not as yet touched upon its worst and
most degrading feature. From circumstances
which have recently come to our knowledge it
appears that not only have the interests of the
country abroad been recklessly sacrificed to
the necessities of political partsanship but
that its honor has been prostituted to the lust
and wantonness Of official depravity. 1t will
hardly he credited, but it is not the less fact,
that either the State Department at Washing.
ton, or some of its diplomatic agents in Europe,
gave, last summer, passports under false names
to several kept and disreputable women of
this and other cities furnished by certain
corrupt politicians. In some half-dozen of
these false passports were assumed the names
not only of some of the best known and most
respectable families Of this city, but of other
parts Of the Union. Under the protection of
these documents these women, having plenty of
money to spend, made the tour of Europe in
the most agreeable and disungui manner pos.
sible. receiving the ready attentions of limeri-
can diplomats on their way; visiting in the
best European families in consequence, and
leaving, no doubt, wherever they went, high
impression Of the refinement and moral purity
of our fair fountryuomeu Tbaea ,,l:~.<