The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-31
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1bs attention uhich American quastious arc
exciting III Europe end the unmistaseabie
crown ct our mo, al Influence there. render it
n' s'ary that 'ne approaching sppointo eots of
oar ministers to the European cabiuets should
be made. not pciy from among meu OF the
highest. shii'y, Int that they should be filled
with those who sre thoroughly impued with the
American spIit. The European press teems
with ccmments upon the recent change 10 the
relations between Eogiaad aud the Uaited
States, ard abundant evidence is given O. st
new complications snd a cbsnge in the relative
position of the Western PoSens of Earope are
not very far distant. A cordial uoion between our
government and that or Great Britain, in which
the latter wonld recognise our due influence in
ali American questions, would change the poi.
cy Of every court in Europe. like result
won.d foi.ow a.t understanding between Louis
Napoleon and ourselves. Should he have the
slightest desire to re-establish the doio,aon of
France in Hsyti-which is not at all impro ba-
BILE cur questions with Spain would soon assume
a new aspect.
These reasons have powerful influence upon
she question Of woo shall be appointed to the
three importsnt missions Of London, Paris aud
Madrid and it is to be hoped that the Presi-
dent will lay aside all other influences, aud look
only to tn fitness Of the incumbent. Our TO-
reign questions have outgrown the ca,scity of
local politicians; and men whose life studies
have been directed TO the arts OF becoming q
Governor, or "a Senator in Congress, are lift
ted to cope with them. Craftsmanship and po-
itical chicapery have no affinity and the mas
ter OF Que is most likely to be tyro in the
other. Unfortunately for the President, at the
present ju cture it is men who have been
euccessful as politicians who are storming the
State Department to obtain the prizes o. our
foreign missions, Political influences Of all
kinds are brought in their favor, while the
question Of merit or ability is held to be of
secondary Importance. Yet the growth of our
moral position in the eyes of Europe demands
The presence there of q higher class of men
than ihose are apt to be whom ii is necessary to
set aside at home to make room for some politi.
cal rival.
We want no more parade ministers in either
of these three missions Many of our foremost
men may get along we'll enough in England;
but minister in France or Spain cannot be q
working man unless he understands the Ian
guage Of the court. Social intercourse is as
necessary in State craft as it is in private life;
and the man who is compelled by hi inability
to converse to shut himself up in his cabinet,
and to hear everything through the ears of
another, can never be master of the situation.
1t is a knowledge of these truths that renders
it so dificultfor Mr.. Buchanan to complete the
series Of his diplomatic appointments. No man
knows better than he how worse than useless o
minister may become when he has neither
knowledge of international law and history, nor
Of the language Of the people among whom he
resides. The records of our State Depart
ment ore filled with blunders originating
from these causes; and it has for some
time been doubt with our Presidents
whether all important questions should not be
settled at Washington. II political reasons are
still to bear sway in the making Of our diplo-
matte appointments, this doubt will become q
certainly, and our forei~n missions will be
turned into nothing but hospitals for decaying
politicians.
In the present juncture we have many impor-
tant questions the solution of which can be I'D.
vanced by the presence Of able ministers abroad.
In England the final arrangement of the question
of the right Of search, and others that are like
ly to arise in regard to our Pacific dominions
and the emigration to Frazer river, require an
enlightened treatment. The growing necessity
Of the admission Of Cuba to our Union must be
treated, both in Paris and In Madrid, with no or
binary tact This question, more than any
other, has suffered by incompetent treatment
by our ministers in Europe. The questions Of
Mexico and Central America, with their CORE
lative Issues Of the Isthmus transit, have an in.
creasing Importance. They are all connected
with our national march on this continent. Il
is, therefore, to be hoped that Mr.. Buchanan
viii change the order OF motives which hitherto
bave influenced our diplomatic appointments
Fitness and ability for the place should b. held
before political influence.