The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-09-24


The Mission to spain and Mr.. Belmont--IESw
to Settle the Question.
The mission to Spain having been declined by
Mr.. Benjamin is again open TO the aspirations of
the would-be diplomatists, each of whom thinks
that he could do better than any ody else in at
tanning the much desired object of successful
negotiation for Cuba.
Prominent among these aspirants is Mr.. Bel
mont, who was poor Pierce's Minister at the
Hague. On backgrounds this gentleman bases
his claims to the Spanish mission is not at all
clear When young man he was picked up by
the Rothschilds in the Judah-strasse at Frank
fort and after serving for a time in the counting
room Of that money making house. he was sent
over here some years since a. their New York
correspondent. At that time the business of this
the New York agency was not considered of
much account. But the business grew with the
progress Of the country, and Mr.. Belmont dis
played no little skill in applying the maxims he
had learned from his principals in the art of
money getting until now he ia looked upon as
Much of his success may be attributed to his
connection with the leading Jews of Europe,
though there is no doubt that in money and
financial matters he has not only experience, but
great ability and capacity.
During the Pierce campaign the politicians
got hold Of him and squeezed his money bags to
obtain the sinews OF war. In compensation for
his letting himself be bled poor Pierce made him
Minister to the Hague, where he distinguished
himself by doing nothing, for the very excellent
reason that there was nothing to do While
there he lived like a nabob kept an excellent
cook. bought a fine gallery Of paintings, spent
ten times the amount of his salary and no doubt
looked upon himself as very successful Minister
as The world goes. But being an excellent fnan-
cier and first rate judge Of good dinners not
exactly the qualifications ola good diplomatist or
to make successful one at the Most Catholic
court Of Spain. The house Of Israel and the fol-
lowers of Mahomet are alike hated by the blue
blooded hidalgos Of CASTLE; and ii is grave
question whether Mr.. Belmont, for his affinity to
the Judah-strasse of Frankfort, would not meet
with worse reception at Madrid than did the
filibuster Soule. Besides this the house Of Roths-
child never has been popular concern with
Queen Isabel, and we believe there have been
business difficulties between them on account Of
certain quicksilver matters and other transactions
Mr.. Belmont's abilities as financer, there
fore, could never be of much utility in negoti-
ating for Cuha. The admission Of Cuba to the
Union is not to be effected by direct bargaining,
buying and selling. II viii come only through
some great complication Of affairs in Europe, or
by the natural increase Of our influence and in
tcrests there. The successful working Of the
Atlantic cable for one year will do more toward
the acquisition Of Cuba than Mr.. Belmont could
do in life time. The settlement of our other
questions with Spain will require other qualil-
cations than those of great financial, or an able
do-nothing Minister. syet we do not know that
Mr.. Belmont possesses any other qualifications
than those requisite for success in Wall street.
II he is bent upon distinguishing himself in
public life, an excellent opportunity is now open
to him. Commodore Vanderbilt's representative
cannot return TO Congress from the third New
York district. Let Mr.. Belmont start for Con-
gress in that district and show us whether he
has bottom. Then, when he has been little
while in Congress- we shall soon know whether
he is sound and if there is anything in him to
build his aspirations for the Spanish mission
upon. There Is nothing like q session or two in
Congress to give o man chance to show what
be can do. Put Mr.. Bclmont's name on the
slate and LET US know what there Il in him.
WHAT'S THE MATTER We find the following
remarkable article in Washington Journal,
which was formerly penny organ Of the Kitch-