The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1864-03-01
Foreign Policy of the Government.

oinclai success than the tribute PAID al
Richmond to the success of his diplo.
matte management The Richmond
Wing especially declares with emphasis
that the change in the attitude of Eu-
rope towards the Confederacy is ex-
planned by the fact, that 'the superior
diplomacy Of the United States" has
made it appear for the interest of Eu-
rope TO be inimical to he Confederate
States. The Yankee system of foreign
management they deem almost inimta-
ble," but still they beg their Govern.
ment to try it, And even the gloomy
exposition Of foreign affairs given by
Davis in his message, was, in fact, and
when compared with his previous state
ments Of the case, confession that IN
diplomacy he had been completely dis
tanced. and that, as he urges. in the face
of reason, law and interest, foreign pow
ers have been persuaded to favor the
cause of the United States
This admission by the rebels is after
all only fresh illustration of the view
which we have often enforced, that in
the higher political qualities the rebel
leaders, SO far from being gifted, as has
been SO commonly held, are in fact de-
fcient, and that their supposed expe-
rience in government, which half the
world regarded as guaranty of success
for their management now, was simply
an experience in the practice of the low
err political arts, not qualifying them for
the higher affairs Of government. Their
position, both as regards their own peo-
pie and part Of the people Of the North
has been such as 10 give them full prac
tice in the methods by which men are
made subservient for political ends
but upon the broader field Of politics, in
matters involving real craftsmanship,
they have sought few occasions for yen-
turing, and especially in the matter OF
diplomacy, the annals Of our Govern
ment in the years when it was under their
control say but little for their skill or
success, or for their experience in its
higher walks.
The selection of agents made by them,
when it become necessary to scheme for
European support, sufficiently demon
strates the poverty of their resources in
this particular. Mr.. Mason, the man
well qualified and accustomed to cowiug
FESTIVE Democratic allies into submiss.
ion, but never credited with any high
degree of political wisdom or mental
power or attractiyeness of manner, and
Mr.. Slidell, the card-tabls intiiguer,
versed in the arts of deceit, shrewd and
selfish, but with even less than his col.
leagues political judgment, were the
men whom the rebels hailed as their
best representatives, the men who of all
their number were the most sure to make
the appeal to interest and reason with
success, and to foil the Vaccinations oil
the Government. AS the choice OF rep
resentative men. the selection could not
have been more fortunate, nor as an ex
ercise Of political influence could it have
been more abortive. Landing in Eu
rope with no small capital in the shape
of notoriety and popular sympathy, the
rebel government is forced to confess
that its emissaries have completely failed
Of every important object.
The Government, on the other hand,
has been able TO call to its aid diplomatic
capacity of very different order
There have bAen few periods in our his.
tory when we have had in Europe four
ministers ofsuch ability and estimation
in the eyes of the world at large as Messrs
Adams, Dayton, Molly and Marsh
With the two leading powers, especially
our cause has been upheld with distin-
guished ability, vigilance and success,
and it has only needed an adequate rep
resentaton at the friendly court of St.
Petersburg to make our diplomatic corps
at the most important points meet every
demand Of the most critical emergency.
The efforts of this most excellent BODY
Of diplomalists have been directed more.
over by statesman who, with little ex,
perience in national office, had habitu-
ally given closer attention TO the broad
relations Of affairs than large part OF
our officers previously in high station
had ever been capable of, and who is
confessedly gifted with sing ular power
OF discreet and even subtle Management.
In such hands the good cause has
achieved triumph OF success over its
opponents which even they are forced
10 admit, it has made its way AGAINST