The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-01-09
Des Moines County, Dec. 30, 1868.

FOREIGN POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
Mr.. Seward will hardly bear away from
this war any better trophy OF his official
| success than the tribute paid at Richmond
to the success Of his diplomatic manage
ment. The Richmond Wing especially de-
clares with emphasis that the change in the
attitude OF Europe towards the COnfeder-
acy is explained by the fact, that ''the su-
periOr diplomacy Ofthe United States" has
made it appear tor the interest Of EurOpeto
be inimical to the Confederate States. The,
Yankee system OF foreign management
they deem 'almost inimitable," but still
they beg their Government to try it. And
even the gloomy exposition OF foreign af-
fairs given by Davis in his message, was,
tn fact, and when compared with his pre-
viOus statements Of the case, a confession
that in diplomacy he had been completely
distauced, and that, as he urges, in the face
Of reason, law and interest, foreign powers
have been persuaded to favor the cause Of
the United States.
This admission by the rebels is after all
only fresh illustration Of 1.-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 common
v held, are in fact deficient, and that their
supposed experience in government, which
halt the world regarded as guaranty OF
success for their management now, was
simply an experience in the practice OF the
lower political arts, not qualifying them
for the higher affairs of government. Their
position, both as regards their own people
and part OF the people of the North, has
been such as to give them full practice in
the methods by which men are made sub
servient for political ends; but upon the
broader field of politics, III matters invOlv-
ing real craftsmanship, they have sought
few occasions for venturing; and especially
in this matter Of diplomacy, the annals of
our Government in the years when it was
under their control say but little for their
its higher walks.
The selection of agents made by them,
when 1t became 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 cowing rest
i've Democratic allies into submission, but
never credited with any high degree of po-
litical wisdom or mental power or attract
iveness OF manner, and Mr.. Siidell the
card-table intriguer, versed III the arts Of
deceit, shrewd and selfish, but with even
less than his colleagues political judgment,
were the men whom the rebels hailed as
their best representatives, the men who Of
all their number, were most sure to make
the appeal to reason and interest with sue
cess and to foil the Vaccinations of the
Government. AS a choice Of represents
tive men the selection could not have been
more fortunate, nor as an exercise of pOlit-
ical influence could it have been more alb
ortive. Landing in Europe with no small
capital in the shape of notoriety and popu-
lar 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 ca
pacity Of very different order. There
have been few periods Of our history when
we have had in Europe four Ministers OF
such ability and estimation in the eyes Of
the world at large as Messrs. Adams, Day
ton, Molly aud Marsh. With the two lead
ing powers especially, our cause has been
upheld with distinguished ability, vigilance
and success. and it has only needed an ad-
eauate representation at the friendly court
Of st. Petersburg to make our diplomatic
corps at the most important points meet
eyery demand Of the most critical emergen-
cy. The efforts Of this excellent body OF
diplomatists have been directed moreover
by a statesman who, with little experience
il, national office, had habitnally given
closer attention to the broad relations OF
affairs than = large part of our officers pre-
viOusly in high station had ever been ca
pable OF, and who is cOnfessedly gifted with
q singular power Of discreet and even sup,
tie management. In such hands the goOd
cause has achieved triumph Q. success
over its opponents which even they are
forced to admit, it has made its way agains'
prejudice and even against supposed inte[
est, and has thoroughly confOunded the ei-
forts of those who proudly claimea mo-
nOpOly OF the statesmanshlpOf the country,
az they had had almost q substantial mo-
nopoly Of its ofhces.-BoStor Udsty ddoe'-
tiser.