The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-02-26
The New Diplomatic catechssm.

The New Diplomatic Catechism.
II used to be said of Talleyrand that any one
might apply to him the aryamentum a posterio,i
without his countenance betraying any evil
dence of the fact. We thought this impertur-
liability had ceased to be qualification for
the diplomatic service; but the correspondence
which we published yesterday between the
State Department and some of our foreign
ministers has corrected the impression. Evil.
IDENTITY the first essential for a representative OF
this country abroad is his readiness to take the
kicks without his having any certainty, as in
the Harvey case, of his getting the half-pence.
Seriously speaking, the course pursued by
Mr.. Seward in this matter places both the
government and our diplomatic service in
most humiliating position before the world.
We do not always select our best men
for diplomatic missions, but whatever may
be their shortcomings in the way Of
talent, the charge of unfaithfulness has
rarely been included among them In private
life no greater insult can be offered to gentle
man than to put question to him which inn
plies violation Of his social obligations. How
much greater the offence, then, Of an interroga-
tory which presumes breach both of these
obligations and of a mans duty as servant
of the government In the diplomatic service
Of other countries the rule has always been
that no charges against foreign minister or
even a consul can be entertained unless on evil
dence duly authenticated. The practice Of
secret denunciation is verv properly discour
aged; for no minister's position would be ten
able If he were liable to be continually called
to account on accusations furnished by persons
who had their personal resentments to crafty
and who could not be held responsible for
their calumnies. Either the men we send to
represent us abroad are of character and habits
that do not entitle them to this protection or
the Official who Is at the head Of the State
Department is ignorant Of what is due to
them. II the first of these assumptions be well
founded, the sooner the whole Of our ministers
and consuls are recalled and replaced by
proper men the better. If the contrary, then
the fnnctionary who has 90 grossly insulted
and outraged them should himself be re-
moved.
In order that this matter might be placed
squarely and fairly before the country we
could have wished that every minister to
whom these interrogatories have been ad-
dressed had followed Mr.. Motley's example
and resigned. We can understand how their
unwillingness to embarrass the public service
prevented them from acting on what must
certainly have been their first impulse. Their
patriotic disregard Of their wounded feelings
must not, however, blind us to what we owe to
men who exhibit unquestionable zeal and
fidelity in our service and who are not here
to defend themselves against the ISLANDERS cir
culated against them under the abominable
system of espionage instituted by the State
Department. We trust that Congress, now
that it is in full possession of the facts. win
proceed at once to act upon them, and that It
will compel the resignation of o minister who
manages the foreign affairs Of the country like
the tyrant of parish school or the chief Of
bureau OF detectives.
The Eassern Question and the Unitcd States.
II is stated by London journal, known to
be generally well informed in court and politi-
cal secrets, athat great annoyance Is exhibited
in the official world Of France on account Of
the mission Of General Kalergis to Washing
ton," and that "the Emperor (Napoleon) had
expressed great indignation at the prospect of
American interference in the affairs of Europe,
especially when 1t is directed to- q delicate
point such as that Of the Eastern question" II
is further said that "there is, too, fresh source
of uneasines in the attitude assumed by the
United States with respect to the Russian policy
in the Levant," and that $50 strong Is this feel
ing that King George Of Greece will not be in
vitcd to make any stay in France on his way
to Denmark"
Now, making due allowance for the dispo-
stion Of European journals to exaggerate in
their speculations on great International mat
ters, and taking the above statements as some
what Of speculative character, we are still in
clined 10 believe there may be some truth at
the bottom. The immense power which the
United States have exhibited, and the intimate
relations that exist between them and Russia
are calculated to cause some apprehension
with regard to any Of our movements or sup
posed movements IN or concerning the East.
Especially is 1t quite natural that Napoleon,
who has sort of mania for putting his hand
into everything and for regulating the affairs
Of the whole world, should feel some uneasi-
ness. His experience lately ON this continent
and retreat from 1t under the pressure Of our
power makes him magnify, probably, every
movement Of the United States in foreign mat
tiers. Hence the apparent anxiety about the
supposed mission Of General Kalergis. His
imperial Majesty need not be alarmed; for
while both the sympathies Of our people and
government are with the Christians Of the East
in their heroic struggle against Mahomedan
dcspotism and the tortuous diplomacy Of the
Western Powers Of Earops and while. We are