The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-24
The Now Minister TO Washington.

It was inevitable that our remarks on the selection Of
Mr. Thornton as our Minister at Washington 81 aid
our criticism was conceived in no unfriendiy spirit
to Mr. Thornton. He has proved himself an able
sphere; but tina. sphere, contonded. could not
include Washington. We ventured to point out the
by the representative Of the nation In tho United states
and the propristy Of choosing Minister one
mended the appointment OF statesman who had lived
In our own atmosphere. The implied disparagement
o. the prSsen! servants Of the Grown At the minor
ing first class embassy would go to Washington
naturally occssoned some questioning, and an Eek
Dplomasist' has written us letter In which he at
tempts to controvert the whole OF argument He
rests his case on two proposons-arst, that the work
rank in homo political NE would undertake H. and next
he declares ~ the result OF his experience in
A%srSa that y Undesirable any person Of position
us NJ Washington. We must confess surprise on
receiving the first statement from who has been
mated by no unworthy ambition 10 engage In actively
again. We have heard Of radical, or we ought
perhaps to, 70 say who have
establishments At all IN these days Of speedy COM
muncation but TO have an ."Ex-D iplomsst"
routine novelty Such seems to be correspond
ent's confession Diplomatic work, he says, is actual
daily drudgery. II 10 be ranked with the correspond
landowner has with his lawyer or steward Il, ia
apparently confined to supervision Of the Brtishc on.
sular agents scattered throughout the country which
u
Minister 10 rding. II ali this true It would fur
nish excellent for revising the scale Of
our diplomatic appointments. We have been accus-
toned TO despatch TO oil parts OF the world great
Der OF persons al considerable expense In every in
under the delusion that they had duties OF great
deicacy add importance to discharge II we have been
wrong In our hypothesis, lot US by all FREQ
selves from the burdensome consequences which have
flowed from IL
IT. however we are TO bs told that man OF
eminent ability and perfectly acquainted with the
timenu and feelings OF the English people could do
great hndrance 70 the permanent maintenance OF
friendly feelings between the two countries 10 their
mutual ignorance and consequent suspicion OF each
other Each Is apt TO be agitated by apprehensons
which would be dssapated by the light Of better know
ledge II is dhcuI 10 overstate the errors on both
At Washington Of such . representative desire to
see there lie would be In constant communication
with the Executivej he would b. Q friendly foot.
Ing with the Chairman of Foreign commit.
tees; he would 90 10 Washington 10 . par
tcipator IN the highest devclpement Of our political
sentiments OF the nation he represents would destroy
IN the germ illusions which suffered 10 become
nveterate. His influence would not be confined to
secretaries OF State and members Of Congress- The
pubic opinion OF the States depends greatly
on tho opinions Of the leaders In Congress and
opinion would be svayed under similar circumstances
here but the influence IL not less real II less manifest
me presence or real representative OF the English
people o. Washington would thus directly tend 10 draw
the two nations together whether Lord stanley has
sought for such man NO know not, but We must pro-
appoint sich possible and that II was derec-
Won OF duty on the part Of any prominsnt statesman
who, being asked 10 represent the Crown In the Untod
States, lightly declined so high an Once