New-York tribune., 1869-05-19

volume of our bonded DeDU, i" suOO'''
not be doubtful nor distant.
------
TURN OF THE WHLRLIGIG.
On the 21st of November, A. d. 1866 the
Secretary of State of the United States, beng
much moved in his mighty mind by the re-
mort which reached his official eye (through the
letters of the great McCracken) that his dlplo-
matte servants abroad did not duly reverence
fine venerable Andrew Johnson, concluded TO
write TO one of our Ministers-Mr. Motley, at
Vienna-a caustic note, letting that gentleman
know what he thought of such reprehenslOle
conduct. al am told" said Mr.. Seward, " that
"you do not pretend to conceal your disgust,
GAS Won style it, at the Presidents whole con-
duct, that you despise American democraCy'
"and loudly proclaim that AN Engllshman Is the
"mOdel of human perfection" understand
"also." continued Mr.. Seward, that you say
"that am hopelessy degraded. Your denial or
confirmation of these reports is requested.
"am. Sir, your Obedient servant William IL.
Steward" OF this letter, it is safe to say that
a more extraordinary epistle was never sent
from one well-bred man to another. sub
stantially, Mr. Seward asks, Are you or are
~you not blackguard, deserving to be
"drummed out Of your legation ~ Two hours
after Mr.. Motley received this letter, he sat
down in Vienna with sef-respecting haste to
answer it, which he did, if we may abbreVlate
his sentences, as follows: 1. | have never
spoken contemptuously of the Presidents q l
have never said that | despised American
democracy, for do Mt; 3. ] have never pro-
claimed the English gentleman to be the
| 4 e / hav
| called Mr.. Seward hopelessy degraded; )" .. l
hereby resign my post as United States MIN
lister at Vienna.
| Mr.. Motley's reply, considering the provoca-
! ton, was singularly cool. Only once does he
permit himself to lapse into a warmth OF
expression inconsistent with the stif'est diplo-
matte decornm, and that is when he considers
| the accusation that he "despises American
| democracy" al scorn to dwell longer" said
| Mr.. Motley, "On the contemplate charge"
Our own opinion is that he should have taken
no notice of it whatever; for every one who
! is intelligcntly acquainted with those historical
| writings which have made Mr. MOtley'5 name
deservcdly celebrated, and have won for him
! the highest academic honors in every country
which had them TO bestow, must know that, If
| that gentleman has a weak point in his intel
! lcctual constitution, it is his respect and alice
| tion for Republican institutions. lie spoke
| only the simple truth when he wrote TO Mr..
! Seward: "a more feryent believer IN American
democracy than ! am does not exist in the
"world. Ny expressions Of reverence for the
american people during these five heroic
"ycars have erred if at all, on the side OF
enthusiasm. and have often seemed to the
"skcptical somewhat eXtrayagant" And this
was the public servant whom his Government
saw nc 10 put upon n cross-cXamnation by
written intenogatoricsl He was asked to deny
or to admit that he was an Aristocrat! lie
WAS asked 10 say. catcgorically, whether he
was or was not Democrat! We confess that
! ours il a still growing wonder that Mr.. Motley
answered such letter at all. There arc some
men Of SO truculcut a nature that, upon the
reception of such an cpstle, they would have
rcnounced their native land, and have sought
| civty among barbarans Of comparatively
better manners. The country should be CRATE
! ful To Mr.. j. l.. Motley for governing his
| passions with sway so absolute.
And now Mr.. johnson, whose feelings were
| so raspcd 10y Mr. Motlcy's reported " disgust"
| is as pubcly dead "a if he were below the
"pondcrous and marble jaws OF q mausolcum.
| His secretary, we believe, is in Auburn, sweet
Auburn" thrice swectcr for his presencel Mr..
! McCraclicn is mousing IN unknown crannies,
and listening at humber kcy.holes while Mr..
Motley, at the very head Of the diplomatic
service trusted with delicate negotiations ut a
moment of extreme emergency. sails to-day on his
way 20 the Court of ST. james. He will thus
be able 30 determine point TO which we dare
say he never gave any attention--he can now
decide whether Mr. Johnson or "an English
gentleman is the model of human pericc-
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