The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-05-17
QUE CIVIL SERVICE ABROAD
American Representatives at the
Courts Of Foreign Nations.
INTERESTING REVELATIONS.
4 Peep Behind the Scenes at Cur Far Of
Diplomatic Agents.


your correspondent has travelled over just Onehaf
Of the Eastern hemisphere. A0yssinia, Arabia India,
Egypt Crete. Syria, Palestine, Turkey In Asia and
Turkey IN Europe, Greece, the Cyclades Italy,
France. Spain, England ana Southern Russia have
visited. Much that have seen has been detailed
already in sweetest m0rsels-tidbits, revelations Of
foreign matters concerning commerce. public works,
finance politics, wars history varied with descrp-
tions OF the chorographlca distributions Of the diff
ferent empires, Kingdoms, states, republics, col
onies over which my erratic footsteps led. The
every day life Of the various peoples nhabiting these
countries have also dwelt upon and every publicist
in America hope has been considerably enlightened
thereby. But now, after your correspondents re-
turn to England, preparatory to another extensive
journey which your agent tells me am to
take, and acting upon a suggestion given to me by
your agent. do find myself called upon to touch
upon another topic. which hitherto have not DONE
and this is, sour Civil Service Abroad" With the
view to make our generous republic acquainted with
the actual present condition Of the American diplo
matte body abroad do open my portfolio and eX-
tract such information notes taken upon the spot
viii afford me-
Parapnrasing once more, so that no selfshness or
unworthy motives may be ascrbed to your cores
pondent by your readers, let me state before COM
mencing my work that whatever revelations are
herein contained may be believed. because can
have no object whatever in dstortng any actually
with which am acquainted and are herein set down.
Articles referring to the same subject on which am
about to WRITE have at intervals appeared in some OF
the American magazines, but they were not written
by me, nor by an impartial observer Of events and
actions: they the emissions OF interested per-
sons-of men already in the employment Of the gov
ernment-of an American Consul now on service
Your correspondent was mis- elbow while he wrote
one, and OF verify could not help but smile at the
platitudes and arrogant postulates upon which he
was eDlarging for the purpose Of obtaining from
government larger salary.
Would 1t be believed If were to state that the
American public are the worst represented at
foreign courts Of any other nation on earths And
yet such is the fact. WnyY Because the majority
of our representatives have not been chosen as the
most eligible for their several positions, but are ap
pointees Of set Of politicians, whose chief aim and
study is how to dispose Of their friends 1t Is natural
for men to think Of their friends and relations
nrst but If these friends and relations totally
incapacitated to perform the set duties they do
themselves grievous wrong in persisting to retain
them in their situations How very wrong, how
very sinful is 1t, then when politicians, though con
WINGED Of their friends incapacity and want Of in
teect, persist in using their influence to preserve
unit appOintees in public ONCE, when each passing
day OF such offceship is at the expense OF our
national dignity. But let the reader pay attention
and follow me while indicate some instances Of
real absurdities.
rHE AMERICAN LEGATION AT THE COURT OF 81.
JAMES.
Starting at the initial point on the route TO the
European Continent we find ourselves In the neigh
borhood Of the Court Of st. James-the English
Court. Mr.. Reverdy Johnson (no, should have said,
In newspaper parance, the Hon. Reverdy Johnson)
u the appointee at this Court. Hon. Reverdy John
son, It is said. Is gentleman, scholar and states
man. High and necessary qualifications these are
before thinking man can IND it in his heart to
sanction 80 important an appointment az an an-
bassador or the representative OF nation Mr..
Johnson has now been In Office some months. Those
who have traced his career thus far must
have arrived OF some conclusions concern
ing his capability and adaptiDility for this
very important post We all know. aud IL
NJ apparent to the most casual observer, that
Mr.. Johnson is q gentleman and q scholar. But OF
the other qualification, what Of itf Can any inelli-
gent American place MIN among the category of
statesmens No. not one What has ne done, then,
to6orleit that nameP This chieest OF all. lie has,
like another Lamartine, sacrinced the reputation Of
man Of action and the statesman to speeches In
striking contrast to his calm, dispassonate prede-
cessor, does the conduct OF Mr.. Johnson appear.
Before the most slowly deliberative people In the
world he commenced his diplomatic duties with
stump speeches. For while he was listened 10 with
respect. His eminent Office demanded that.
and Englishmen listened TO the American
representative with respect blended
with curiosity. But his speeches became
vapd and uninieresting simply because they were
nut commonplace rehearsals of what the people
had heard from his own mouth. and had read IN
bafn IA. fia
and imperous expressions, effects OF premature con.
illusions his part concerning tue Alabama claims,
were caught up ano sidiculed by people who, more
than all Others detcst clap-trap speeches and are
seldom prone 10 hasty declarations. is We wish Ia
stand well IN tho eyes OF the world, all earnest.
thoughtful Americans must depore this lack of tact
on the part of Mr.. johnson. In the minds
OF the Inhabitants Of the British isles, he
has established the fact, beyond all DOUBT,
that we are still In the Martin Chuz-
xlewitt era, and that stump speaking
IL still idiosyncratc OF native born Americ ans.
He also exposed himself to unkind remarks IL not
insults The saturday Recie,c In Its glory. and
many were the pungent sarcasms levelled al our I'M
fortunate Minister'S head for his gueless remarks
before beef-eattng corporations and insolent men,
bers Of mechanic institutes | confess TO having
felt with several other Americans, ~ II were sit-
ting on thorns while cratic Mr.. Johnson made his
extraordinary tour over England, and what way
ward spirit prompted MIN to declaim with the feeble
difYusiveness 30 characteristic OF hm before every
beeffaced, fat-braned sans cutoftes that thought
ut to call upon him for a speech, IN be
yond my knowledge. Andrew Johnson's tour was
not more undlgnifed or more out OF place than MT
Reverdy Johnson's was. His reasons werc-accord-
Ing TO his own statements-he hoped TO cement In
bonds still 0rmer the love existing between the two
nations, and to erase from English minds the ide'
that the American people entertained hostile feet
inas towards England. Very laudable indeed W,
must admit, but was II his place to halt at everJ
petty village to disseminate his opnionsy what !
the press fort Whatever feelings animate Amerl
cans generally ind their way to the edhoria
columns OF the American journals, and IL they con
Germ England ana her interests they rcpublishc,
In English Journals. Not for q day have they bec
At fault yet TO discern the tendency q
public opinion In America. No other America
A AM nm N "A q