The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-13
Nur. Motley.


EVon, the N. y. World.
II there 10 any one of our foreign missions
that ought Especially at this time with the
Alabama difficulty still pending) 20 ba 0llad
by a statesman, it Is the missioa 10 London.
But Mr.. Motley is mere Ht5rateur. IL would
be irrelevant TO discuss his pretensiens as a
man OF letters, for q man of letters IA not tn.
character that is wanted for that position. H.
may be an accomplished lipguist; but of ali
our missions, that to London is the one wbere
skill in other tongues is OF the lssst yalue.
Mr.. Motley ia accredited with an intim ate
knowledge Of the former history Of one of the
smallest countries Of Europe, the Netherl auds;
but he will have no use for that species of in
formation In dealing with questions bet ween
our Government and that of Great Britain.
His literary style is luxurisnt and turgid,
with q tiDge of swagger-the worst possible
style for dealing with questions of business. or
as vehicle for cogent argument. We have
gone through the list Of Mr.. Motley's intel.
leotual accomplishments, such as they are.
and find none which ft him for the position to
which he has been assigned. Il would be
ridiculous to consider whether he is a great
statesman, mediocre statesman, or q small
statesman; whether he is bold and vigorous
or prudent and cautious statesman: he has
not the slightest claim or title to be regarded
as statesman at all. He has none of the
solidity OF faculties or reach OF penetration
Having reviewed the accom- plishmeuts
which MIR. Motley possesses, but which do not
qualify him for the London mis- sion
accomplishments which, though no
great helps, are not fatal impsdi-
ments-let as now attend to some of his posi-
tive disqualifoations Among these the most
to be regretted is his lack of genuine Ameri-
can feeling and pride of country. He belongs
to that snobbish Boston coterie which servilely
no Er1rn ftf1ra nd haAs IL I. ~lx
which takes pride in corresponding with for
egners Of distinction, which catches the
newest mode in pronunciation and phrase, as
our fashionable ladies do the newest mode in
attire; which turns up its nose at the rude
ness Of all American life ont of it's own
fastidious circle. Mr.. Motley is a perfect type
of this intellectual and social snobbish-
ness. He completed hisIsduoation in Earops,
and affects to scorn such culture as can be
acquired in this country. He has devoted
his life to European studies, and employed
his pen only on European subjects. All his
pride of association is in European circles and
such American society as bestows its admira-
tion on people who are saturated with Euro
pean sentiments. Mr.. Motley would never
willingly reside in America II he could live
abroad with advantages for social intercourse
Even his abolitionism is not Of indigenous
growth. He adopted it as a reflex of Euro.
pean opinion, regarding slavery as a stain
upon his country more because it was the
fashionable topic of reproach in foreign society
than from any deep moral repugnancs to the
institution.
Such minister is not made of the stuff to
stand up resolutely for the rights of his coun-
try. His strongest sympathies are with its
cultivated foreign critics; it being more essen
tial to his personal comfort to be we'll es-
teemed in society abroad than to have the ap-
probation of his oountrymen at home. He can
ho fad "a alyoo VII
tion Of our rights against the general tone OF
European sentiment. He has, in full measure,
| the morbid and ridiculous vanity which sati-
rists like Swift and writer's of comedy like
Moliere, are fond of holding up to derision as
characteristic of certain type of literary char
acter. The volumes of the Diplomatic Cores
pondenoe furnish curious specimens of Mr..
Motley's foibles and pretty fair measure OF
his capacity. We will city few samples; but
to show the ertent of this mans weakness we
should have to copy great share of his con-
tributions to that prolix collection. The
despatch giving an account of his re-
csption at Vienna, his first interview
tation to the Emperor, is an unoon-
sciOus satire on the writer. she repeated
with emphasis" wrote Mr.. Motley to the SEQ
retary Of State, "thst the news 0fmy appoint
ment had been received with especial satisfac-
tion by the Emperor and his government,
and that l was already well known to them by
reputation. He added other observations per-
sonally complimentary, which l do not repeat;
but think it necessary to inform you, even
at the risk Of being charged with egOtism,
that my reception by the minister was ex-
tremely fattering. X I CON-
slider it important that the administration
should be informed that its representative
here has thus far met with as much courtesy
and consideration as could bs extended to the
minister of any foreign power"
~ took pains, says Mr.. Motley, further on.
"to 60 very fully into these matters, because l
doubt il he has ever before heard any such
exposition Of our policy" Still further on,
he reoounted to Mr.. Seward his modest
boasts to Count Rechberg of being on IA
miliar footing with the leading public charac-
ters OF Europe. 81 told him that had re-
Gently had very long and full conversations
with Lord John Russell on The subject, and
that was perfectly sure, from long and in
innate acquaintance with that statesman, that
he was sincere when he assured me, as he had
done with earnestness, that there was no dis
position on the part of the English Govern
ment," etc. IL told him that had received
similar assurances from other members Of the
British Cabinet, and that was confident so
long as the present administration held their
places, ;" etc. 'He asked me what
thought of the attitude OF France, aud told
him that M. Thouvenel had assured me, in
recent interview, as strongly as words
could give such assurance" etc.
"Lord Bloomfield, the English ambassa
dor, gave dinner to Mrs. Motley
and myself, at which the new French ambas-
ssdor, Due de Grammont, the Balgian minis
ter, the Bavarian minister, the Swedish min
lister, the Danish minister, the Saxon minister
| ~ l. l.,