The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-14
Toadying and useless Diplomats.


The New York San, one of the most in
telligent and well-informed journals in New
York City, does not like to see American
ministers toadying the soyereigns of the
nations to which they are accredited, and
serves them off in the following cutting
manner: 30
Our diplomats continue to disgust the country
with their irrepressible toadyism. Independence
Day, which might have been suggestive OF no.
bier thoughts, has been made the signal for a
perfect carnival of sycophancy. At Vienna, the
Emperor of Austria is overwhelmed with fiat
terry on account of his sympathies with the cause
of liberty during our civil war, though, in point
of fact, he countenancei his brothers attempt
to overthrow the Mexican Republic, and per-
mitted Austrian forces to be enlisted In his do
minions for the support of Macmillan.
We do not mean to say that we expect the
American envoy to lecture Baron BEUsT and
FRANCIS JOSEPH on such an occasion but on
the other hand, we are at loss TO perceive why
been the subjects OF fulsome eulogy on the
Fourth of July, day destined to commemorate
the emancipation of the people from despotism,
and certainly not to be made the pretext for
heaping glory upon tyranny.
"In Berlin, too, on the same day, the battle OF
Konigsgratz was fooishly compared by our
official representatives to the declaration of in
dependence. AS if any freeman in his senses
could, in the boldest flight oil an obsequious i'm
agination, establish an analogy between victo-
ry achieved, in the interest Of military and
aristocratic olgarchy and political event ac-
complished in behalf of the rights of man.
Our diplOmatists abroad use tho Fourth of
July for the purpose not of celebrating its in
spiration of universal liberty, but to sing the
praises and fatter the prejudices of the Courts
w 10 hos fad
plomatic corps indulging in such nonsense is not
only superhuous, but positively pernicious in
making the Old World believe that our sympa-
thes are with its ruling classes, whereas they
are well known to be altogether with the masses
OF the oppressed people"
We fully agree with the San in all of the
above. The toadyism to which most of our
diplomats are addicted is not only disgust
ing, but is disgrace to America. They
seem to imagine that fulsome fattery is
necessary to render them good diplomats,
and that the thicker they spread it on the
greater is their diplomatic acuteness. We
are tired of hearing their disgraceful con-
duct reported. We are tired of seeing the
representatives of the Great Republic play
ing the sycophant to the monarchs whose
system Of government they affect to con-
tenn. Treating foreign governments with
proper courtesy is one thing and toadying
is another.
We do not see the necessity of the United
States having any foreign ministers at all.
They do no good-at least no one has ever
been able to perceive any good they have
done-and are heavy expense upon the
people. What are they for9 There is
rarely ever any business that our consuls
cannot attend to. If such should arise it
would be much better to send an Envoy
Extraordinary to attend to such affairs and
return Immediately upon the completion
of his mission.
We say boldly, that America has no need
OF diplomats. We have no alliances, no
foreign entanglements, and are not likely to
have any. We do not need to keep these
aristocratic spies-for such is their true
the Court of any nation, for we
have nothing to fear from any foreign power.
The amount paid for our foreign ministers is
enormous, and the people are ground down
with heavy taxation to support these useless
officials and their useless attaches in indolent
luxury. The people are beginning to open
their eyes to this fact, and are tired of paying
30 much for such worthless whistles. It is
to be hoped that the nation will be relieved
from the task of supporting these national
'ponges, and that they will soon become
things of the past. ..-..-