The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-31
yJ,E sBtnr OF AMERrCA.
The Feebicncss, Folly, and Meanness of our
FOREIGN Policy-Hamilton Fish and ham
eroft Davis Incompetence ana Dtshon-
esty-The United states Supporting Euro


esty-The United states Supporting Eur0-
pean Despotism.
| Cor.Csr Ondcncc of The sun
WASHINGTON, May 29.-The fcelleness
| folly, aud meanuess Of the State Department
have thoroughly Disguised the American people,
who demand radical change in that rotten con-
Germ. Never IN its whole history was there so
| little force or such faithess abandonment of duty
| as is now witnessed. The whole character and
substance of Mr.. Fish may be described in a
word lie is political Turveydrop, or man
| of department He makes awkward bows, gives
dinners, spends the gains of his ancestors, and
displays an assumed air of official importance
over those who happen 30 be in his power for the
time being.
But he is destitute of the remotest idea of q
national policy, as lie is Of the slightest sympathy
with American progress. Essentially small. sus
rcious narrow, and bgoted, he Is incapable Of
rising to any elevation il public affairs; while,
intellectually considered hc is far below the capa
city Of many Of the clerks whom he rules with
the despoiism Of shallow mind.
The Department is really run 10y J. c. d. Davis,
formerly bad letter writer for the London Ta,os
aud more recently distinguished for sharp prac-
ticc in the Eric Railroad less than which has sent
ever an important despatch has to be written,
Mr.. Gushing or some one else is called in, and
thus bra ms are furnished at the cost of the peo-
pie, who are first taxed pay incompetcuts, and
again taxed to make good their deficiencies.
The genius Of Fi.N and Davis lies in cheese.
parngs and candle-cnds They have been mainly
engaged for some time past in ovcrhauling the &C.
counts Of Mr.. Seward, and housing through
Treasury records, in the hope Of making some
little discovery, in order to whtewash Davis in
public estimation. This pretended zeal was only
CO, e. for their own extravaganza f9rt was shown
before the Committee ON Appropriations that
large salaries had bt"u paid to hvoriics in def
.ance. Of law. and that TIE contL1' LUZ" '-'u
been perverted for thut purpose.
During ali the fierce struggle Of the rebellion,
when the business Of the Department was more
than hundred fold what it now is, Mr.. Seward
conducted it ably and successfully, without ever
asking Congress for an additional clerk. The
officers around him. encouraged by sel.sacri-
fcing example and 10y honorable recognition Of
their rights, labored chccrlul'y by day and by
night, without relaxing any energy.
Now. when there is really nothing to do when
not single question Of moment is under discus
sion. for the Alabama claims have been pigeon.
hoied, and the Cuban patriots abandoned to their
fate. when our ministers abroad are idling, or
running after royal receptions, like Mr.. jay at
London; when there is not the slightest prpteXt
for more clerical help Mr.. Fish has succeeded ia
adding many thousands of dollars TO the budget
Of the state Department, in order that be may
billet more pets ON the Treasury, and pension
are willing TO serve a mental spies under such u
master.
1t is not surprising that the Administration
should be unpopular, when this system is toler.
ated. Fish, Davis, Grinncll & Co. have only
been useful in swelling the Democratic majoritis
in New York and if they ara permitted to con-
tinuc in Office, the result in other States may be
predicted with equal certainty.
The nation has been di~raced IN the eyes Of
the civilized world and our past history ont.
ragged, by the conduct Of the paltry tickstcrs
WHO have charge Of the foreign affairs. We
stand before Chrstcndom US the voluntary ally
OF Spain, in a barbanous warfare against the
people of Cuba, for asserting the very prin-
ciplcs which the vcnal despots at Madrid
themselves professed in order TO obtain power,
but betrayed as soon as the goal of their cor
rupt ambition was reached. We are made
to appear as the enemy Of liberty and humanity
and the friend Of tyranny, by the official succor
afforded to Prim and his bloodthirsty followers
for a price too, and by the denial Of any aid
moral or material, to the gallant Cubans who
are fighting for independence. How dare such
men raise their heads, and speak Of gratitude
to Lafayette, Rochambeau, and the men who
with The sanction of king, Gro sod the ocean
TO fight our battlcs' A French monarch did for
Us what an American President dare not do Cor
| Cuba Nay, more, the President and bis Cabinet
have thrown al. ia rwai IA, into thy cal, against
/ freedom, anl in favor o. oppression.
SO is throughout They shout loudly at Eng
/ land and make bullying proclamations; but
they all rush to the Princes ball, dsrustngly
| flwn upon and natter him while here, and strug-
gle for the honor of his presence. They permit
! British steamers 10 pass through an American
canal on an GRAND Of war against nc' -lhorirg
and friendly people, and thes rm TO 'h' frontier
with arms TO arrest Feuians and TO welcome red
coats. In f.ct, they are only ,igiant when lib
cral sentiment may lie crushed, AID dcspy'ism
may be helped.
The foreign appointment, have been consistent
with the conduct OF Mr.. Fish IN other respects
In the worst days ever seen before they were mol
SO bad with few, and very few exceptions
Passing by the family connections Ct the lrcsi
dent and Secretary Of state, who had to be pro
vid,d for first of ALL look at the mini tcrs and
con us sent abroad, and compare them will
those recalled. There is not one in twenty, Of
perhaps fifty, who can speak any language bu
bad English, who has the least IDEA Of diplomacy
or consular duties, or who has any higher notion
than the salary to be f,Jbcd, Some Of them al,
absolutely disgrac.iu. in every scGs'.
SPECTATOR.
The Art at Silyering Glass.