The New York herald., 1870-01-14

4
under the escort OF Vice President Colfax.
| The Mystcrious Influence of the HernId-A
| Foreign Minister Believes In s'The Diplo-
macy Of Public OpInion.''
In the course OF very pleasant conversation the
other day with distinguished foreign Minister
l accredited to this government he suddenly re-
marked, "By the way, talking OF newspaper enter
| prise, did you read the letter from your Vienna
| correspondent giving an account OF an interview
with Count Beust?u
| told him had read that letter.
1t was extremely interesting SAID he. IL was
qne surprised to hear OF the Count speaking 80 un
reservedly TO newspaper correspondent. | con-
slider that 1t was very remarkable-l viii not say
condescension-bnt recognition OF the power and
influence OF the modern press, and especially COM
pnentary to the NEW YORK HERALD, the leading
journal OF this great countryn
The Minister spoke with considerable emphasis
at which could hardly refrain from smile, while
Iquetly observed that thought the press-and es-
pecaliy the Independent American press ~ repre-
sented by the New YORK HERALD-was making
| Itself felt all over the world
"Well, sir, agree with you,r SAID the Minister.
II agree with you am good deal OF an Amerl-
can In, my views on that subject / think the days
oi oid-iashioned diplomacy are passing away ana
that higher and more honest kind Is coming In
vogue. belive that the true diplomacy il the di-
ploInacy OF public opinion. The press represents
rejects that opinion, and the press should be re-
spected."
mention this little incident not because II il COM
plimentary 70 the leading American organ OF public
opinion put because IL forces comparison between
the American idea OF diplomacy represented by
Secretary OF Stae ana the idea above expressed
by the accredited representative of an imperial
dynasty have heard three four foreign Ministers
talk quite literally similar SUBJECTS and yet ind
our own premiers practising the small tricks and
deceits ,naS characterized European diplomacy a
hundred years ago. The most commonplace mat
ters are enyeloped here in cloud OF mystifcatiOn
by the powers that be in the Office the state De-
partment Why should we, free people-whose
boast Is that we govern ourselves the theory OF
whose institutions Is Dor poputi ler suprenaa-have
any secret diplomacy at all9 Is there any really
good reason why the people Of this country should
not know what our representatives abroad are
doing, what they ore told to do and all about their
businessf l know some will say that respect for
other nations requires secrecy, but must be par
dOned for observing that that Is very poor apology
We don't want any negotiations that won't bear
daylight. We ought not 10 have any diplomatic
correspondence OF such delicate fabric that every
day exposure would knock 1t to pieces. BY way OF
illustration, let call attention to two past and
present subjects o, diplomatic humDugging There
| Deen accom-
plised by all the strained secrecy that IL 1t
any nearer settlement to-day than six months ago,
in consequence Of secrecy Would 1t not have been
settled long ago "the diplomacy OF public opinion"
had been employed. instead OF the Machiavelian
shifts and devices that have been abundanty used
to no purposef 1.-The diplomacy OF public opinion"
would have said blunLly, with Old Ben Wade "Mr.
Bull, here's our blll-pay IT," And Mr.. Bull would
have cashed the bill at very short notice. Then,
second illustration, let me ask does any
BODY doubt that Cuba would be as
she is had 'the diplomacy or pub.
lie opnion' been allowed far shaker
The diplomacy Of public opinion" said first says
now, recognize the struggling Cubans. ana give
then your moral support give them good a
chance as their oppressors.n But the old idea OF
secret plotting and scheming, the old plan which
was the creation OF crafty European statesmen and
rulers TO compass ends that could not be accom-
plished by open, fair dealing resorted to. 1t
not too much 70 soy thrt had our administration
obeyed the popular will regarding Cuba months ago,
the ever Faithfulr would be ours to-day, and in
the enjoyment OF all the blessings or free, consttu
tiona government.
II seems that there Ia at least one Senator who
holds very similar views regarding secrecy In the
matter OF diplomatic affairs TO those contained In
the above observations Senator Ferry by his
marks to-day In regard to the st. Domingo acquls-
siton treaty, shows that he has some doubts as 10
the propriety Of absolute secrecy in regard to the
negotiation OF such matters. He believes that the
people should be party to such business, know all
about it from beginning to end. and have a chance
to express their views prior the OF lncation
by the Senate.
Malicious Charges Against General Dyer Rc-
vived.
Senator Howard OF Michigan, to-day presented
fhar NJ
Arnick making charges against General Dyer, the
Chief Of Ordnance. The country already under
stands very well that all these charges against Dyer
by disappointed candidates for gun contracts are
simply malicious Even General Butler is ashamed
Of the part he took against Dyer when member OF
the Ordnance Investigating Committee.
Reduction of Duties ON Sugar and Lumber.
Mr.. Davis, q sugar refiner Of Philadelphia, had
long interview with the Committee OF Ways ana
Means this morning on the subject OF reclasslfyng
sugars ana making yet more refined qualification.
The complaint is that partially refined sugars from
the West Indies imported sugars, thus
coming into competition with American sugars, to
the detriment OF our manufacturers There seems
to be AN inclination In the committee TO reduce the
duties ON all sugars.
The committee have agreed to change the duties
on lumber from ad Uai0rent 10 specific duties. re-
tanning substantially the present duty. The COM
mittee viii probably not report the tarif bill for
month to come
Senator Ramsey's Postal Negotiation.
The Postmaster General to-day sent communica.
ton to the House In reply to resolution enclosing
letter from Senator Ramsey, in which the latter
says he spent s724 IN gold ~ NECESSARY expssnsses
during his stay Y Pay!s Of Several months includ
,pg payments Tor ocean telegraph messages, DC. He
is sure his expenses were IN excess Of this amount
The clerk received 1000 in gold and another per.
son $3.50 for interpreting and ranslating during the
postal negotiations. The Postmaster General says
there Is no express authority to appoint special
agents except his general authority to superlntend
the welfare or the department This power has
always been considered as necessary incident to
the once OF Postmaster General and s 80 recog-
nizcd by the ACT OF July 8. 1885.
The Death Of >tantOn-McetinG OF the Mem
bers Of the Bur.
meeting OF the members OF the bar OF the Su-