The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-16
The Catacazy-Fish War.

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struction to the million. 1t furnishes a peep
behind the scenes of diplomatic life to which
the ignobile uulgls are not often admitted, and
more than justifes the old saw about the little
wisdom with which the world is governed.
We had hoped when the fiery little Gr@co-
Russian departed from our shores
that we had heard the end of his
wordy warfare with our somewhat unfortu-
nate Secretary of State. But though the
suppostitious descendant of the Constantines
was baf1ed he was by no means conquered.
Refusing to accept disgrace in silence, even at
the hands of his master, whose chains he is
proud to wear, the fiery little diplomatist has
his character. It is however, questionable if
he has done himself any service. The counter
charges which he puts forward in defence of
himself may be true or otherwise, but we do not
see in what they are calculated to refute the
charges brought against him. Nothing in the
letter to Chief Justice Chase supports the high
pretensions of Catacazy, who makes the
mistake of patronizing the American nation.
He attempts to sneer at our ready made diplo-
matists; but in view of the poor success which
he has had in his contests with these despised
volunteers his attempts at scarcasm lose all
edge. There is, however, not o little
unpleasant truth in some of this
foreign ambassadors remarks. While pay
ing ready homage to the financial and
progressive genius of our people
and their intelligent acquaintance with all
questions of home Importance, he observes that
we commit the management Of our foreign
affairs to very unskilful hands No one can
be better authority on this point than the
Russian diplomat. Had he found a clearer
and stronger head than Mr.. Fish can boast Of
controlling the Foreign Department MIR. Cata-
cay would never have dared to take the step
which brought him finally to disgrace It is
to be regretted that the calibre of the
men in our administration should en-
courage foreign representatives to undervalue
the intelligence and spirit of the American
people, and we hope the letter which we pub
lish to-day will awaken them to the necessity
of remedying this dangerous abuse. If
Catacazy had been content to maintain silence
many at this side Of the water would have
continued to regard him as an able and in
some respects an injured man. In face Of
the exposition he has himself made we
are not very much inclined to accord
him much sympathy. On his own showing it
is very difficult to say whether he or Mr.. Fish
was the person most to blame. His letter is
full of transparent special pleading which
most people are likely to receive with the ira
ditional grain Of salt. The case which he makes
against the American Secretary Of State is so
based on what invisible and uncomfortable
persons told Mr.. Catacazy, that it is of the
most flimsy kind. 1t is evident, however, that
neither gentlemen was possessed Of much
tact or dignity, and that on neaAy all occa-
sions they allowed their personal feelings
more play than was good for the
diplomatic interests entrusted to them.
The proofs put forward by Mr.. Cata-
cay of his kind, and even distinguished
reception by President Grant and Secretary
Fish, seem rather to tell against himself than
his opponent. At first the Russian Minister'S
relations with the administration were cordial,
but in time his irrepressible, intriguing nature
got him into trouble. No one will believe that
an American Secretary of State would make
war on foreign representative because the
latter refused to pay some doubtful claims,
even when advanced by widow. The Won
derful history about conspiracy to drive the
Russian out of the country because he had
dealt somewhat sharply with the Perkins
claim, and the attempt to drag in the in
evitable member of the Grant family, must
be regarded as rather bungling story,
not much likely to obtain credence here.
The contest is not without its amusing side
for the onlookers, though we find our self-con-
ceit little rufiled by the somewhat rude criti-
cism of the irritable ex-Minister. In his des-
perate efforts to maintain his position he butts
right and left, without much respect for
persons or things, but all the time
seems to be acting unconsciously. He wishes
to appear in the character of the prosecuted
| lamb at the Washington stream, with Fish as
the ravenous and tyrannical wolf, who only
sought an excuse to eat him. Unfortunately
for the success of this pleading, we know
that Fish is more of q sheep than wolf, and
hence we are suspicious when the fierce little
Muscovite complains of harsh treatment. The
Russian asserts that most of the serious charges
made against him were founded on old wo-
mems stories, and had no foundation in fact.
The truth seems to be that he was afflicted
with the mania for babbling, if not for in
triguing. This led him more than once to speak
his mind little too openly in relation to Mr..
Fish. 1t is hard to blame him for this because
nothing he could well say in relation to that
distinguished negotiator but would be echoed
approvingly by the whole country. 1t is not,
however, the province of a foreign Minister 10
express even what the whole people are saying
about their rulers. The parting shot which