The New York herald., 1874-08-21
MINISTER'S FIRES ON FISH.
NEW YORK FREEXAN's JOURNAL OFFICE.
August 20, 1874.


aged gentleman who Is In the Chair of Secretary Of
STATE. To him Mr.. Fish stated that, in his opinion,
"any man was damned fool" ana he dia not wish
to be understood es using these words in profahe
sense, ''who would pen such an article as that in
the Ffee1n0n's Journar OF this week In regard 10
the intrigue for the transferring OF Porto Rico TO
the German Empire by the Serrano usurpation OF
the government at Madrid. am Wiling that the
old gentleman may abound III his own opinion. Nor,
on the other hand, cap help 1t If even his sonin
law. Mr.. sidney Webster, and his envoy,'as Amer-
can Minister to Berlin, Mr.. Bancroft Davis, JON IN
the general opinion OF their countrymen that Mr..
Hamilton Fish may be a blessed iooi, but Is, Ger
tainly, damned diplomatst. Mr. Secretary Fish
has denied nothing that have asserted. even
suggested that MIR. Hamilton Fish was uncon-
scious that he was drifting our country into war
with the arrogant and top heavy German Empire,
without knowing what he was doing.
Mr.. Hamilton Fish Is, even in his advanced age.
botter Judge than i am or the value OF houses
and lots IN the Seventeenth ward OF New YORK,
but God never made him Tor q statesman or
diplomatist, even for a politician. He
draws on his diplomatic experience for the asser-
ton that mo Minister representing European
government would have dared to use in an official
despatch the language attributed to Admiral
Polo" MIR. Hamilton Fsh's reading OF diplomatic
correspondence OF European Powers, in the past
times of European grandeur is far less than his
reading OF the New York real estate market or he
never would have written that.
Besides, were old Mr.. Hamilton FIsh's knOw-
edge Of European diplomacy more accurate than
1T is, coud IL reach time IN which an old ''sea-
dogs of the Spanish navy, dragged away from the
ships he hau commanded for nearly quarter OF
century and thrust into diplomatic position for
which he had no desire, found himself represent
a gh Of mot
even shadow Of a Cortes representing Spanish
nationality, but usurped dictatorship OF the
thrice perjured caitlff, SerranO
AS the late Mr.. Lincoln would have said, 'Tt re-
minds me OF little story" 1t is, il mistake not,
of the reign of George I'LL. of England. The proud
family OF the Percys was extinct The last rem
nant, female. was married to rich burgher,
VINO bought or some way gained the Old title OF
Duke OF Northumberland. He asked some favor
or other OF the Court, was snubbed and appealed
personally to the functionary King of England.
''lt is think, the first time, Your Majesty that
Duke OF Northumberland ever asked so small
favor of royalty and was reusedr' The reply is
said to have been :-''verv possible, SIR. l think
also it IS the first time Mr.. Smith has been Duke
OF Northumberland!
There seems to be some persons near Mr.. Hamil-
ton Fish who profess to be tier judges Of style
than he Is and some OF these say that the ring OF
the dispatches Is other than the gallant old Admit
raj Polo would have given in his writings. The
question is not as to the style, but as to the sigma
ture But see nothing in the style not IN the
competence OF an old wary officer OF Spain, goaded
to desperation by the imbeciles OF Madrid.
But, with style, or precedents, works of inter-
nal evidence, l have nothing to do. hold the
transcript of the dispatches on the evidence on
which I have received them. l do not hold
them subject to the call OF Mr.. Hamilton Fish nor
OF any one occupying public place. Had the peo-
pie of the United States, as government, had
men fitted for their places, either in the Depart
ment OF State at Washington, or at Madrid or at
Berlin would have had no revelations, possible
Tor me to make. The matter was "on the cards.
q year ago.
Ihave only to say to the HERALD, whose FORE
| cast on this matter was correct that am certain
| OF my Information, and that | ought not and,
therefore, Will not betray the source whence
have gained it. The New York tribune one day
| says IL does not doubt my honesty, but may be
| the "duper OF some Carlist. Again, with re-
markably bland air, 1t invited me to produce my
| documents, because old Mr.. Fish thinks they are
not authentic. The Evening Post remarks on the
| fact that these documents, so interesting to the
American public, need further authentication be-
cause they have teen gwen by paper Of avOwedly
"Papist and Carlist sympathies." At first l
thought the suggestion intended to be offensive
but on second reading. see that the Post being
| Puritan and plymouth" considers any amount
OF false assertion and, pc rhaps, false swearing
! altogether, In order for the promotion OF the
cause one has at heart. l decline altogether that
| Puritan code OF morals. Following the code |
| was reared in and have made my own l do not
seek to promote any dearest case by my lie.
stand defiant in community that knows me,
and declare that the overtures of the wretched
|
miral Polo are such as have stated them to be.
! will compromise no one by revealing my sources
of information at present. In short time-t may
be some months-when King Carlos VII. will be in
the Escurai, and hold Madrid and all the SPANS,
for their honor, viii, perhaps, tell who my in
! IOrmants have been.
The HERALD has mad the kindness a short time
ago TO say the story oil my being made a Cardinal
was, as / called 1t, an egregious humDug; also OF
my looking alter any other Papal honor. Please,
then. let me say that your humorous suggestion
as to my being the plenipotenttary OF King Carlos
VII OF spain Is equally absurd. The true Spaniards
that hold with their king are very noble people,
but they are most Jealous OF nations. All they
| ask is to be let alone. This done, King Carlos
Will soon settle with the foes OF order in Spaln All
| have done has been, as private in, the st.
Michael's Association OF New York, to help in
| sending o little aid to the POntlfcal Zouaves in
active service in Spain, for hospital purposes-atd
(under Her Royal Hghness Donna Blanca, wife OF
Don Alfonso. brother Of the Kine) as freely used
for the unhappy conscripts Of the Madrid Dictator
ship as for the Carst wounded.
But coming, some months ago. inro accidental
knowledge OF the intrigues OF the ovargrown and
insoens German Empire for getting a fOothold
through which 10 expand its power in this West
ern hemisphere, my sentiments, as a democrat o
the Old school, and an adherent to It's fullest ex
tent OF the 'Menroe doctrine" have led me tc
sound the alarm, perfectly well authorized. That
have done, and that--tO the confusion or Serrant
and Of Bsnfarck-I rejoice has so perfectly sue
ceeded. JAMES A. MCMASTER.
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES.
Mr.. Toole will next appear in comedy not IN
familiar to American play-gOers, called "Uncl