The New York herald., 1875-12-31
why SO Much srysterys


crecy. 1t dates from a time when the people
| were only the obedient and ignorant instru-
ments Of small governing class, and when
/ the members of this class amused them
selves with intrigues against their rivals
in other nations and attempts to over
reach them. In those days ii was justly
enough remarked by sarcastic wit that
an ambassador was a person sent to lie
abroad for the good Of his country at home.
In fact deception, fraud, falsehood and in
trigue of the lower kinds were the stock in
trade of first class envoy, whose proudest
achievement was to steal the dispatches of
another, while in the last resort he did not
scruple to procure the assassination of some
abler man than himself
All this is now happily past Diplomacy
is no longer, anywhere in Christendom,
synonyme for chicanery; IN ambassador may
be gentlemen and a Christian. But the
old notion still prevails that secrecy and
mystery are necessary parts of the inter-
course between governments, and that tho
public is inexcusably impertinent when it
asks to be let into the secret of what their gov
portant matters which can interest them
Now, we freely admit that there are OCCASION
ally negotiations which must be conducted
privately. notable instance is the recent
purchase by Mr.. Disraeli of the shares in
the Suez Canal. That was business trans
action which depended for its success upon
keeping out other bidders; and the British
Dr,v GaI ~,
keeping the whole world and the English
people in ignorance of what he was doing
until it was done. But such cases are rare.
In general only mischief can grow out
of secrecy in diplomatic negotiations.
1t is far better that the public, in free
State, at least, should Lnow what the rulers
intend or propose. Here, for instance, is the
long negotiation of General Grant with
Spain regarding Cuba. All the later stages
of it have been carefully concealed from the
people. Why? What is gained by so much
mystery? If what General Grant demands
of Spain is just his demands would gain
strength from the support of the peo-
pie, who would undoubtedly give it to
just and honorable demands. If what he
requires of Spain is unjust, then certainly
the people ought to know it, for no President
has a right to propose injustice in the name
of just and honorable nation.
The truth is that in this Spanish negotia-
ton the President has played in an mex
cusable manner with the apprehensions
Of our own people. For several weeks
before his annual Message was is
sued the public was kept in constant
alarm by rumors of probable trouble
with Spain. Our feet was hurriedly refitted
and assembled, for what purpose nobody
about the government dared to tell. Mys-
terious hints were circulated in the press
about some grave impending event. Business
confidence received shock merchants were
embarrassed at time when it is of great i'm
portance that trade shall be encouraged, and
meantime, if any one sought, in the interest
/ of the public, to get at the meaning of all
these preparations and these hints, he was
| told, as the nurses tell little children,
! ''Open your mouth and shut your eyes by
and by you'll get something to make you
wise"
BY and by came the Message, and again
the public found mystery where it had
clear right to expect an honest,
straightforward report Of what was
doing and what was intended. Even
the late Jack Bunsby did not speak
more oracularly than the President
spoke in his discussion of Cuban relations.
Whereby, why not? If SO, what odds2
Can any man say otherwise? No. Awast,
then p said the immortal Bunsby and the
"demnition total"-to speak after the man
ner of the late Mr.. Mantilini-which any
American merchant anxiously planning a
voyage or a venture of any kind, got out of
the three columns which General Grant de-
voted to Spain and Cuba, could be accurately
summed up in these lucid words of Bunsby.
Now, the President is not a Bunsby.
He is the responsible ruler of great nation.
He is a man of undoubted ability. He can
tell plain story as we'll as any man in the
country. Here is a man." said Captain
Cutie, proudly pointing to Jack Bunsby,
''that has fell down more than any man
alive that has had more accidents happen
to his own self than the Seamen's Hospital to
all hands that took as many spars and bolts
about the outside Of his head when he
was young as you'd want order for
on Chatham yard to build q pleasure
yacht with; and yet that got his
opinions in that way it's my belief, for
there amt nothing. like them aAoat or
ashore" That certainly is not q good de-
scription Of General Grant. He is quite
/ capable Of acting openly. But he prefers
secrecy and mystery; he seems to think that
the people are lot Of incapables who can
not be trusted to know what their guar
| dian is doing on their behalf And SO,
ont of love Of mystery, or out
1 Of q passion for the silence which
1 has gained him 50 much foolish praise, or