The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-09

The English Mission.
The name of Theodore D. Woolsey, former
President Of Yale College, has been men
toned in connection with the mission to
England, and it cannot be disputed that
this would be an admirable appointment, If
President Grant should make it. But we
still think that Mr.. Longfellow would be the
best selection. The choice OF General
Schencks successor ought to be made VIVID
reference to the main object to be accoIa-
plished in England in this pscu-
liar iuncture. All wise governments Sc
lect their foreign agents with prope' adap-
tation to the .ure of the service 10 De
rendered. when England sought to nego-
tiate the COMMERCIAL treaty With France she
sent mr.. Golden, the most sagacious and
bes. informed man in her dominions on
questions of trade. When our Northeastern
l,.uo dairy was to be settled she appointed
ord Ashburfon q special ambassador
10 Washington, becarse his American
domesac iies and interest in the
ecunarF were passport to the conf
denee Of our government and people.
Whsn 1ssforson vanted to purchase Louis
lana no sent SIr Monroe to France, because
he was well tuoNn in that country and per-
H. Az understood his own views Whenever
/ 10 il o specific object of paramount i'm
pcttanco 70 DO accomplished in foreign
eesintry the appointment Of Minister
lsauid have relation to that paramount OBJ
II and on This principle Mr.. Longfellow
81 the fittest selection that could be made
Tin the English mission at present.
The most imrortant Of all the objects to
Je accomplished in our foreign intercourse
Is the :nain fenance of the national honor,
which has ht)en wounded by General Schenck
in the poidt mon which our pride of coun-
~ ought to be most sensitive. We must
/, efface this stain and cause it to be speedily
forgotten Tho successor of Minister who
took French leave, and whose departure
seemed like 4 fight from British JUS
the. hhs brought shame on a mis-
son which always had q character for
.nsulied honor until General Schenck
nilsd, il, and il is the first duty of our gov
ornEbent to restore its furnished lustre.
UnAcr such circumstances we need to send
Minister who will not have to make his
waly SLOWLY 70 British confidence, but will
pybssess ii IN full measure from the moment
Ills appointment is announced. Mr.. Long
kIlow satisfies this requirement better than
lny other American citizen. There is not
Jan intelligent English family in which Mr..
Icngfellov 5 name has not long been house
hold word. He is loved and honored wher-
ever the English tongue is spoken, and he
would receive an amount Of social courtesy
and distinction which would be accorded to
no other representative of our government
Warm admir- ton of his genius and his
| qualities e. gentleman would cause his
predecessor 10 be forgotten, and Mr.. Long,
felset 4 fbpularity in every rank of English
sooitty wnnld wash and sweeten the tainted
reputation - the American Embassy.
The great tning to be done at London lust
now is to redeem the national honor. and
this new Minister should be selected with
reference to the duty to be accomplished.
SIR Woolsey would be an admirable ap-
pointment. but he would not be welcomed
in London with the same fcldt. So far as he
is known in England he is regarded with
great esteem, but outside of small circle
who have road his excellent book on inter-
national law srd some men in the universities
who recognize him as an accomplished
Greek scholar, he is stranger to the English
public. His own couns1ymen would, In
deed. consider him as one of the very fittest
men that could be selected; but the pressing
need Of the moment is not to make favor
.sble oppression on our own public but on
that Of Great Britain. Mr.. Woolsey is a
\wise, safe, upright and learned man, and
bne Of the hree or four enlightened
jSdges to vhom the American case
prepared for the Geneva tribunal
WIS suh,atied by our government for
criticism ssd revision. He would grow in
estcem IN proportion as he became known,
but he would rot be received with that spon-
taneous and admiring enthusiasm which
wonid greet Mrl Longfellow, who, beside his
other ssles e popularity, has the habits of
society ord the tone and accomplishments of
Ian VI the world. 1t is better to send
citizen whose haracter and virtues will not
III 70 grow iato recognition, but be &C
ceIfed I" once With admiring confidence.