National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-03-22
TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE nAsr.

1t is true that the nomination of Mr. X.
II. Dana, jr., Of Boston, as Minister TO
England was at first regarded as fit ap-
pointment, and the President was very
generally congratulated as having made
wise selection. Il is equally true that no
one could exactly comprehend his claims
to this high distinction or recall any
remarkable service he had ever rem
dered to the State Whatever of life
and popularity surrounded his name-we
speak of him as a dead man-had its
source in the authorship of very ordinary
book relating to ocean scenes, and to the
legal profession he was known as an almost
briehess barrister, but as respectable
plaginrist in international law. He was
born at Cambridge in 1915, and was grad
uated from Harvard in 1887, and from his
birth to the present time he has been in
the uninterrupted enjoyment Of family.
influence and a private fortune, which has
enabled him to be somebody, veneered
gentleman, but all the while destitute of
real merit and bottom; fine specimen of
human Maiolica, well adapted as a re-
\ ceF tacle for cards and perfumed notes, but
lacking all the essential qualities of rep
retentative American. However, the sup
position was a natural one that his life
ASSOCIATION with the blue blood OF Beacon
street had taught him, at least, the rudi-
ments OF diplomacy, but his letter
Of the 10Th instant to Mr.. Boutwell,
affords conclusive proof that he is as far
removed from knowledge of diplomatic
cunning and finesse as jackass is from
appreciation of the Zephyr duet in the
Marriage of Figaro" His utter inctpa-
city to conduct a delicate negotiation is
clearly revealed in a mass Of unguarded,
undilu:ed insolence to the Senate of the
United States which makes the veriest tyro
in diplomacy blush to think how narrow
an escape the country has made from hay
ing a Minister at the Court Of ST. James
who has not sufficient sHGrit0r in n1odo to
pass by an usher in Buckingham Palace.
The charge against him Of guilt in literary
piracy" was not so dreadfully serious as to
be insurmountable, but his tactics in con-
Quoting his case before the Committee on
Foreign Relations stamps him not only as
moral coward, but absolutely without
vestige Of the qualities and resources quail
flying even a vice consul at Limerick. Who
is Mr.. Dana that he refuses to be Interro-
gated by Senators Cameron, Morton, Ham
lin, FrelinghuyseD, Conkling, Howe, Nc
Creery, Bogy and Eaton? Of what stuff
is he made that he scorns their considera-
ton? How dare he assume that he would
not be treated fairly and respectfully by
them? And what is the altitude of that in
science which affects to depise their opin-
ions! Boston is great place, and great is
the Dana family-in its own estimation.
There 10 nothing oays he, which
"would induce me to go to Washington
"and submit question touching my honor
"to committee which has taken the
course which has been taken by the
"Senate Committee on Foreign Relations"
Such English as this, in the first place,
ought TO kill any mans pretensions to rank
either as diplomat or scholar. But what
right has he to impugn the action and mo
tives of gentlemen quite as nice in matters
pertaining to honor as any one of the Dana
tribe ever dared to be? The country will
very generally regard his case as properly
disposed Of.