New-York tribune., 1876-08-08
DrrocRlcY And coySCLS.GEyERIh

II WAS natural enough for the Franklort-0n-
the Main Democratic Association to lecl a
lively interest in the American Centenary. 1t
was proper enough to put this interest INTO a
document. 1t was not extraordinary th&t,
looking about for somebody To receive their
congratulations, the Frankfort Democrats
should select hir. Prentice Webster, thc Amer
lean COnsul-Gcncral. The paper bad taken
the form of an address to the American Pco-
plc, and Mr. Webster was the nearest repre-
sentative of the American People At hand. 1t
WAS rather q dampcr when the Consul
General. with many personal regrets
declined 10 receive the document. lie
looked upon it rs "A political demonstration,
and informed the Democratic Association that
American Co;suls were not diplomatic repre-
scntatiycs of the United States but OF
" commercial interests" Acting upon this
statement. the Frdnkiorlers transmitted their
congIat;.atiOns 10 Mr. Bancroft Davis, the
United states Minister in Berlin. lie, how
ever. did not prove TO be any more ho7pi'hbic.
He was perfectly polite; he admitted 1t to ue
hi, duty " 10 welcome every individual mani
" fcstaton of good will and friendship from
d" German Sources" but the intent o. tins COM
muncation being The iur,hcranc" OF local
and political objects or interests" he must
decline to receive it. The association then
sent Mr.. Davis another letter, complaining
that he Consnl-Gcncral had refused 10 take
in the address without having read It, To
this final appeal Mr. Davis, We believe, has
made no response but the association has
printed the whole correspondence.
I'm Justice to Mr.. Webster it must be stated
that the Democratic Society has for one oI its
| objects M least the dcthrOnemCnt of The En-
percr of Germany. At least we presume that
! it has, for its ill-fatcd address concluded as
| follows: And all of lis hope that the seed of
d" republican ideas sOwn on TIE Fourth of
&" July, l77G, will one day bear fruit on Ger
"man sol.' We hardly see now Minister or
! Consul accredited to throne the demolition
of which is thus more than limited at, could
sanction, even indirectly, such revolutionary
| theories. 1t is true that Mr. Webster had not
| read the address, but he was perfectly familiar
| with the objects and purposes OF the ass0ci-
| alton, while Mr.. Davis had been ta-
yored with pcrusal OF the docu-
! mcnt. as we are upon excellent terms
with the Emperor of Germany, and is his I'm
rciial Majesty happened just mt the time to be
transmitting to us his best wishes, we hardly
| see how American Consul or Minister could
sanction in any way a proposition to dcthrOne
| him, whatever might he the personal opinion
! of either upon monarchy in the abstract. Be
! fore we condcrnn these gentlemen. we ought
! TO remember the delicate position which they
occupy. They can hardly be expected to en-
courage a proposition to dcthrone Il prince
with whom we are upon friendly terms, and to
whom they are accredited.
Alderman newspaper Uhc Frdnl fUter /eitung)
is anxious to know whether the course of
Nessrs. Davis and Webster was " in accord
"auce with instructions from the Government
"at Washington Certainly not, especially
as the Government ut Washington knew
nothing of the affair until it was over The
course was merely in accordance with the in
structiOns of Grotius. Natte Puifcndorf and
| Wheaton. We are not obliged to send an En-
! bassadOr to represent lis at the court of any
monarch, be he q liberal ruler or an
| llIbcral dcspot but if we think it worth while
to enter into diplomatic relations with a Gov
ernment, our representative is bound TO re-
spect that Government, and not to plot for its
destruction. An Embassador will be always in
difficulties unless he lets the local troubles of
the country to which he IL dcputcd severely
alone. He is not political missionary. He is
merely the agent of his Government We
should not ourselves permit foreign Minister
to meddle with our politics, or in the least to
interfere in our domestic differences. II he
did SO, we might send him home. We should
certainly be Justified in doing so.
We prefer our own form of government to
the monarchical, but unless we are prepared to
| give up all foreign relations We must rccOg-
nizc the existence of kings, emperors, grand
dukes, princes, and other potentatcs. especially
| if we chance TO be enjoying their hospitality