The New York herald., 1876-02-07

high-toued principle and stately grace that iIumined
the papers Of the Congress at Philadelphia whch casu M
forth the eulogies of Chatham, and which marked lne
administrator Of Washington when, IN lly4 SheI.u"n,
in the House OF Commons pointing 70 the poIicy .,
America declared that 'her name and government
above the nations Of Europe with a simple ana
commanding dignityf"
OUR FoREGN DIPLOMACY.
II al the present day foreign diplomacy COM
mands less admiration on the part OF Europe, reason
for this may perhaps be sought IN the change that
has occurred our manners toward foreign Powers,
the subject Will not be thought undeserving Of at
tention this epoch history by those who have
observed the extent 70 which both our national pres
tge and national interests endangered by the
habit which no true American can desire should be-
come chronic, Of disregardng, with apparent uncon-
sciousness or Indifference, the customary urbanty OF
civilized nations. owing TO the inirequency CT calls by
Congress tor the diplomatic correspondence compared
with the demands OF the British Parliament
such things may often happen wlthout becoming
known 10 the public and from the suppression OF the
official investigation into the causes ana cx-
tent Of the Vienna scandal the couniry is
still unadvised Of the extent OF the DIS
courtesy exhibited in that business, both In the ap
pointment OF the commission and in the neglect TO IN
vestgate the scandal New York before Its removal
to Vienna dscourtesy not alone to the imperial and
royal government in whose capital and under whose
auspices the Exposition was held. but TO the Official
representatives Of all the governments OF the word,
whose jubilee in the cause Of civilization was subjected
TO that unseemy interruption.
Mr. Webster afforded an unfortunate precedent for
rude speech and arrogant manner IN u part OF the
famous reply TO Mr. Huseman that should be remem-
bered only TO be condemned. The Austrian charge
had in decent language protested against the secret
mission OF Mr. Dudley Mann and the instructions given
that agent during the between Austria and Hun
gary ascertain the probable Of the revou-
tonary movement "a sort of mission that if organ
lied by European Powers during our civil war would
have awakened the tinkle of Mr. Stewards bell. Mr..
Webster deemed II becoming TO enforce his ingenious
defence Of the perfect proprety OF Mr. Mann's mis-
sion and his rcbuke of Austria for obecng to 1t by
reminding Mr.. Hulseman that the power OF the Re-
public was spread over region "ot an extent in
comparison with which the possessions of the House
OF hapsburg are but as patch on the earth's sur
face y Had the statement been free from exaggera-
ton Its bearing on the fitness OF the mission TO Hun
gary was not apparent, and the manner Of the ex-
preston was not in accord with European ideas OF
national dignity and international courtesy. Mr..
Wcbsters motive however was clear. He was evil
IDENTIFY not unwilling to wound the pride OF Austria,
whose 'iron rule had been referred in Mr.. Mann's
Instructions
THE "AFFARE cArAcAzY.n
But take the correspondence published by the Sen
ate, December 1872 in relation TO the retirement Of
Mr.. Catacazy whose recall had been asked by the
President at a time when, it appeared the Grand
Duke Alexis was about TO visit the United States. How
we TO account for the tone then assumed toward
the Emperor Alexander2
on the 9th of September Mr.. Curtin telegraphed:-
'The Emperor requests the President tolerate tho
presence Of MI Catcazy until after the visit Of the
Grand Duke and then he Will be recalled"
ON the 2oth Of September MI Curtin was instructed
sThe President has decided to tolerate the
present Minister until after the visit OF the Prince
That Minister will then be dismissed not recalled"
On the 25th of September Mr. Curtin reported the
suit of his interview with Mr.. de Westmann (which, -
he sand, "but for the condition Of the recall of tho
Minister imposed In your telegram, acceding TO the
cable. "
The aGaire Catacasy'' was good deal discussed in
Europe, especially in diplomatic circles 1t re-
ported that the Emperor on reading the telegram Of
the 25th had said, 'Do they doubt my wordY"
The assurance that the President would tolerate Mr.
Catacazy until after the visit OF Alexis however ungra
ciousy given, seems to have been relied protect
ing Alexis from any discouresy from our government
this account; and surprise and something more
aroused at St Petersburg. and indeed throughout Eu
rope when the OF the Car of all the Russas
allowed 70 leave Washington without being asked TO
!
Surprise has sometimes been expressed on the Conn-
ent at the small regard for the feelings of foreign courts
exhibited in the occasional publication Of American
dispatches presumably intended confidential The
publicity given by Mr.. Seward TO the note from Mr..
Clay at ST. Petersburg, during our civi war; develop
ing with singular frankness his views in regard TO Eng
land supposed to have been by intention; but no
motive appeared for spreading before the world note
from Constantnople on the mental condition OF the
Sultan whose Minister said 10 have been dispcased
at the suggestion that he was idiot More recently
our diplomatic volumes contained a despatch from
OF the ablest and most useful of diplomats which
could hardly have been pleasant reading for the court
TO which he accredited. IL charged the Cabinet
with bindly following the dictaton of a neighboring
Power the conduct of its foreign relations and with
being completely bewldered when It's oracle was ST.
enced and remarked, ats future in this mat
ter unless controlled by external forces will be char
acterzed by vacillaton regeneration and dupicty
as it always has been &c.
Such disclosures OF views, comm unicated with
served confidence, while impressing foreign Powers
with the idea Of imperfect civilization in which the
either ignorant of the amenities Of social
intercourse utterly regardless Of their observance
tend greatly to embarrass diplomatic agents in their
dealings with foreign Minister'S and thus the interest
OF country may be mperled by act OF dscourtesy
which, however unntentional the smallest would
have prevented.
But all former disc0urteses 10 foreign POwers-even
those so unexamplcd and nexplicabe offered to Alex
ander and Aexs-shrInk in their dimensions before
the ungracous part performed by US in connection
with the Austrian Exposition in the appointment OF
governmental commission whose official irregularities
compelled Its suspension at Vienna That part con-
cerned alike Europe and America; but without now
alludng to the singular disregard then shown to the
great names OF our country which represent its scien
thc and artistic progress or TO the wrong done TO
American industries by their imperfect representation,
look simply at the bearing Of the appointment of the
acting commissioners and the character Of their
management upon the imperial commission, by whom
the Exposition organized; upon the assisting
national commissions OF foreign countries, and upon
all from the highest sovereign to the humbest exhb
itor and most unmportant visitor who took part in
that majestic effort to advance the harmony and cul
ture OF the world
FOREIGN COMMISSIONS
The Emperor had appointed TO inaugurate the Expo
stion and TO ask the assistance OF other Powers
porial commission headed by the Archdukes Charles
Louis and Regner supported by long list Of the most
eminent men OF the Empire With proper and recip
roca courtesy the British government responded To It's
invitation by placing at the head of their commission the
Prince of Wales sustained by their accomplished AM
bassador at Vienna, Sir Andrew Buchanan the Prince
OF Teck, the Marquis OF Rpon Earl Cathcart Lord Len.
nox, Baron Rothschd, President Hawksey and other
prominent gentlemen Belgium headed her commis-
with the Count OF Flanders, Germany deputed
her Crown Prince while RUSSIA sent the Grand Duke
Alexander The governments seemed TO vie with each
other in selecting for an occasion so auspicious their
nobest and abest representatives who illustrated
In their characters and accomplishments the high
est culture Of the age, and whose devotion to their
honorable tasks would insure for Austria and her
spirited Emperor exhibition in each national de-
partment TO which their governments and people
might point with pride.
SCANDAL
The American Commission appointed by the Pres
dent under the act OF Congress presented unusual
feature the fact that majority OF Its acting
bers had been suhecis Of Austria and residents of vi
emma In view OF the etiquette which marks the Court
OF the Hapsburgs II could hardly be expected TO give
pleasure at the Austrian capital and might not
tend 10 raise the appreciation OF the standard Of excel
lence recognized by the American government In
lectng types Of highest culture attained by the Repub-
lie: while the management and practical results OF the
commission nduced comments on the effect Of Ameri-
teaching upon emigrants from Europe When in tho
spring OF 1873, the Industrial Palace rang with the
preparations OF all nations but and the Ameri-
Court, apparently owneress and uncared for, was
quietly encroached upon by its neghbors the intended
participation OF our country indicated chiefly by the
erection OF bars and restaurants in different parts OF the
Prater, and bar, with American drinks, arranged