New-York tribune., 1877-11-10
THE DJpLOv1CY or DINNERS.

THE DIPLOuACY or DINNERS.
II appears from the statements OF the friends
and advocates of Mr. Henry S. Sanford, printed
at considerable length in THE TRIBUNE yester-
day, that the chief qualification of that gentle
man for the position of Minister to Belgium
is n fine taste for wines and knack at giving
good dinners. The great achievement OF his
former residence at Brussels was securing an IN
vitation for Mr. Eyarts to dine with NJ. Drouyn
de Lhuys, and chance to talk over the
question of the Confederate cruisers with the
French Premier, in those hours OF social relax
alton and post-prandial confidence wherein
Mr. Evarts, as all the world knows, 2eams
upon his company as the most brilliant ana
most engaging of men. 1t does not appear
that Mr.. Sanford cOntrived this opportu-
nity by any elaborate exercise OF dlpio-
matte art he created it, by the simple
process of asking the King to ask NJ. Drown
de Ihuys to ask Mr.. Evarts to dinner. Inc
French statesman. Of course, could not refuse
if he knew anything about the proposed guest,
of course he did not wish TO refuse; and the
issue of the dinner was that Mr.. Eyarts OBJ
"tained a written order prohibiting the de-
narture of the Shenandoah from the ports
" of France" Thus, continues the report,
1" tbe dning-out qualities of Mr.. Sanford are
Z" such rs are eminently to be desired in
"diplomatic representative of the United
States"
To us, however this story seems to Illus
trate only the dinlng-Out qualities OF Mr.
Evarts, and if it proves anything 1t proves
that our charming Secretary of State, rather
than Mr.. Sanford, ought to be sent TO Bel
GUM, or to any other place on the Continent
where he can pick up travelling prime-mlnls-
tiers, tickle them with good stories, and talk
them into complete surrender between the
soup and the walnIts. There Is no evil
dcnce that Mr.. Sanford can do such things.
He has undoubtedly a reputation as
giver of dinners, but so has the cY-
cellent Mr.. DelmOnicO and the diplomacy
of the dinner table consists not in the quality
Of the rcpast but in the use that is made OF
II. IN the very incident upon which Mr.. San
ford especially plumcs himself, it will be OBJ
served that his abilities as host were of no
practical use to his country. In that critical
hour of the Rebellion when the fate of the
Union, so to speak, was a little matter OF
three or four courses and dessert,
Mr. Sanford was powerless He could give
dinners, but he could not make NJ. DrOuyn de
Lhuys eat them. 1t was reserved for Mr..
Evarts to save the Republic by a great dipO-
matte victory. He gave no dinner; he took
the dinner of his adversary; and he actually
talked all around him while consuming his
choicest vianGs and his rarest wines. This
was the genius of craftsmanship.
No doubt it is an advantage to have n min
ister who knows how TO entertain handsome
ly. 'Tis a melancholy picture which the friends
of Mr. Sanford draw of Mr.. Evarts's first days
i'm Paris, when the most gifted table cOmpan-
ion of our time and country hung around the
American Embassy in the VAIN hope that
somebody would ask him to dinner, and finally,
we SUPPOSE, went off to fare miserably
on the diners pric fire in the Palais
ROYAL. Naturally Mr. Evarts entertains feel
ing of gratitude toward the gentleman who,
by timely though somewhat bluuo remark to
the King of the Belgians relieved him from
restaurants and solitude, tumbled table-lnen
and doubtful gravy. But gratitude should not
blind the judgment. A minister is not known by
his nGau any more than a collector by the horses
that he keeps. If diplomacy and dinners were
one and the same thing, an ambassador would
be a well-stOcked kitchen, and SOyer would
have to replace Yattel in all the legation Ii
braries. Mr.. Sanford, metaphorically speaking,
presents himself at the State Department with
a large collection of bills-of-fare, relics of re-
pasts long since despatched. but not forgotten,
and offers them as testimonials of his public
service For proof of his ability he has given, we
are assured a large number of specimen dinners,
demonstrating his tact In extradition treaties by
means of stewed terrapin, and his knowledge
of the obligations of neutrals by IA Nesselrodc
pudding. He seems to have passed his exami
nation in these branches of Jurisprudence to
the entire satisfaction of our genial (though
reformed) Secretary of State. But Mr. Evarts
has examined and commissioned the wrong
man. He ought to have appointed Mr.. San
fords cook.