Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-09-03
THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER sih. Is the
RADICAL DIPLOMACY.

II mist be potent to all who pay
any attention to our intercourse with
foreign nations, that we have some of
the greatest ignoramuses and knages
representing us at foreign Courts that
ever disgraced any nation. The Wash.
ington Post gives case in point so
covered with Ignorance that the
cheapest shopman known to the reader
must blush for his country. The edi-
tor says:,
awe cannot help being little curl.
GUS to know by what rules of diplo.
macy the United States Minister to
Japan interieres in the affairs of other
nations. The cable says that Mr..
Bingham strongly supports the Jap
anese Government against Germany
and England in their violations OF
quarantine 1t is quite likely that
the japanese arc right; that Germany
England have shown disrespeet or con-
tempt for a weak power Thoy are
more likely to respect strength than
abstract Justice, and power not able
to retaliate is quite unlikely to receive
respectful consideration from either
England or Germany. But how does
it happen that the representative of
the United States Government is mix
ed up in this business? He is not the
grand arbiter Of nations. He is not
the court of last resort. He is simply
the representative of the United States
at the Court OF japan, having no other
business than to care for the interests
of the United States in that country
1t seems very evident from the dis
patches--quite too evident-that wher
General Grant came into the port Of
Yokohama in United States man-of
} war, and was received with n roya
salute, Mr.. Bingham thought his Gov
ernment was there in person, and wher
the General made haste to mix in for
eign complications, and support th'
: Japanese Governments against EnglanC
and Germany Minister Bingham los
, no time in announcing his concurrence
, AS we have stated, the japanese ar'
probably in the right, and England
! and Germany are most likely in th'
i wrong. But our Minister to Japan haI
J. no business to express an official opin
' ion on the subject He has no NOR,
, right than Sir Edward Thornton woult
have had to put in his voice in tn,
matter OF the Virginius in 1873; NJ
t more right than any of tho foreigl
+ Ministers resident here would have t,
meddle with any question that nigh
: arise between our Government and an,
d foreign power with which they had NJ
: : official relations. The dispatches tha
: have come TO us, have gone to Londol
and Berlin. What must be the feel
Is ings OF the Governments and people o
IT England and Germany to know tina
i the Minister of the United States a
a Yokohama and the ex-President o
: the United States, regarded there as
q royal parsonage speaking for thi
ic country, have taken sides against then
{ and made their decision public Mir
!. ister Bingham has need Of instructio
l. in the rudiments of diplomacy. An
tho country has no need of such me
y in any official capacity"
p Bingham formerly represented Gai
10 fields Western Reserve Ohio DistriC
e in Congress, and became the chic
IS prosecutor Of Mrs. Surratt. Like Sew
l. ard, after their joint effort was col
't summated, be had no place, but ha
r. been abroad ever since. His diplom'
IN cy, like his statesmaDship, is OF doub
1t ful propriety, and cannot be sustaine
IS by those who want to do that whic
st is proper.