Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-01-28

Washington Letter.

W ASHlNGION, ~. u, Jan. II, looO.
Our foreign relations are at last re-
established, and we may now congratulate
ourselves that we have renewed our diplo-
matte rapport with the old world. The
poet ambassador. who has been represent
ing us at the bull fights and nuptual cere-
monies in Madrid. will be transferred to
the long vacant post in that country from
which we derive our language, literatare
and laws. Mr.. Foster leaps from Mexico
to Russia. and Mr.. Morgan of Louisiana,
who has been practicing law in Egypt,
will be assigned to the post vacated by
Mr.. Foster. True, the embassies at Paris,
Vienna and Constantinople are vacant, but
the ministers appointed to represent US at
these capitals have not resigned; they arc.
making the very best use of their time in
seeing Europe and Asia, or visiting their
friends in this country. The delay in fill
ing these vacancies has brought out the
fact that an administration, which is at all
DESTROYS of filling diplomatic positions
carefully, finds increasing difficulty in
doing so.
The use made of many of these offices
of late years has made them much less of
distinction than they used to be, and
Americans of the right kind feel more
keenly than they used to feel the dizziness
of life in a foreign capital, without a
knowledge of the language or more than
official access to its best society, and with
out a recognition by the diplomatic corps
as professional brethren. In fact, consid-
ering the changes the telegraph has
wrought in the mode of conducting nego-
tiations with foreign powers. and the i'm
possibility of making diplomacy regular
calling. it is question whether the work
of all the existing missions would not be
best done by a single minister, having his
headquarters in Paris, free to travel about,
and with consul generals under him in
the various capitals. Cable telegraphic
connection with all the world is every year
becoming more complete. Rates from
Europe to America will this year be re-
duced fifty per cent. The average time Of
passage between Europe and America is
being rapidly reduced. Since the abbre-
Walton of time by steam and electricity
we are closer to England, to France and
to all countries with which we have i'm.
portant commercial relations than was
Baltimore to New York or Boston to Phil
adelphia forty years ago.
Apropos of this subject, intelligence
has Just been received from Panama thai
work has been formally commenced OF
the Isthmus canal, the little seven-years
old daughter of M. d. Lesseps having
touched off the fuse that blew few hun
bred tons of rock from the top of the
greatest obstacle in the route of the cana
on the Cerra Calebra range. M. D. Les
seps is expected to arrive in New York
next week. It, perhaps, makes but little
difference whether he or Admiral Ammer
selects the route Of the canal; whenever
we want it we can take it. There is al
ready afoot q plan for a four-thousand
miles railroad for establishing closes com
mercial relations between the United
States and South America. This roat
will tap the canal at some point, anC
enable us to throw a hundred Thousand
men upen Mr.. Lesseps' water route, if its
management shall be in any way unfavor
able to our interests, before the combined
European powers can embark half tina
number from their ports. OF course thi
railroad is hypothetical, but so is the canal
in spite of the big explosion and Les
seps' boast that he can get twice tn,
amount required for its construction il
France alone. 1t is Just possible that tn,
canal will intersect the railroad in III
attempt to interssct the isthmus, ant
prudent gamblers will not stake mucl
money on the question which will frs
reach the intersecting point.