Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-11
AMERICAN DIPLOMACY.v
An English View of the Strength and
Weakness of Our Foreign Ministers.
.CGfue,Yg,, par;a.r


SATURDAY. Regieao.
American diplomacy succeeds bettnr in
great transactions than in small. Unlike
all other great powers, the United States
have no diplomatic service or profession.
Any conspicuous politician of the domi-
nant party may reasonably look TO n for
eign mission as a legitimate reward of his
services in Congress or in the manage
ment OF elections. One exception has
been customarily made in the selection of
the Minister to England. For many wears
the holders of the Office have, for the most
part, been personally eminent: and
IN the instances of Mr.. Everett.
Mr.. Motley and the present Min,
lister, the American Government has
justly estimated the personal and
social value of literary distinction. Mr..
Adams, who represented the republic
during the whole course of the civil war.
displayed Judgment and ability not I'M
worthy OF his hereditary claim to respect.
Mr.. buchanan, who was less acceptable
IN TINS country than almost anV of his
predecessors or successors, was so con-
siderable a parsonage that he passed at
one step from the English Legation to the
Presidency of the United States. AL
though diplomatic intercourse with Eng
llsh Foreign Secretaries is facilitated by
the use OF a common language and by
similar habits of thought, the place Of
American Minister in London is not
always bed of roses. The tone of dis
patches from the Secretary of State is
often so peremptory that it must be en-
barrassing. to communicate them to a
friendly government, and the unfortunate
dlplomatlst must be prepared to incur
the candid criticism of Irish-Americans
and OF those who court their favor. Mr..
LoWell PROBABLY appreciates at their Just
value demonstrations that he is a svcO-
plant or traitor because he NAV not have
undertaken the impossible task of protect
ing some assassin of ambiguous nation
atty from the gallows.
Although some able and accomplished
Americans have represented the repub-
lie at other European courts, especially
at Madrid, indifference both to personal
fitness and to diplomatic knowledge has
often produced its natural results. An
American Minister at Naples once
shouted from the deck of packet a per
sOnal defiance, which he requested the
hearers to transmit to the King, because.
in common with his fellow passengers.
he had incurred the accommodation of
the quarantine. During the civil war
one Mr.. Cassius Clay, relative of the
celebrated statesman, reported to the
Secretary OF State in dispatch, which
was afterward published by the DEPART
EIlDtIOI
Alexander ii. addressed him, as he said.
lin excellent American" 1t NAV be
doubted whether great nation consuIts
its own dignity by the choice of
such representatives, but there
is little danger of results iniu-
ri0us to American interests. More
skillful diplOmatists discharge the func-
ton of professional advisers in conduct
ing international discussions with dis
passionate courtesy; when serious diff
ferences are the subject of negotiation.
| diplomacy is efficaciOus only as it has
force at its back. A threat uttered by a
| litigant who IS able and willing to put II
into execution loses little OF nothing of
its force because it may be rudely ex-
pressed, The United States are feared or
| loved by other powers, without regard to
the temper or the manners of the minis.
ters whom they employ. A veteran
English diplOmatist, giving evidence
some years ago before a committee of
the House of Commons, was asked by
Mr.. Bright, or by some member holding
similar opinions, why American minis
ters were generally capable and success
full. He answered that they were. for
the most part, exceptionally ignorant of
their business. Their frequent success
was the natural consequence of the force
which would in case of need be ultimate
| ly at their disposal.