Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-02-26

How the Russian Diplomat Became q
Newspaper Correspondent.


Speaking Of things historical reminds
me of the Catacazy affair. writes a cor
respondent of the New Orleans Pic
dgune. The other day an old friend Of
mine who once held Office in Washing
ton, but is now living quiet. easy life
in this city. ran across a paragraph
taken from Ben: Perley PoOre's rem
iniscences, > in which the veteran jour
nalist refers to the sociaLscandals which
that Russian minister created by intro
ducing, too often, his mistress into pub
lie places. Newspaper correspondents
to whom Mr.. Catacazy had given con-
siderable information i am quoting
from the "reminiscences appeared as
witnesses against him, and, finally, for
NAL complaint was sent to the emperor.
He directed his foreign office to ask in
his name that President Grant would
tolerate Catacazv until the visit of his
son. the Grand Duke Alexis, was con-
Guided. To this personal appeal the
president assented, but added as con-
dition. that the offensive minister should
have access to the white house only
when accompanied by the grand duke,
and then to hold no conversation what
ever" / happen to be in possession Of
what I think is a hitherto unpublished
story about the confidential inform alton
furnished to at least one newspaper cor
respondent to which Ben: .Perley Poore
alludes. On Catacazy's arrival in
Washington, he was treated with that
consideration due to one occupying so
exalted position. Primarily his chief
business was to defeat the Washington
treaty. He was instructed to prevent
the consummatiOn of q treaty between
the United States and England, no
matter at what cost. but, relying almost
solely on Senator Summers assistance,
when that distinguished statesman fell,
so fell all of Russia's hopes of success.
Pending the negotiations, the Russian
minister, wishing to create ill-feeling
against England, sent for the Washing
ton correspondent of the Cincinnati
Commercial, and dictated to him a
scurrilous article, rejecting seriously
on the government. At the minister S
urgent request, this article was, how
ever, shown him before it was wired
west, and Catacazy made with pen
several alterations and interlineatiOns
in his own handwriting. The corrected
article was then telegraphed to Cincin-
matt, and, Of course, the attention of
Secretary Fish was called to it as soon
as the paper reached Washington. That
honorable gentleman read it carefully,
guessed the source of inspiration, and
sent for Gen. Boynton, who promised to
get for the secretary the original man.
uscript This he did, and when Mr.
Fish had recognized Catacazy's hand
writing, he carefully placed the folios
in a private drawer for future use. A
day or two later the Russian minister
had some business of no particular i'm
portance with the secretary of state,
but which transacted, the latter said:
''Your excellency will permit me to
give YOU little advice. Don't 90 to
writing anything to the newspapers
while you are in this country
s'Why, Mr. Secretary, what can you
possibly mean by such a remark as
that?" inquired Catacazy.
Nothing, except what I tell you
Stick to your diplomatic duties while in
America, and leave it to the regular
correspondents to criticise the doings Of
the government to which you are ac-
credited
'.Surely, Mr.. Secretary, you do not
think for one moment that I would do
anything of the kind?'
Il am afraid you have already done
so,n said Mr.. Fish The Russian min
lister arose from his seat, and, assuming
an attitude of great dignity, exclaimed
with impr3ssiyenes5: I'm the name of
nv irnDarial ms STEER. and in fine ,lrpS-
ence of my Maker, [ solemnIy declare
that never in my life have l written OF
inspired any article to any newspaper
in this country"
Nj Fish tried in vain to prevent Cat
acazy from saying these words. Stop!
Stop!'' he cried You know not what
you are saving But the Russian min
lister persisted in his denial, whereupon
Mr.. Fish opened his private drawer
and handed package Of the Boynton
manuscript to the man with this re-
mark: ".Can it be possible, Mr.. Cata-
cazy, that / have made a mistaken
The Russian gave quick glance at the
folio. turned red, stammered out some
words Of excuse, and FASTENED from the
room. 1t was this outrageous false
hood as much as his disgraceful attacks
on President Grant that gave Secretary
Fish reason to despise 5he Russian, and
when the latter so badly insulted Amer
lean society by parading his mistress
before the world, the cabinet could no
longer refrain from demanding his re-
call by the government of St. Peters
burg.