Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-08-06
THE AMERICAN MINISTER AND
BRITISH SOCIETY.

Mr. Watterson writing about the present
American Minister to the Court Of st. james
and incidentally referring to others, says thst
our representative in England, having no
rank or title, and very scanty pay, stands
almost at the foot of the diplomatic column Z
If he is popular in society he must obtain
his popularity somewhat at the expense Of
his country. He must pander to the sris-
tocracy, and, instead Of standing upon his
simple republican dignity, the position 9f
his nation and the weight of his character,
he must and he does more or less become
tuft-hunter and toady. OF the present
Minister Phelps, Mr.. Watterson says that
his conceded popularity springs from the fact
that be has fallen in with prevailing modes
and forms which have lured him uncon-
sciously away from the duties for which
alone an envoy is sent abroad.
In other words, an American Ministerin
London is nobody unless he make himself
offensive by doing his duty or yields to pre-
vailng modes and forms and becomes an
Englishman. Unhappily, the latter horn OF
the dilemma appears to be the one that most
of our representatives at the English Govt
have grasped. For the purposes of his mis-
sion the American Minister needs no rank,
title or great wealth. His position alone is
a commanding one, II not in society, at least
in diplomacy. and yet the salary which is
paid him is ample for bis support in a man
ner COMFORTABLE with the customs Of Ne
s gu czs depends altogether eiS ap5S
man who is appointed to the place whether
the American Minister becomes toady or
a faithful representative of the government
which has called him to its service. The
fact that the present representative and
some of his predecessors have gained popu-
larity in England by magnifying the social
aspects Of their official duties argues moth
Ing except that the wrong men have been
chosen for the place.
james Russell Lowell did not need to be
accredited 10 the English Court as Minister
resident from America to be received with
open arms in English society. Doubtless
his great care as an Ambassador not TO make
his business conspicuously offensive added
10 the esteem with which he was regarded,
but he might have been lionized If he had
gone there in Il private capacity, for literary
accomplishments had already made him a
man to be courted. With Mr.. Phelps the
case is different An able lawyer and a
polished gentleman, he yet was unknown
abroad, and for him there was no road TO
social favor in England except that which
might he opened by his capacity to render
himself agreeable by becoming more of an
Englishman than an American. That he
has sacrificed his efficiency as Minister to
gain recognition and praise in society
which cares for him only as he may appear
To renounce his Americanism there appears
TO be little room for doubt.
The way To prevent these humiliatng
spectacles is to select men for the post who
will attend TO its duties with keen eye to the
interests of their country and with no con.
Germ as to the opinion which British society
may form Of them. To do this it does not
follow that the American Minister must be
either boor or spread.eagle politician. He
may be gentleman of refinement, good
taste and selfrespsct, and still appreciate
that in his capacity of Ambassador no
amount OF distinction conferred upon him.
self can compensate for sights put upon his
country. The trouble has been and Is that
American Ministers to England are prone
TO overlook their official duties in their de,
sire to win social prominence, and the only
way to remedy that scandalous defect is to
select men who have u taste for business
and duty rather than for the praise and
favor of an arstocracy.