New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-18
NELODRAMd IN DIPLOMACY

The Secretary of State is in dangerous mood.
He reminds us of that fiery warrior, SIMON
Tappertit, strutting up and down the lock-
smiths shop, curling his lip with gloomy
disdain and mutteliDg, Grinding will suit my
present humor WE'LL, The Secretary Is find
ing congenial occupation for his heated and per-
turbed spirit in turning the stones in the State
Department, putting a new edge Oh the blunt
est of his diplomatic tools and making the sparks
fly generally. The Vaccinations of Republican
diplomatists employed by the Mexican Govern
mcnt TO thwart his spirited foreign policy have
impaired defiant look to his klndling eye ana
something not unlike swaggcr to his stately
manner Grinding suits his present hlmor
well. He has discovered an antiquated statute
which prohibits American citizens from holdihS
communications with foreign countries when
diplomatic controversies are in progress. lie
has vaguely threatened to prosecute some OF
his critics. who like ex- Minister Foster and
Rcnrcscntatiye Hit have been aiding and abct-
ting the Mexican Government In the Cut'lng
case. Pausng like Mr.. Tappertit to admire
his long strides and shapcy legs, he declares
with mich ychemcnce that he is not to be IN
undated by the actions of these cOntcmpuble
suspects. but will pcrseverc in his duty and
sternlv enforce the release of American citizens
now lang1lishing in Mexican dungeons.
Melodrama is never impressive in the State
DEPARTMENT. We respectfully urge the Secrc-
tarv to dcsist from fantastic exhibitions OF
wounded vanity and spleen. Mr. HIT ana
cx-Ministcr Foster have exercised liberty OF
private Judgment upon the legal aspects OF the
Cutting case. Instead of insinuati"g that they
have been corruptly used by the Mexican Gov
crrmcnt and of making a great flourish OF tho
United States statutes which they have violated,
the Secretary would do well to follow their all
vice and cxt,icatc himself from the mtenablc
positon he now occupies IN these unfortunate
pcgotiations His critics have had no desire
to confuse public judgment on the questions a'
issuc Sill less have they attempted to IN
tmdatc or coercc the Secretary. They have
been anxious TO put him on his guard against
ill-infolmcd and ambitious dlplomatists like
Consul Brigham upon whose advice he acted
in making a demand for Cuttings immediate
release. They have given him timely warning
of the base passions and sinister projects OF
the lawlcss classes in the Southwest, who arc
clamoring for the conquest of Northern Mex
leo They have reminded him of the moIal
Obligation to maintain peace by arbitration and
full discussion which the Unicd States as
sumcd in signing The Treaty OF Guadalupe
The Secretary ought to be grateful to the
Opposition press, and especially to cX-Mlnis'ci
Foster and Mr.. Hit for pointing out the dan
gcrous tendencies of diplomacy OF menace and
bravado. Unhappily he is not grateful, but
blind and furious.
Grinding ard staggering may suit Mt.
Bavalds present humor, but the cXigcncic> OF
diplomacy require stcadincSs, composurc ana
good temper If he can recover his sclf-con-
troll and adapt himself to the bad SITUATION
for which Consul Brigham is largely response
bic, he may yet retrieve his blundcrs and
emerge from the controversy without loss OF
dignity. The Mexican Government labors
under the same difficulties in sccuIi' Z Cuttings
freedom which confronted Mr.. Webster when
the British Government insisted upon the re-
lease of Mcleod, arrested i'll Ncw-lork for
participation in the capture of the Caroline
aud the murder of Durfcc. Intervention OF
the Federal Government with State courts
was impossible under existing statutes i'll that
case but one of the practical results Of the
correspondence respecting Mcleod was the
passage of an act giving the United States
courts discretionary jurisdiction when the rights
Of foreign citizens were involved. If the ne
gotiations with Mexico are conducted with
tact Cutting may be pardOncd by the Executive
and similar act he passed by the Mexican
Legislature, empowering Federal tribunals to
take charge of cases involving questions OF
international rights. The negotiation of an
cxtraditOn treaty, moreover, may be the means
of putting an end to such disgraccful episodes
as the Ai1cisucs case.