The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-02
LOWELL AS A DIPLGMATIST
Significant Information About His Life
Abroad from Col. ]. A. Bridgland.
Surrounding Him While Representing
the American Government.in England.

James Russell Lowell's iaudation of President
Cleveland and his message, at the dinner of the
Massachusetts Tariff Reform League in Boston.
last week. has caused such comment among
those conversant with his diplomatic career as
to severely contrast it with that of other Ameri-
can ministers. While, Mr.. Lowell represented
this country in England, Col John A. Bridg-
land was the American consul at Havre. The
latter was in position to observe closely what
he freely told in an interview yesterday. On
one occasion he did the American minister a
personal service in providing for MRS Lowell's
comfortable passage from Havre to Southamp-
on one of the steamers of the Southam pton
Steamship Company AS the lady was very i'll
and unable to walk, her husband desired the
consul to make arrangements for her comfort
on deck. This done, and Colonel
Bridgland, in addition, prompted by the
courtesy of the old school, that
the lady was surrounded with everything that
would enhance the pleasure of the voyage. but
he heard nothing of her snfe arrival in England
until several days afterwards, and then only
indirectly. MRS. Lowell, account of her
illness. the Colonel continued, was not domi
ciled in London, but her husband placed her in
the country while he remained in the city. This,
of course, gave him an opportunity to receive
all sorts OF club attention which he'probably
could not have accepted had Mrs. Lowell been
with him. It was not long until the Golden
Club was very favorite resort of his, and
believe the first seeds of un-Americansm and
love for English royalty were sown in his heart
in that place SO antagonistic to American manu-
features. He certainly could not have been up
to that time free-trader, as his State, and in
fact all of New England were the great manu-
featuring States of our country. but he found it
agreeable fattery when the sympathzers with
the free-trade Democratic party of the United
States were endeavoring to induce him to forget
the grand prosperity of his own native State, the
result of great genius and industry in manufact.
uriug everythin g we had hitherto imported
from Great Britain"
what do you think of his present position
ties!'
I think he is anxious to return to his old
haunts in England. He knows, however. that If
we should elect Republican President this
year. with his free-trade ideas he could not hope
10 be returned by the great protective tariff Re-
publican party, that has made him all that he is.
He perhaps believes that President Cleveland
may be his successor. By indorsing not
only his free-trade message to Congress. but by
going clear outside to place him over the head
of every President that has served the country
from the immortal Lincoln's time to this. he
may receive the appointment he could not
ceive from the Republican party. would ask
measure of Importance durinc-all the years he
was accredited TO the court of St. James he
found time to accomplish Did he accomplish
treaty on international ccmmerces Did he
through the extradtion treaty both for
Great Britain and Canada much needl
Has he done ANYTHING worthy OF the high diplo-
matte position he held2 No. He f1attered
by the lords of wealth and position who had the
financial responsibility of Great Britain on their
shoulders. They saw their manufacturing and
agricultural interests passing away. They saw
that We were doubling the acreage under the
plow; that we were manufacturing goods from
more bales of cotton than had produced
nuay up to 1860 They that had
ceived from them as high as $3.50 .0O0 600 in gold
as balance OF trade in our favor IN
received s1.4oO, 600. 600 balance of trade
in seventeen years. and that there was
nothing left for them but to capture such men
as Mr.. Lowell, and to them in breaking
down the manufacturing and agricultural inter
ests of our country These smart English peo-
pie have not only captured our President and
the Democratic party, but Mr.. Lowell and the
like with him. How a man of such intelligence
Mr. Lowell desert the party that has
made the old world jealous of our country, and
the ablest hnanciers so annoyed at our financial
condition to believe that the treasury reports
are false is something beyond imagination"
IBID you know Mr.. E. B. Washburne when he
minister to PARISH
VERY well, indeed; not only he, but his
charming family. OF all the men who have
represented our government abroad he was
OF the most useful and patriotic. l was accred-
tied to Havre as consul 10 1873. and upon going
to Paris to look after my exequatur, he treated
if he had known me always. and well
coined me into our foreign service in France.
One or two gentlemen we're with when I
made my first visit to the legation. and after
the forrnalities of introduction. il for
malities they were. he asked us
all 70 sign his book. a register he kept for
American visitors. If there ever was a book of .
this kind at the American legation in London,
while Mr.. Lowell was minister, I never
heard of it. The averages American calling at
his legation rarely ever met him. but enter
tanned by mis- subordipates. The truth Is. Mr..
Lowell became an Englishman and Washburne
continued an American patriot and credit to
his country. II we have to send such men
Mr. Lowell to represent MS abroad, we had bet
ter abolish the diplomatic foreign service alto
gether."