Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-21
The Glitter of the Court Of st. james
Has Its Many Penalties.
MINISTER'S CAN'T PLEASE BOTH.
Too Democratic for England or Else Too
Snobbish for America.
MR.. LrNcOLS's PECULIAR QUALITIES

speaking of the high position our present
Minister has among this people, and making
some criticisms upon the political conditions
in our country. was interested in his talk
because it gave me another evidence Of the
fact that it Is next to impossible to make the
English mind understand that Presidents
son has no more chance in our game of life
than blacksmith's. I have often heard
since have been here that many English
men of prominence are looking forward to
Minister Lincoln's advancement to the place
his illustrious father once occupied.
As looked at our representative to the
Court Of st. James this morning I couldn't
but recall the wonderful change which has
come to him within a very short time.
Transferred from his law office in Chicago
to the first court of the world, he met with
reception such as has rarely been accorded
an American diplomat In country like
this where accident of birth is regarded as
of great moment, it seemed important to Its
citizens that he was the son of one OF the
greatest presidents of the United States, and
they honored the son, not only for his own
worth but for his fathers fame-a double
element of power under monarchical con-
dition where the idea does not prevail that
all men are created free and equal.
THE GLOOM OF MOURNING.
Englishmen know little and care less for
our politics or conditions unless they can
make money out of them, and their impress
sion about Mr.. Lincoln only found loot
hold because he was Presidents son and
because he had grown popular since he
reached London. But the gloom that the
death OF his son cast over his life has
stopped all social engagements. and business
alone occupies his at ention. So his position ls
changed from round of strong attractive
combats with the highest intellects OF En-
gland to the routine of what may readily be
called thankless place. The salary oil
81, 900 year will no more than support 1t,
il economically conducted, and the official
duties alone are anything but engaging.
Up to the moment of Mr.. Lincoln's be-
reavement, his social life here was some
thing delightful, and could it have con-
tinued he would have been one of the most
popular representatives we have ever had
here, because he is already credited with
that rare gift of keeping on good terms with
Americans who have business with him and
at the same time filling his place in court
life. So far he seems to have escaped much
OF that criticism which Americans are al
most certain to visit upon our diplomatic
representatives abroad whenever oppor-
tunity offers.
EASY TO GIVE oFFENsE.
The American Minister to the Court of
st. James has 70 meet and greet the great
tide Of travel from the United States as it
lands on English shores. The average citi-
zen Of our great country is wont to look upon
its diplomatic representatives as not only
protectors OF their persons and property but
as purveyors to their wants and whims.
Therefore it takes very careful and patient
man to deal with the ebb and flow of Amer
lean travel without becoming unpopular
with it, and in some way affecting his
standing with the government to which he is
accredited. The siege on the Consul Cen
erals Office is even greater than on the Min
ister's, and a man who can keep his popu-
larity with his countrymen and do his duty
in that position is indeed fortunate.
At best the diplomatic representatives of
the United States do not occupy very envious
positions, because the country from which
they come is not very highly regarded in
determining the honors to be accorded to
representatives of foreign Governments.
Their position here must depend very much
upon themselves, bus if they please the
English they are very apt to dispiease their
own people. 1t is next to an impossibility
for a person to act much with the English
people without absorbing great many of
their characteristics and habits.
NO ONE EVER HURRIES.,
It is so easy to be what our rushing peo-
pie would call indolent, and SO delightful
to enjoy the high type of social lie which
is open to those holding official positions
that one is very ready to forget to arise be-
fore or 10 o'clock and reach business about
II. No one is in hurry here. The busi-
ness OF to-day is readily put off until to-
morrow to make way Tor some social enjoy.
Al ,,.t Al e.
eign ambassador faces the exactions than an
American official does. He is expected to
be democratic with his countrymen and to
| meet the conditions OF English life fully
| half way. 1t is exceedingly difficult Tor
man to do both, without falling between the
| two. Therefore, there has always been
more or less of growl by American travel
| ers about the airs OF the American diplomat,
uttered without stopping to think of the
changed conditions under which they are
| living here and the more than double de-
mands that are made upon them.
The other evening at a private dinner
| party I engaged in conversation with an
elderly gentleman, who appears to have
known every foreign diplomat to this court
for the past 80 years. 1 asked him about
the different American Ministers, and judge
of my surprise when he said:
THE ENGLISH IDEA.
"Reverdy johnson, so far as meeting the
English idea of diplomat, was BY common
consent in this country the leader. He was
very able and astute man. As a diner
out and an enjoyer OF all the social graces,
no man from the United States ever ap-
preached him. For an after-dinner CONVEX
satlon among strong men where the real
diplomacy OF nations is done, MIR. johnson
surpassed any man your Government ever
sent to this country. I do not know how he
met the detail requirement of his position,
but he was an ideal Minister from our stand
point His name is more frequently men,
toned to-day in important circles than any
one Of the old American representatives"
"Was he more popular that General
Scheuck?'' asked.
''Mr. Schenck was an entirely different
character. His habits of mind and desire
turned him in a different direction. With
a certain class he was quite popular, but he
occupied no such position as Reyerdv
johnson. He was recognized as a very able
man. but was not regarded as exactly the
kind of person to be popular in country
where so much depends upon the high class
social inclinatlons of an official. We all
recognized him as a typical American,
rude, but full of intellectual resources.
without knowing anything about it can
imagine that he would be very popular
man with his own countrymen."
HOW LOWELL FARED.
"James Russell Lowell, should have
thought would have been very strong here"
suggested.
'In many respects, yes. He was recog-
-;1ad ae n N, a n of varv q f,nrior utal1aot,aI