Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-16

one of the first of our scholars. His selec.
tion only emphasized the compliment paid
in sending Washington Irving. He was
the star of Spanish society, took the deep.
est interest in the literature and art of the
country, and altogether served America as
no Minister could have hoped to do. We
were proud of our Minister. There were
the personal qualities, the genius Of the
man.
THE DEATH OF MRS. LOWELL
He lived in small, cheerful apartment
near the palace. And at the time his home
was illuminated and blessed by a gracious
presence. No one could have seen it with
out seeing how much the tact, friendliness,
consideration, the supreme qualities of a
noble and gifted woman contributed to the
triumph of a legation. These were the last
days of the triumph. How often have re-
called with regret the fact that the sunny
hours in which met Mrs. Lowell were the
eve of terrible illness. Upon her life the
sunshine was no more to fall. Illness-lin-
gering, treacherous, irretrievable to the end.
I refer to this partly because it enables me
to bear this slight tribute to a noble men,
ory, and partly because of the effect the ILL
ness of his wife had upon Lowell When I
saw him in London some weeks later-the
change-the terrible changed Misfortune
had hit him, and hit him hard. He was
never the man had known in Spain. The
sorrow of months fell upon him with the
weight of years-of stern, bitter years, the
heart worn with barrenness and pain.
The influence of Lowell in England was
what General Grant anticipated, when he
said in Madrid that if he had his way Lon
don should be the post. 1 fancy it was an
t,,l, H. &l,o4a e NJ
In the matter of records, clerical work,
routine, 1 question if any minister made a
poorer show than Burlingame, and none q
better than Humphrey Marshall Yet in
the matter of definite diplomatic achieve
ment, the name of Burlingame stands first
on the roll of American ENJOYS in Peking,
and no one would dispute the claim of Mr..
Marshall to be the last. Burlingame was
parsonage in China, as Lowell was in Lon
don. What Burlingame did he did with his
tongue, by personal address and tact, by
winning and holding the confidence of the
Chinese. Lowell seemed to repeat this
career in London.
INFLUENCED GLADSTONE FOR HOME RULE.
1 can well believe what read that his
personal advice to Gladstone had much to
do with the Liberal leaders acceptance of
Home Rule. He saw and could explain
those advantages of Confederate Govern
ment which had proved so benefcent in the
American commonwealths. Although not
SO well known as Longfellow or Poe as a
writer. Lowell had strong body of ad-
mirers. People as well known as Thomas
Hughes used to lecture on him, and re-
member the gifted authoress of John Hall
fax telling me of the impression his poems
had made upon her, when as girl she came
upon the thin volume which ushered his
genius into the world Lowell believed in
what was best in England, was as much at
home in Oxford as in his own Cambridge!
believed in her cathedrals, systems and in
stitutions; saw what perhaps his reason con-
frmed as a first step toward Democracy.
Take it as a definite contribution to the
peace of the two great English-speaking
races and the mission of Lowell should have
high praise.
1t was that conservative influence, that
insensible, instant reverence for the yener-
able, that Difference to time which General
Grant regretted to see in q country like
Spain, needing as it did to his mind radical
democracy, which followed the career of
Lowell at home and limited his political
power
HIS PARTY APPLICATION.
Owing great honors to the Republican
party, he was never in sympathy with it.
He venerated Lincoln and admired Gar
field, but here his active Republican SYM
pathies ceased. I fancy it came from his
over critical instinct. Love made him en-
abolitionist, but as 1 heard Wendell Phil
lips once say he was t'an abolitionist
suffering from the chill of Har-
ward" He could be no more at
peace with the active movement of that
cause than with the active Republicanism
of Blaine, Arthur and Grant. A Republi-
can teacher and thinker who could never
rise into enthusiasm for Republican leaders
until they had received the conservation of
assassination, would feel sure that his voice
was echoless and silent In his latter days
this was the fate of Lowell He remained
in power while Republicanism governed,
When Republicanism returned there was no
place for him in its councils.
From the point of view that the Minister
serves his country best who is the most
agreeable to those to whom he is COM
mended, no diplomatist had higher place
than Lowell in Spain. That, however, is
not the point of view most pleasing to those
to whom diplomacy is an appeal towards
proletariat-a democracy. If our ideas have
any influence, if they should be expected
to bear fruit, those who represent us abroad
should represent them. This thought 1
have always believed governed the transfer
of Mr.. Lowell from Madrid to London, and
that the advice upon which it was made
came from General Grant, who, when he
returned to the United States with his
special knowledge Of diplomatic men and
things abroad, became with the President
an authority upon whatever was done to
our foreign service