The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-13
EDITORS AS DIPLoMATISTS.

EDITORS AS DIPLOMA us ).
They Have Rendered Distinguished serv
ices to the American Government.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, April 1S-Some time age
Secretary Blaine was asked whether Ger
tain representative of the United States tt
a foreign government had resigned or was
about to resign his Office as common re
port had it. Mr.. Blaine did not answer fol
moment, and then with a whimsical look
he SEED that it had been the experience Of
the Neste department that very few minis
tepWsigned their posts. and judging from
the experience the diplomat in question
wdgtd remain at his SO long as the gov.
srnnnent permitted him to stay there.
But if such is the experience of the state
department, two ministers plenipoteptiary
have recently shown that there are excep
tions to this as to all rules. Mr. Whitelaw
Reid, minister TO France, and Mr. CharlCs
Emory Smith, minister to Russia, have re-
signed for the purpose of resuming Their
posts as editors of the great newspapers
with which they have so long been asso
clated. In a speech at a dinner given in
honor of MIR. Rcd in New York city upon
his return Chauncey NJ. Depew called at
tentisn to the fact that the most brilliant
services rendered to the United States BY
its ministers at the French court were
those performed by two Journalists, Ben
Jamin Franklin and Whitelaw Reid, and
Mr.. Depew might have added that in the
time OF Russia's distress by reason of FAM
inc Mr. Smith, our minister to Russia, had
also performed such service as strength
ened the always strong ties of friendship
which existed between that great empire
and the great American republic.
The training and experience involved III
the conduct Cf two such newspapers as the
New York Tribune and the Philadelphia
Press develop just the qualities WI
make a successful diplomat. Cha
Francis Adams, who served the Tn d
States so admirably at the court OF g.
James during the period Of the civil war,
was once an editorial writer, and Thurlow
Weed, who unQuestionably prevented the
intended recognition by Louis Napoleon of
the Confederate states, was a printer and
editor for more than sixty years. Mr.. Weed
visited Europe as special ambassador in
company with Archbishop Hughes and
Bishop Mcilvaine.
1t has always been the opinion of those
who know him best that AIR Charles A.
Dana would make an admirable diploma
fist, although he is known to believe that
the maintenance of fixed embassies at
foreign posts by the United States govern
ment is a practically useless formnlity, and
that the ordinary business can be conducted
by consuls, while in times of extraordinary
stress special ambassadors or ministers
could, as they frequently do, take charge
of the important interests of the govern
ment.
in a certain sense the management of a
great newspaper like those controlled by
the three gentlemen named, requires the
exercise of the very tact, the capacity to
Judge public sentiment and to express it.
and familiarity with international law,
which are the prime requisites of a good
diplomatist at the present day President
Lincoln thought so highly of James Cor
don Benefits diplomatic capacity that he
sent Thurlow Weed to him at critical
time during the war to offer him the post
of minister to France. Mr.. Bennett felt
highly honored, and while he declined the
appointment, feeling that the most infiu-
entail and important post in the world that
he could hold was that which he had ere
nted for himself as proprietor and editor OF
The Herald, yet from the day the tender
was made to him until President Lincoln's
death, the administration had no warmer
supporter than the New York Herald was.
Bennett would have made a great diplo-
matist. His knowledge of men for the
most part was intuitive and consummate.
He seemed at times TO have the prophets
capacity for forecasting events, although
in fact his skill was due mainly to the
close study which he made of men and of
affairs.
Horace Greeley was several times offered
foreign missions, but he knew well enough
that his great power was in political con-
troversy. He did not succeed very we'll in
his brief term as legislator, and his ca
pacities were of the peculiar kind which,
while they made him a great political
writer, would not have enabled him to be-
come an able diplomatist.
Mr. Reid and Mr.. Smith undoubtedly
have chosen this present time for resigning
in order that they may take personal direc-
ton of their newspapers during the presi
Dental canvass. Each of them is a skill
full political editor, besides being in the
highest degree trained journalist. Mr..
Smith is probably a more voluminous
writer than Mr.. Reid while, on the other
hand, Mr.. Reid in his editorial capacity
takes upon himself more of the burdens OF
detail in management than Mr.. Smith is
reported to do. Each of them, however,
keeps close eye upon his newspaper and
Is editor in fact as well as in name
Mr.. Dana, at seventy-four years of age, is
as remarkable physically as he has always
been for his mental attributes. No tender
Of Office could tempt him from his editorial
chair. He was amused when, eight years
ago, several delegates TO the Chicago con-
vention voted for him as their choice for
presidential nominee His step is as active
seemingly IS it was twenty-five years ago,
when he became the editor of The Sun, and
his mind is quite as alert. He enjoys the
good things of life as keenly as ever, and If
there come times when he feels the ap-
proach years he certainly makes no revela-
tion of it. To all appearances, he is good
for ten years more of active work, and IL is
certain that he will never lay down the
editorial pen or editorial direction until
his time has come. He is great admirer,
both of Mr.. Reid and Mr. Smith, who may
be said practically to have begun their
journalistic careers when Mr.. Dana had
finished the first half of his, for he was
past forty years Of age when he resigned
the managing editorship of the Tribune.
E. J. EDWARDS.