Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-07-06

senate In executive session COn0rmeQ
the nomination.
Mr.. Foster is eminentIy qualified to
fill the office to which he has been ap-
pointed. He is diplomat in the fullest
sense of term, and ha d wide experience
in the affairs Of nations. He resorts
neither to trickery nor to mystery to
advance his ends. He is the typical
American business man-of the best
type, of course--shrewd, SEN
sible direct, positive, courage
GUS, knowing both sides of the
case in hand, through and through,
knowing Just what he can ask and just
what you can give, and just how to
make you see that it is matter of mu-
tual interest to do "what is right" about
it. His very sincerity and straightfor
wardness have been elements III his
success. He is not the first diplomat
who has found truth the best weapon.
From being instructor in his alma
mater, Indiana University, he beca1ne
q wholesale merchant in Evansville,
left his business to go to the war, re-
turned to find conditions changed, sold
out and bought the Evansville Journal,
edited it as a Republican organ, and es-
pecially as a supporter of Gov. Oliver
Morton, who made him chairman of
Republican State Committee, and, after
he had achieved notable
state victory, got President Grant
to appoint him as minister
to Mexico. Meanwhile, he had read
law and had been admitted to the bar.
In the twentieth year since he went to
Mexico he has grown constantly as
diplomat. Col. Foster is always thor
H. no.
oughness, which knows neither haste
nor rest, is his distinguishing
characteristic. In Mexico he
learned Mexican as though it had
been textbook. He knew language,
customs, people. He had such friend
ships as few American ministers ever
had. At one time he sheltered in the
episode a senator who was the
leader of one faction, and
cabinent minister who was the
leader of another. Neither would
speak to the other. Neither would sit
the same room with the other, but both
were devoted to Col. Foster. When he
left it was to the universal regret of all
Mexico.
When he was minister to Russia I'M
der Hayes, and when he was minister
to Spain under Arthur-for he has the
honor of being the only man in our
diplomatic history who has held three
missions of this classic mastered his
work in the same spirit Of zeal and de-
votion.
He has been, and still is, counsel for
the legations of Spain, Mexico, China,
and of half the republics south of US,
and at the same time has been, and still
is, counsel for the department of state.
Col. Fosters latest and most important
work for the State Department was the
negotiation of the Cuban reciprocity
treaty with Spain.
Col. Foster lives with his charming
wife, who has brought back as much
culture as he from their foreign resi-
dence, in an old-fashioned house on |
Street, between Franklin Square and
McPhearson Square, which is beautihed
with all the treasures of their travels.
His children, two daughters, are mar
ried and away.
Col. Fosters sandy hair and whiskers
have grown almost white. but he is
rather so than go Notwithstanding. His
wife and he entertain delightfully."-, and
are popular in every circle. They are
members of the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church, of which Col.
Foster is a ruling elder. Until recently
he was also the uperintendent OF It's
mission Sunday school.
This afternoon the President signed
the commission of Col. Foster, and he
will at once enter upon the discharge Of
the duties of the Office.