The herald., 1893-10-19
A DIPLOMATIC sCANDAL-wHYN NOT GET
RID OF MUMMERY?

- KID UF mUMMkHfP
The Van Allen scandal is one of the
most fiagrant that has ever occurred in
the political history of the United
States. While there was no written
bargain that this exotic snob should
pay $4,000 for foreign ambassador
chip, it was we'll understood that there
was to be quid pro quo for the $50, 900.
The henchmen of Van Allen openly
boasted of the compact which that very
clever negotiator, ex Secretary Whitney,
had made with that sprig of Newport
srissocrscy. The New York World,
than which newspaper Mr.. Cleveland
bss had no abler or more unselish sup
porter-whose nomination probably de-
pended on that Journals sagacious,
never intermitted and intelligent cham
pionship-says that Mr.. Van Allen never
voted until last year, when he was
nearly 80 years old. Until last year
his name never appeared on the register
OF Rhode Island-a book corresponding
to our California great register. By the
law OF Rhode Island, the name of
wealthy householder like Van Allen is
never taken from the voting register
when it has once been placed thereon.
Ordinary voters, without property
qualification, are obliged to register
once year; but snobs OF the Van Allen
variety get off by simply condescending
to register once in lifetime.
Thus it appears that this extraordin-
ary creature permitted twenty-five years
OF his life to pass without exercising that
privilege of the American citizen which
enables him to participate in the control
OF the affairs of his country. This dis
taste for the exercise OF the functions of
a good citizen did not arise from long
struggles. in which repeated defeat and
discontinue make the best of men pet
ulant. Itwas based upon the deliberate
idea that to vote was vulgar, don't yer
know" The great delight of Van Alen's
life, and his practice for unnumbered
years. was to hang around London clubs
and affect to despise country OF which
he was unworthy. He was the laughing
stock of the Englishmen with whom he
consorted, who are quite able to settle
the status of such social cuiios. II he
ever had any brains, Van Alen's mar
riage into the Astor family added them.
The contact with Goldfish" aristoc-
racy of such a sublimated order forever
consecrated him to the inner pentrslIa
of snobdom.
Harper's Weekly, after full consid-
Grafton OF the matter, has come out in
opposition to Van Alen's nomination.
This is the more striking because the
week before that journal was warmly in
favor of the appointment. 1t frankly
admits thatthe facts unearthed in the
New York World has converted it from
its former position; and, devoted to
Cleveland as it has been, it declares that
tn nomination of Van Allen as embas-
sador of the United States has struck a
fatal blow to the presidents personal
prestige.
There has been something very ex-
traordinary in this whole matter of am
bssssdorships. Hitherto the United
States was content to get along with
ministers plenipotentiary and envoys
extraordinary to the several courts of
Europe. Whence has come this ex-
trsordinary access of funkeyism. which
makes the old posts not good eaough for
the snperine people who are now called
on to fill them ? Such men as Ben amin
Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and scores
of other illustrious men, could perform
their functions very we'll abroad as min
listers plenipotentiary and envoys ex-
traordinary. 1t is true that one of these
men in every line of worth and personal
dignity was the equivalent of thousand
of the men who now travesty republi-
canism, and strut about as ambassadors.
But the .fn de steele finish has been given
to diplomatic hunkeyism, and the well
poised American citizen does not know
whether to laugh or curse.
Why should the United States have
any of these kickshaw diplomates in
Europe? What have they to do with
bAO VI VI
perialism? Consular agents would be
amply sufficient to do ell the business
the United States has to do with for
eign courts. By sbolishing all OF these
pretentious functions, that are intended
to minister to the pomp of foreign courts,
we would show that we mean TO adhere
to our plain republican traditions, and
that the pageantry of the mummery
that appertains to the fright divine OF
kings" has no place in our system, as it
has really no business in this age. Courts
should follow court dress and spangles
into oblivion, and the American republic
should certainly not seek to buttress a
decsying order of things.
C0METuINC WPONC