The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-16
HAVE ENGLAND AND AMERICA BEEN
GUIIED9

There Is class of individuals who
see good In nothing. Taking Talleyrand's
detts table mot" that language was made
to conceal mems thoughts as the basis
Of lifes creed, they look fer falsehood
in all utterances, Discrimination in all
conduct. and on professions Of reverence
for good, as so much hypocritical waste
Of the raw material. In fashionable
society these people aspire to the part
of cool and insoient cynicism; in the New
York stock market they are the bears"
and In political life they usually end
in the penitentiary; but they are odious
and detestable wherever found.
A recent letter to the New York Sun
from Kissingen gives a review Of our
recent troubles with England over the
seal fisheries in Berhing sea and the
proceedings in the arbitrators court by
a professional European diplomat. in n
way intensely characteristic of this
school in life. 1t is false in its sugges-
lions, injurious to sound morals in all
It's charges, and yet very readable
throughout. We dent know where we
could find an utterance from the writer's
school which shows off his class to better
advantage than this letter. Where can
anything In his line be found superior
to the following passage:
"You will remember that when your
late President, MIR. Harrison, issued or
ders sending American men Of war
into the Pacific to pack the Canadian YES
sells home, Lord Salisbury, at the prayer
OF the Canadians, sent a dispatch to
Washington intimating that II the Amer
lean ships troubled the Canadians, Brit
ish ships would protect them That was
a critical moment in what Europeans Of
my trade Qaughing) have learned from
you to call a diplomatic game Of bluff.
/ think your President and Mr.. Blaine
then allowed themselves TO be 'bluffed
by the English Premier. a very clever
man, and not unfamiliar with that game.
Those who know the real position OF Eng
land In regard both 10 her internal and
her external relations, know perfectly
well thai no British vessel would ever
have fired a shot had Mr.. Harrison and
Mr.. Blaine sent their American squadron
into the Behring sea. Nothing is more
easy than for an intelligent naval officer
never TO be at any particular place in a
wide waste OF waters when he knows that
his government does not wish him to be.
But MIR. Harrison rescinded his orders
and sent no squadron"
Now. who is there that believes that
England's notification to us that she
would resist any further seizure OF British
vessels with armed force was intended to
be no more than a move in a game of
bluff? The suggestion is Of course not en-
titled to a moments consideration. and we
should not remark on IL at all II II did
not serve so perfectly to illustrate the
person we aim at. the professional and
cynical Jesuit.
This professional diplomat considers the
arbitration proceedings and the award in
an entirely characteristic way Hear him.
This arbitration at Paris, in my judg-
ment must throw permanent dstrust
and contempt upon the principle OF ar
bitration. - Every one familiar with
the controversy says that the decision
was simply a sham and an evasion,
couched, OF course, by clever and well
meaning men In very civil and solemn
phraseology.s when the
sentimental considerations were urged with
infinite pathos after a good luncheon on
the DUAL d'Orsay by the American ad-
vocates. land nothing kindies philanthropy
better than u really good luncheon
with champagne frappe) a French col
league of mine observed. etc.
But between France and England, at
the very time when their amiable arbitra-
tors OF the Behring sea were discussing
marine zoology and the mare ciausum
over the pates de foie gras and Ay Nous
seux 80 literally supplied at the expense
OF the French budget. etc."
II we were 70 receive our impressions
from thia man Who tells " that HI busi-