St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-23
WE NEED DIPLOMATS.


liar the p. P. does fairly well.
WE NEED DIPLOMATS.
Americans are beginning TO realize
the fact that in matters of diplomacy
they are but noviceS when pitted against
the practiced art of the British. In most
matters the American is vastly the SUI
periOr race-adrOit and reSourceful-but
when intrigue comes into play we are
wOefully deficient, and have to be con-
tent with the crumbs that fall from the
table of our European brethren. Our
one great triumph was the award re-
ceived as damages for the depredations
of the Confederate cruisers during the
war. In all subsequent encounters we
have got the worst of the controversy.
Justice was manifestly on our side in
the fisheries dispute. but our claims were
ignored, and a verdict given to Great
Britain. When Samoan affairs were
uppermost England and Germany gath
cred their plums while we were COM
PEELED to be content with the dry leaves.
In the Nirginius affair Spain had TO pay
small money indemnity, but won her
case substantially. And in the Behring
sea dispute, recently concluded. the
United States has been completely dis
cOmfi1ed. 1t has been iudicially deter
mined that we purchased property from
Russia that did not belong to that pow
er, and that the seals that were supposed
10 belong to US are common property,
over which we have no control. When
ever, of late years, arbitration has been
the resort in the settlement of disputes.
we have got the worst of it.
Our governmental system is in part re-
sponsible for our many discomftures IN
the field of diplomacy. 1t does not pay
a man to devote his entire life to state
craft. He is compelled to attach him
self to one or the other of the two great
political parties. 1t the one to which
he belongs happens to attain power he
may have a chance to use his abilities
in their proper sphere for few years,
but as soon as it is driven from control
or affairs he is forced into retirement,
and the county loses the benefit of his
experience. A novice is called to sue
coed him. who in time is retired before
he has attained sufficient degree of
familiarity with the art to be of value.
And so our diplomats-if they can be
dignihed with the name-are constantly
changing. They can never have that
experience which is the best Of teach
ers, and is so essential to success.
The British system is in some respects
superior to ours. Take the career of
Earl Duferin as an example. In his
early manhood he had experience under
the ministry of Lord Palmerston, and
became secretary of state for India in
1864. When a change of administration
took place he was not placed on the re-
tired list, as would have been the case
In this country, but created chancellor
of the Duchy of Lancaster. subsequently
became governor general of Canada
then ambassador to st. Petersburg, sub
sequently went to Turkey and Egypt
and i'll 1888 was made yiceroy of India.
Since then he has been ambassador at
Constantinople. He is regarded as the
foremost diplomat of the time, ana has
served his country ably and we'll under
the domination Of all parties. No one
knows to which party ne belongs. and
no one cares as long as his services are
of value. 1t is enough for those in au-
thorlty to know that he is Briton.
soiicitous at all times for the welfare of
his country, honest and capable.
We have had no citizen whose career
parallels that of Earl Dufferin. Caleb
Gushing and Reverdy johnson were the
only two statesmen worthy of the name
of diplomats who have ever been en-
trusted with duties by party to which
they did not belong. Both were unc0m-
promising Democrats, yet they served
the Republican party ably in critical
Junctures, and il was largely due to
their efforts that verdict was obtained
against Great Britain in the Geneva
arbitration, for the preliminaries of that
arbitration were arranged by johnson
while he was minister to Great Britain,
and his programme was followed out by
Gushing as counsel for the United
States.
The country is constantly suffering by
reason of the lack of experience of our
diplomats and foreign ministers. With
the exception of Mr.. Bayard, we have
had few statesmen worthy of the name
as our representatives in foreign ports.
Washburne made an admirable record at
Paris during the Franco German war.
With these exceptions. we have had no
men abroad gifted with more than
mediocre capacity. How would our
country have fated if a dispute with
Austria had occurred during the min.
istry of Fred Grant? He had had no
diplomatic or political training, and had
no natural fitness for the occupation.
He possessed nothing but name,
which he had done all in his power to
degrade. Both E. j. and William Wall
ter Phelps were nonentities. Whitelaw
Reid and Robert L. Lincoln were re-
specialization respectable to assert the
privileges of American citizens abroad,
and too considerable of the feelings of
the people to whom they were accred-
tied to pay any heed to the people they
were commissioned to represent. Grubb
was ridiculous and clownish. Fairchild
was polite, but loved an opportunity to
make post-prandial speech more than
he cared for his official duties.
We need diplomats to represent us
abroad. but it is doubtful if we will have
them under our present system. 1t is
fortunate that we have had SO little oc-
casion for their services in the past.
The failures we have met should lead
US to an earnest effort TO improve the
tone of the diplomatic service.