Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-22
AMBASSADOR EUsTls' SPEECH
His Vigorous Deliverance o. the American
Foreign Policy.
Not the Impulse of the Moment, but
His Reputation for Frankness.

EuStis al banquet in London the other
night on the foreign policy of the United
States recalls the fact that for several
months after the democratic success of
1872 the name of Mr.. Eustis was very gen.
orally canvassed in connection with the
premiership of the incoming Cleveland ad-
minstration. Many prominent members of
the party, north and south, were strongly
in favor of the appointment. They knew
the man, had observed his course while he
was a member of the Senate, and had
formed a very high opinion no less of his
courage and character than of his intellec-
tual quality. They likewise knew that he
was widely read on subjects of interna-
tional scope, and that a member of the
Senate committee on foreign relations he
had taken a distinctly American stand on
every proposition presented for considera-
tioh There was nothing resembling a
movement in Mr.. Eustis behalf. The char
actCr of the office and of the man alike
forbade anything of that kind. But when
it was ascertained that Mr.. Cleveland would
not recall any of his former advisers to
the council table, 1t was suggested to the
President-elect that the ex-senator from
Louisiana would make a capital Secretary
of State. Mr.. Cleveland assented most cor
daily to the proposition, but intimated,
without at that time going into particu-
lars, that there ere other important posts
to be filled, and that it might be necessary
to command Mr.. Eustis' fine abilities for
one of these. Shortly afterWard followed
Gresham for the State Department and of
Mr.. Eustis for the French mission.
Value of His Tribute to This Country.
1t was conceded at once that Mr.. Eustis
had been admirably placed. Not only would
his capacity for diplomatic business be
brought into play, but his residence in
Paris would be most agreeable to him.
Speaking the French language like a ma
tive. and familiar with the country from re-
peated visits there, he would be almost at
home, and certain to command the more
attention by reason of being able thus to
meet the Frenchmen on even terms in every
way. 1t is said, too, by those in position
to know, that Mr. Eustis Is filling the re-
qusrements of his office in the most COM
plete manner and that the business of the
legation at Paris was never more satiS-
factorily dispatc
The real value of Mr.. Eustis' tribute to
his country is thought to grow out of the
fact that he was not speaking as the result
of any hasty observau ton, from impress
sions gathered from limited opportunities.
He WAS not giving hts hearers the benefit
only of two years of experience as diplo-
mat abroad. He was not detailing merely
the gist of conversations on public affairs
that had reached his ears since taking
charge of his country's business. at the
French capital. He was a traveller before
he became a diplomat. He was personally
acquainted with many of the public men
of Europe before he appeared among them
with official commission in his hand
When he stood up in London, therefore
and compared his own country with foreign
countries on the score of humanity and a
recognition of the rights of others he spoke
as veteran, and one in every way entitled
to be heard. He knew his subject thor
ouShly, and his friends have noted with the
greatest pleasure that in stating 1T he was
never in better oratorical trim. The cable,
Snpeph briefly he
points that were most characteristic, and
these are thought to show that Mr.. Eustis
was in fine speaking fettle.
Famous for Frnnkness.
This speech also recalls the fact that Mr.
Eustis has always been famous for frank
ness. The President himself can bear wit
ness to that fact, and it is said really to be
the basis of the very high regard that he
cherishes for the Louisianian. The first
note of criticism he heard from any repre-
sentative man in his party after his first
term In the White House began came from
Mr.. Eustis, at that time q Senator from
Louisiana. The ball had not opened to
suit the democracy. The mugwumps were
making big claims of influence. The Pres
ident's position was not clearly defined
He had made several appointments that
were displeasing to the party managers,
-partisanship than at that time they
could bring themselves to approve. There
was a good deal of murmuring, but most
of it was in a minor key. The democratic
leaders were overrun with applications for
places from their constituents, and they
were slow about making open or too point
ed complaint for fear Of iniuring their
standing at the White House. But Mr..
Eustis broke the silence in an interview
that sounded in the ears Of the politicians
like bell at night.
AS a democratic Senator from Louisiana
he, too, wanted recognition for many
friends, but, regardless of this, he eX-
pressed himself without reserve declared
that the President could not afford to pur-
sue the policy about appointments that the
mugwumps were advertising without
wrecking his party, and closed with polite
demand that the claims of the rank and
file of the democracy be first considered
for time the President, it is said, was
somewhat displeased. The criticism, how
ever, was so clear and so frank and SO en-
tirely devoid of all threat or bluster that
after Mr.. Cleveland had examined fully the
source of it he conceived a hearty regard
for Mr. Eustfs, and in the campaign or
1892 conferred with him on more than one
occasion about matters of the highest i'm
portance. Mr.. Eustis took the stump in
that campaign and spoke effectively In
several of the states then considered
doubtful.
Those who know him assert that II Mr..
Eustis were in the Senate now he would
be found standing shoulder to shoulder
with Mr.. Morgan in support of what is
called an ambitious foreign policy for this
government.