The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-03
DIPLOMACY AS SHE IS pRAcTrcED.

The Hon. Lewis Baker, United States
minister to Nicaragua, Costa RIGA and
San Salvador, has been granted leave of
absence from his post, or his several
posts, and will soon be home. Mr.. Baker
was formerly editor and proprietor of a
paper in st. Paul, Mimi, but in his SER
vice as a dipIomatist he does not seem
to have developed the tact and SAVIOR
faire that usually pertains to the trained
journalist. 1t is true his position is
hard one. for he has had to represent
the United States at three different capi-
tails, and travel from one to another has
probably consumed great deal of time
and been wearing on the nerves. This
may account for some peculiarities in
his diplomatic methods and official cor
respondence. In an official report to the
State Department from Managua, Mica
ragua, he states that he had called to see
Minister Madriz, the Nicaraguan Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs, in company with
the late General Daniel Macauley. the
local representative of the International
Canal Company, in obedience to cabled
instructions from the State Department
regarding the unwarranted seizure of
ehC SetLcl COuipdIy plOpSIly. CA1oi-
tunately," he writes. my latest Wash
ington dates by mail were May /, there
fore / was in the dark as to the instruc-
lions referred to. but I assumed for my
purpose with this government on this
occasion that they were something pref
ty perpendicular, containing a genuine
American ring" Acting on this as
sumption he says he made the following
speech to the Nicaraguan minister:
You express % me, Mr.. Minister, Jour
friendship for the United states and the
jump on us with both feet and spit in
faces. Your action in the canal matter has
own lack of = good faith ei and your i indsposl
tion to protect the capital that would come
here and develop your naturally splendid
country. Nothing is sensitive as credit;
not even capital is SO timid, for credit
good faith.-must go before capital This is
notice of the forfeiture of the canal con-
cession, even though it be upon a frivolous
srona a; ahn = one nc, ,,1v tha credit
of the interoceanc canal company, but ~ Is
the most CHASTITY stab under the fifth rib
which could be inflicted by the keenest
Damascus blade.
1t must be admitted that is decidedly
perpendicular speech in the sense of
being straight up and down. There is a
notable absence of the great and good
friend style" with which Mr.. Cleveland
addressed Queen Liliuokalani, and of
the assurances of distinguished consid-
GRAFTON with which diDlomatists usually
palaver one another. Ten days later
Mr.. Baker wrote the State Department
that he was disabled from travel by an
attack of fever, and really disqualified
from performing office work, but he
added: Il am doing my best under most
discouraging circumstances to keep up
my end He does not say anything in
this dispatch as to the effect of his
speech on the Nicaraguan minister. The
speech was probably too perpendicular
to suit the administration for it is ru-
mored that Mr.. Baker is to be relieved.
Perhaps, however, it is only proposed to
leave the post at Nicaragua vacant for
a few months, in order that the delicate
questions arising there may be handled
directly from Washington. The states
men in charge of things there at present
do not make any diplomatic blunders.