The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-16
THE LIFE OF A DIPLOMAT.
JUDGE MANN TO WRITE MEMOIRS
or FATHER. A. DUDLEY
MANN.

Into Court Circles of Europe
written by an cN-Savannnhinn.
A volume OF memoirs is now being pre-
pared in Chicago. the publication OF which
Will, beyond all question. attract interna-
tiouaI attention and arouse students Of
recent American history TO a profound de-
gree.
over six years have passed since the
death Of A. Dudley Mann, the diplomat
who negotiated the first reciprocity treaty
for the United States. the Assistant Sec
rotary Of State under President Bucha-
nan and the first diplomatic commission
er OF the c0nfederacy 10 the European
powers Just before he died at his beau
tiful country home in France. and when
he was over 80 years OF age, be placed IN
the hands of his son, Judge w. Grayson
Mann Of Chicago. the biographical and
historical data covering, ia minute detail,
his whole remarkable career, but supu-
lating that the memoirs must not be pub
,ished within six years after his death.
This limitation has expired and cOnse-
ddently the almost untouched field OF the
diplomatic history OF the confederate
states Will receive an Invaluable addition
from tho rich experiences Of the man who
was trusted with the most important state
secrets Of the Buchanan administration
and OF the Jefferson Davis regime.
The Hon. Wilson Grayson Mann is well
remembered as "a former and prominent
citizen Of Savannah. He lived here for
many years. His wife, the only daughter
OF the late G. b. Cummings OF this city.
died In Italy, which country she was visi-
ting, about fifteen years ago. Mr.. Mann
then removed to Florida. and afterwards
to Chicago OF himself and his book the
Chicago Evening Post says:
The peculiar fitness of Judge Mann for
the loving labor Of editing the mass of
letters, documents and memoranda plac-
ed in his hands by his father lies not only
in his skill and experience as "A writer,
but also in the fact that he began to act
as interpreter to the elder diplomat early
in his teens, later became his private sec
rotary and was his constant companion
through all the varied scenes and on all
important public missions which engaged
his years in activity. In addition to this
wide experience, Judge Mann was, for a
considerable period, secretary to James
NJ. Mason, who was sent, with John Sill
dell, to represent the confederacy in Eng
land and France, and whose capture while
on board the English Trent, by Capt.
Charles Wilkes. almost precipitated war
between England and the United States
He was also selected by President Blu
Chanan as one of two representatives Sent
by this government into Mexico, on Sc
cret mission, to prepare a report upon
which the United States based its action
in recognizing the popular party of
Quares as the governing body of that
country then in the throes OF disruption
as consequence OF Louis Napoleon's far
reaching and crafty plans Of conquest.
The elder Mann was Virginian Of the
Nirginians: His arlstocraic BIRTH. his
natural talents and an early mastery of
law especially in it's constitutional
branches combined to place him in a po-
sition of political prominence in the old
dominion state when a young man. Vir-
ginia then exercised an almost dominat-
ing influence In the politics of the nation,
and the future diplomat soon found him
self a favorite in the administration cir
Giles at Washington. The death of his
wife, when their only son was an infant,
resulted in making the relationship be-
tween father and son one of peculiar in
| timacy and tenderness. They were sell
dom or never absent from each other, and
this constant companionship led the son
to regard his father more as a friend and
comrade than as the embodiment Of par
entail authority. Nearly all of Judge
Mann's education was obtained from tu-
tors in the various cities Of continental
| Europe, where he obtained in bOyhOod a
| wide command of the modern European
| languages and a thorough knowledge of
countries in which he Travelled with his
| father
When, in 1916. his father was appointed
/ minister plenipotentiary and envoy eX-
| traordinary TO the thirty -nine smaller Ger
man states, his linguistic attainments
| were so marked that he was selected to
/ act as interpreter, although he was but IA
years of age. 1t was while engaged in this
| mission that A. Dudley Mann established
| with the states of Hanover, OldenburG
and Mecklenburg what are undoubtedly
| entitled to go down in history as the first
/ reciprocity treaties made by this govern
/ ment. President Buchanan so regarded
| them and took a keen personal interest
| and pride in their establishment.
| Those earliest days of the boys intro
! duction to public service as his father S
| Interpreter covered a period of great po-
| litical disturbance and unrest on the CON
| tinent, and he naturally found himself at
! the very centers of excitement.
| well member said Judge Mann as
| he sat in his home in Grand boulevard,
| last night, surrounded by a mass of let
| ters by scores of the most celebrated DO
litical leaders of the last half century, the
| stirring scenes of those DAYS They made
/ sharp impression upon my boyish sus-
/ capabilities and l understood Just enough
| of their deeper significance to enter thor
| oughly into the spirit of them. One Of the
| most exciting scenes of this kind that came
within my personal observation was the
| episode which practically set rolling the
/ ball of the German revolution.
j Al mat time we were stationed at Mu-
| MICH the capital of Bavaria, then under
4 the corrupt coNsrt of old King Louis. While
he was nominally King of Bavaria. that
| country was practically subject to the
1 whim of Lola Monies, a notorious favor
/ lite of his court. To increase the re-
| sources of his eXchequer, upon which his
| prof1igate expenditures made heavy de-
| mands, tax upon beer was levied This
was the last straw upon the backs Of the
| people They looked upon Lola Monies
as the government and the author of their
hardships.
Groups of peasants. working people and
| students congregated at street corners.
! about the public squares and public
| houses and discussed their grievances.
/ Just four days before the outbreak of
! the revolution in Paris I saw her car
! riage driving along Macmillan strasse. A
/ band of students had become involved i'm
/ melee which threatened to devotion into
a riot. She was a bold, daring woma n.
, and as soon as her carriage came nm
! to the CONTESTANTS, she pushed open the
/ door sprang out, evidently with the
/ purpose of restoring order. But the er-
| feet of her appearance was like throwing
! a firebrand into a thatch of dry fax
| There was a quick movement among the
/ rioters and a butcher of Herculean pro-
| portions pushed aside his companions.