Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-14
RAISING THE COLON.

I department including its achievements and
triumphs, for such a history would have
to be almost a complete history Of the
foreign relations of the United States since
the formation of the government and for
some years preceding, but the pamphlet
does give an attractive outline of the de-
velopment of the department and shows the
| various steps by which the department has
reached its present commanding place in
the nation and among all nations. .
A large number of the men who have
been distinguished in American public life
have been connected with the Department
of State, among them being Livingston, Jay,
! Monroe, Madison, Adams, Clay, Jefferson,
Calhoun, Cass, Webster, Everett, Seward,
Black, Washburn and Blaine. The list of
secretaries of state comprises a larger num-
Der of those who have been really eminent
because of their commanding leadership
than the list of presidents. The record of
the department goes back to the very be-
ginning Of the nation, for the very first
thing done looking toward separation Of the
colonies from Great Britain was to form a
committee Of agents to consider the foreign
/ relations Of the colonies. Indeed, this COM
mittee was formed while yet there was lit
tie thought among the colonists that resort
would have to be had to force to secure the
JuSllCe uelllduueu III the lOytl address, 1OTHu-
lated by the First continental congress in
IVA. The Second continental congress
provided for a Committee OF secret CORE
spondence," with Benjamin Franklin at the
head and Benjamin Harrison of Virginia,
John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, Thomas
Johnson of Maryland and John Jay of New
York as members, and this committee was
in reality a on foreign affairs.
This committee opened the negotiations
which ended in the alliance with France.
The name of this Committee was sub
sequently changed to that Of Committee for
Foreign Affairs, but congress managed
foreign affairs directly. The first secretary
of the committee, who got the magnificent
salary of $40 a month, was dismissed be-
cause he made an official matter public. The
chief function of the committee was to
furnish the agents of the government abroad
with accounts of the progress of events in
America, but beyond that it simply executed
the orders Of congress and had little real
power over foreign affairs. The committee
finally became almost extinct from ~inaction.
There is really" wrote Lowell, the one
member who remained continuously upon it,
to Arthur Lee in August, 1879, mo such
thing as a committee of foreign affairs exist
ing-no secretary or clerk further than I
perseyere to be one or the other. The books
and the papers of that extinguished body
lay yet on the table OF congress, or rather
are locked up in the secretary's private box"
Making n beginning.
A plan for the Department Of Foreign At
fairs was submitted to congress two years
later, the opening paragraph stating that
"the extent and rising power of these United
States entities them TO a place among the
grant Dntnntatac NJ Eurnpa while an no
litical and commercial interests point out
the propriety of cultivating with them a
friendly correspondence and connection
In August of that year the department was
organized and Robert r. Livingston of New
York was elected as the secretary. Liv-
ingston was an able man and although his
department was not allowed to take any
independent action, its services were highly
important. Under his direction the bust
ness with the American agents and minis
tiers in foreign countries was done well.
When Livingston retired, in 1888. he left
the department in the hands of Lewis r,
Morris, the under secretary. but he was
without authority and the matter was placed
in the hands of Henry Remsen, jr. But
the department virtually ceased to exist fol-
a time.
1t will be seen from this brief summary
of the opening paragraphs of this history OF
the Department Of State that there is mucl
Of general interest connected with the de.
partment, even in its earliest years. Tn,
department had a great deal to do with
making history. The story goes or
in a direct way, The mex
name OF prominence connected Will
the department is that of John Jay. who re
turned home from France in 1884, afte
negotiating the treaty of peace with Grea
Britain. He had been elected secretary o
foreign affairs before he arrived, and h
: entered upon the duties of the position ii
September. He complained of the unsatis
factory conditions surrounding his office, blu
a committee OF congress reported that tn
business OF the department was properl!
conducted and the secretary was entitled L
eredit for the peatness, method and per