The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-27
NINE FOREIGN AMBASSADORS WHO
HAVE OFFENDED UNCLE SAM.
American Record Clean, No United
States Minister Ever Having
Been Given His Passports.
New York Press.

to be taken by the government to which
he was accredited.
Three of the eight ministers who have
been Objectionable to our government have
been English, two Spanish. two French and
one Russian, and the administrations In
which their indiscretions occurred have
BEEN divided equally between Republican
and Democratic, or what would answer to-
day to these political denominations. Some
of these imprudent diplomats have been
loath to quit the country in which they
were not welcome.
Indeed. the. first of them did not leave the
United States at all. He was Edmond
Charles Genest or Genet He had served
unsatisfactory at St Petersburg. being re-
called from there. The French Republic
sent him here in 1898, after France had de-
clared war against England and Holland.
France thought that for her help to the
colonies in the revolution she should re-
ceive aid then from the young republic. A
good many Americans thought So too. But
Washington was bound to keep out of en-
tangling alliances with European countries.
America generally was as warm-hearted
toward France at that time she later
was angry.
Citizen Genet as he was called by us.
was only twenty-seven years old, and
glad hand and official conservatism. lie
reached South Carolina in April, 1898, and
was greeted so warmly that he undertook
to commission cruisers from American
ports. which captured English vessels right
in our own waters. He made up courts for
the trial of the prizes. and began to raise
money and men for France. England, of
course, objected, and Jefferson, Washing
tos.'s secretary of state, told Genet that
these violations Of neutrality must cease.
Genet insisted in offensive language that
he should continue in his course and
shifted his headquarters to Philadelphia.
ABOUT this time the American blood had
reached boiling point in favor of France;
our daughters We're married under the
name of 'citess." But Genet had nearly
reached the end of his rope. Chief Justice
Jay and Senator King, of New York. de-
clared over their signatures IN a New YORK
newspaper that Genet had declared sl IN PR PIT
federal government to the people of Amer
lea. This knocked the support of the peo-
pie from under the friends OF Genet. his
popularity fled. He denied, of course. the
truth of the statements of jay and King,
and the United States asked his recall,
which den and was complied with the fol-
lowing winter.
MARRIED INTO THE CLINTONS.
But, though his usefulness as a represent
alive of the French republic had departed,
he had no intention of departing himself.
Indeed he stayed here, became a natural
lied American citizen. married daughter
of Governor Clinton, of New York, and
lived forty years here. dying in 1884 in Scho-
dak.
The next foreign representative TO try to
bluff the young republic was Spaniard,
Senior Carlos de Yrujo. This was in the
administration of Jefferson who, as WASH
ingtons secretary of state, had had exe
perience in such things. His secretary OF
state was Madison. who. soon after, was to
have his trials with an undiplomatic diplo-
mat. At that time our minister to Spain
was Pinckney, who previously had told
France that we would pay miiiionS .Ior
defense but not one cent Tor tr tpan before
the people, and Yrujo tried to bride O. Phil
adelphia newspaper to print an article OPP
posing the administration. When YruJos
recall was demanded he stayed In this coun-
try declaring that he would consult his
own pleasure about going. Before he had
made this remark. however. he had ceased
TO be the diplomatic representative ot spain,
and what he did and said was as a private
Individual In 1908. at the end of the term
of service of our minister. Pinckn ay, our
diplomatic relations with Spain Wee broken
off and were not resumed for six years.
The next foreign minister TO run afoul or
our State Department was an Engllsnman
who bore the good American name o. JACK s,.z-
term Mr.A Erskine was the British minister;
and the existing differences with England
were increased by a misunderstanding En-
slSine had with his home government. which
resulted in England repudiating his acts
and recalling him. The outcome was that
the United States continued noR-ntercourse
with Great Britain Erskine's successor
minister was Jackson In the MI WINTER sacr OF
tary OF state. Robert Smith. OF Maryland,
frequently and extensively. and accused him
luton declaring the attitude of Mr.. Jack
son to be insOlent. and requesting the Pres
fdent to recognize him no longer. President
Madison theTeupon refused to receive any
more communications from Minister jack
son. informing him directly. Jackson was
could help it. though he left Washington
and came to New York. An unsuccessful
effort was made to pass a law giving the
President the right to send out of the coun-
try an obnoxious minister few months
later England recalled Jackson, but gave
pleased the home government.
WHEN POUSSIN BLEW AWAY.
It was forty years before the United
States took umbrage at the acts of another
foreign minister. This time it was France
that offended. Zachary Taylor was Presi-
dent and his secretary Of state was John
MeClayton, of Delaware The minister was
Guillaume Tell Lavellee Poussin. which
name was cut in our correspondence with
him to plain Mr. William Tell Poussin."
Mr.. Poussin had written letter to the Sec
rotary of state, impeaching, by insinuation
the honor of the United States. the matter
In dispute being the payment of q French
claim. MIR. Poussin was told that his lam
guage was offensive. and after he had tried
to argue himself out of the difficulty and
another French claim came up, and Min
lister Poussin cenSured an officer of our
navy. Secretary Clayton laid the matter di-
rectly before France, and that nation being
disinclned to do anything Mr.. Poussin ssot
his passports in the fall of 1S49 so swiftly as
TO make his head swim.
During the Crimean war the British mill
lister in the United States Sir John Cramp-
ton, fell by the wayside result Of his
attempt to play u part of Genets game.
Sir John tried to recruit men in the ln.ted
he was personal friend of President Pierce
and his secretary Of state William NJ.
Marcy, of New York Champion had to go
for his part in this Illegal proceeding.
The Catacazy scandal is still well remem-
bered In Washington. Catacazy was Rus
STA s minister during the first term OF Presi-
dent Grant, when E.oniiton Fish OF New
York, was secretary uf state. CatacaZy in
trodueed in Washington society as his wife
and Russia complied with our request 10
recall him.
Fhe case of Sackvine-West, British min
lister in Clevelands first term, Is so recent
and we'll known To its leading features
rs scarcely 10 require mention. George Os-
go0dby, Western New YORK man. and a
strong Republican. who went to California
early in the 70's, conceived the scheme OF
getting the British minister or some other
figh official of England. TO advise British
Americans TO vote the Democratic ticket at
the election of 1883. He wrote to Sir Lionel
Sackville-West and other English officials
over the name of Charles +. Murchisor, of
Pomona. Cal.
A DIPLOMAT TRAPPED.
The minister fell into the trap, and re-