The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-31
Death of Ambassador Romero, Pat
riot, Diplomat, and Statesman.
FAMOUS AT WASHINGTON
IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE
FOR MANY YEARS.
Also Performed an Important Part
In Placing the Republic Upon a
Stable Basis-Married Washing
ton Woman and Their Home Was
a Social Center.

Washington, Dec. 3O.-Senor Don
Mates Romero, the Mexican ambassa-
dor to the United States, died at the
embassy here at 4:1O o'clock this morn
Ing. On Wednesday last an operation
for appendicitis was performed upon
the ambassador and although the op-
Grafton was entirely successful, the re-
sulting shock proved greater than he
could bear. Up to 1:30 o'clock this
morning, however, it was thought he
was in a fair way to recover, but at
that time a high fever set in and he
sank rapidly until his death.
The death of Mrs. Romero, which oc-
CURED some months ago, was a great
shock to the ambassador, and on his
return from Mexico, whittier he ha2
taken her remains for interment, his
friends remarked that he was greatly
broken and showed unmistakable signs
of failing health.
Senior Romero probably was the best
known member of the diplomatic corps
in Washington and was for some time
its dean. When Great Britain raised
her mission to an embassy the added
rank placed Sir Julian Pauncefote, the
British ambassador, at the head of the
corps, though Junior in years of ser
vice to Senior Romero, who was raised
uiilN IeC6Illly lIOll the ICtIih VI uiIlllSlGI
to that of ambassador.
A sketch prepared by the bureau OF
American republics and published in its
bulletin for the month of December,
1898, after revision by Senor Romero
himself, gives the subjoined biograph-
icaI review of the dead ambassador:
"Senor Romero is one Of the most
eminent statesmen, writers and diplO-
mats of Mexico. He was born in the
- 3 n 1sA-
ceived his first education in his native
place and finished it at the capitol of
the republic, where he received his dip
Iona as a lawyer. In 1855 he entered
the foreign office, although still pursu-
ing his legal studies. In 1857, when
President COmonfOTt made his coup
d'etat, forcing President Juarez to leave
the capital Senor Romero accompanied
him to Vera Cruz, where he continued
in the service of the department of for
eign relations. In December, 1859, he
came to Washington as first secretary
of the Mexican legation and remained
here in that capacity until August 1860.
when, in the absence of the minister, he
became charge d'affaires. He returned
to Mexico in 1863 to take part in tht
war against the French and was ap
pointed colonel by the president. Cen
eral Porfiro DiaZ then appointed him as
dent Juarez accredited him as envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipoten-
tiary to Washington. he remained at
this post from October, 1863, until jan
uary, 1868, having rendered most i'm
portant services to his country.
"On his return to Mexico he was ap
pointed secretary of the treasury, but
was obliged, on account of i'll health, to
give up that Office in 1872. For three
years he remained in Soconusio, devot-
ing himself to agricultural pursuits, and
from 1877 to 1878 was again secretary
of the treasury. In 1880 he served as
postmaster general In March, 1882, he
came back to Washington as envoy eX-
traordinary and minister plenipoten
tiary and has remained in that capac-
ity ever since, with an Interruption of
only ten months in 1892. AS represen-
tative of his country in the United
States, Senor Romero has shown him
self a most efficient and able diplomat.
Senior Romero married a Washington
woman many years ago, and their home
on [ street, off Franklin park, was Il
social center, and the scene each season
of brilliant society functions. a large
part of resident as we'll as of Official
society always attended these affairs,