The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-03

self; now, at 64, he had accepted an
| invitation to a place of honor and re-
| sponsibility.
IL was softly said when this embassy
| sailed for Europe. and its appointment
| became a subject OF public interest,
| that il had gone abroad to counteract
| the impression created by the earnest
| pleas Of the representatives of the Con-
| federate government, who had received
unofficial recognition. Yet no man
| in authority 49, few who were in
! telligent - failed to perceive that
! this gentle description of the purpose
Of the mission concealed a desperate
| iron purpose-the purpose to prevent
! by all arts of diplomacy the recogni-
| ton Of the Southern Confederarcy by
| Great Britain and France.
ARREST OF MASON AND SLIDELL.
Secretary Seward appointed these
semi officials ambassadors, instructed
them and saw them depart, all within
two weeks, and this haste would have
made IL clear. even with his confiden-
| tial information, that the mission was
an urgent one. 1t was not until a
few hours after the embassy had sailed
that the greatest of all perils of that
| time, perhaps the chief danger that the
nation faced at any time during the
| war, was made known TO the admins
tration and the people. The highlands
of Navesink had hardly been lost to tho
sight of Mr.. Weed and his companions
| when the administration received the
news that the Confederate commits
| sioners, Mason and Slidell, had been
taken from vessel flying the British
flag and were held as prisoners of war.
| Mr.. Seward realized that this act would
complicate the situation in Great Brit
| ain and might serve as preteXt for
n declaration OF war.
| Already hostile suggestions had been
| received from France by the British
cabinet, which if accepted, meant war.
These We're rejected chiefly because
| Queen Victoria had strongly disap-
| proved of them. One was a proposal
that Great Britain and France joint
| ly intervene by recognizing the Con-
federacy; another was a proposition
that, after an understanding had been
reached with Napoleon III, a resolu-
tion be introduced into parliament re-
| pudiating the Federal blockade OF
southern ports.
The arrest of Mason and Slidell upon
the high seas while under the protec-
ton of the British flag was likely to
influence the people of Great Brit
ain that even the pacific purposes Of
the queen would be unable to restrain
the ministry or parliament from acts
equivalent to a declaration of war In
this critical emergency the president
and Mr.. Seward were rejoiced that the
special and confidential embassy would
be in Great Britain before the repo-ts
of the arrest of Mason and Slidell could
get there. The report, however, was
not far behind the embassy. The steam
ship which brought it arrived only
two days after Mr. Weed reached Lon
don.
ONE STAUNCH FRIEND ABROAD.
The excitement and peril created by
this news detained Mr.. Weed in Lon
don longer than he intended to be
there. When the embassy sailed from
the United States the greater danger
was believed to lie in the intention of
Louis Napoleon to recognize the con-
federacy. The emperor and, with one
exception, all of the men influential in
the empire were unfriendly to the
cause of the Union.
Prince Napoleon stood staunchly and
Union, and had firm faith in the ultl-
mate success of the attempt TO sup.
press the rebellion.
To him Mr. Weed at the earliest mo-
ment possible presented his credentials
and was by him received with a cordial
welcome. He put himself at the dis
posal of the embassy In any way in
which he could be of service, both TO
"a lNac hn
States. The prince was, however un-
able to give any important aid. His
friendly advocacy Of the cause of the
Union had brought him into disfavor
with the French court.
There were other friends, but they
were not men of Importance. No rec
Ognition can ever be made of the i'm
portance of the aid they gave, because
none except the embassy knew these
friends or what they did. In self
protection they We're compelled 10
speak and act secretly.
One day Mr.. Weed learned through
mysterious although friendly com
munication something which alarmed
him even more than the news Of the
arrest Of Mason and Slidel. 1t wes
something which seemed beyond the
!
vent
TO IGNORE TIE BLOCKADE.
He learned that the emperor had de-
termined TO announce in an address tu
be delivered at reception to the Corps
legissatIf a day or two later that h.
had repudiated the Federal blockade of
Confederate ports, ard should open
them to commerce-at least IL ships
flying the French flag.
Mr.. Weed also learned that copy Of
the address was already in the office of
the London Times, ana would be print
ed by that newspaper on the morning
after it's delivery. The belef was that
with this announcement of the purpose
of Napoleon, public sentiment in Great
Britain would set so strongly in ap-
proVal Of it, that 1t would be impossi-
BILE to prevent the English nation from
joining with Napoleon in this act
This meant war. 1t seemed to Mr.
Weed as though all resources had been
exhausted yet he determined to en-
ploy every act Of diplomacy or cXpedi-
ent that might suggest itself to delay,
even If he could not prevent, this dec
laration from Napoleon. He hastened
10 the Office of the American legation
10 secure the good offices of our min.
ister Mr.. Dayton.
1T is impossible to procure an audi
ence either with the emperor or with
dc Morny" said Mr.. Dayton. 1T has
been impossible for me-"
Would you regard it as a breach of
courtesy to yourself If l attempt 10
get an audience with de Morny with
out your good Ofiices?" Mr. Weed
asked.