Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-02-08
DIPLOMACY At THE OUTBREAK
OF THE CIVIL WAR.
ATTITUDE OF OLD WORLD
How Lincoln's Foresight Saved the
Country From Daneer-French
Sympathy for South Which Almost
Led to Break Between France and
United States.

just held in Paris, was largely attend
ed by members of the diplomatic
corps and government officials. Baron
de Courcel, president and founder of
the society, presided, and introduced
the first speaker, Lewis Einstein of
New York, third secretary of the
American Embassy at London. Mr..
Einstein discussed Napoleon III. and
American diplomacy at THE outbreak
of the Civil War. He said;
After wellnigh half century it is
easy to recognize the impression Gre
ated abroad by the federal govern
ment's indecision on the eve of the
civil war. II republican institutions
had always seemed in the nature of
men, their sudden lack of stability APP
peared to justify every misgiving. The
spectacle of four years governmental
impotence had just been Witnessed in
America. It Is no wonder that diplo-
matists at Washington sent reports to
the government tinctured with the be-
lief in the imminent breaking of the
republic. Napoleon frankly told the
American minister at Paris he believed
the union cause would never succeed,
an opinion. he said, shared by Euro
pean statesmen. And Europe, thus
expecting southern success, manifest
ed southern sympathy.
IF, at the outbreak of the civil war,
the old world misjudged the strength
and purpose of the north, the north
likewise moderated the causes which
would have influenced it's goodwill.
By making the war crusade against
slavery 1t could have aroused such
popular feeling in Europe that no
government would have cared to face
the indignation of its subjects by sid
ing with the south. But the moment
was not yet ripe for this, and to save
the border states where union SYM
pathy was strong. but where slavery
was also regarded as q fundamental
institution, the question of abolition
had to be kept in the background.
Hence, instead of the north claiming
the benefit of foreign opinion, Europe
largely accepted the southern plea.
that In the spirit of their ancestors OF
'76 they were fighting for liberty and
seltgovernment, and II gave them that
sympathy which these who claim op-
preston win always receive.
ITO guide the foreign policy of the
nation. Lincoln selected for secretary
of state, William f. Seward, long prom
inent in public life as governor of New
York. later as United States senator,
and his own unsuccessful opponent at
the presidential convention. or no one
can 1t be said more truly that IL he
entered on his new duties a politician.
he left them statesman. Like MANY
secretaries of state, Seward was with,
out the training which comes from
service abroad, but he had gained in
sight in political life and certain ex.
perence OF the senate committee OF
foreign affairs, Perhaps because OF
this groove of politics In which he had
lived, he completely misjudged the sit.
uation at the outbreak of the civil
war In the same way as he had mis-.
judged Lincoln. Seward hoped. by
provoking a foreign conflict, to curb
all secessionist tendencies, and that
In The face of a common enemy a wave
OF patriotic Americanism would once
more sweep over the entire country.
He belived that before a great nation
al danger theconfederate leaders would
be Obliged TO abandon their desire for
separation and by exchanging a fore.
Ign for a civil war. instead of dividing.
ne would succeed in again uniting
north an south. Possessed with this
idea he advised the president to a,
once demand categorical explanations
Tor trumped-up grievances from Spain.
France. Great Britain and Russia. To
send agents into Canada, Mexico and
central America, to arouse n vigorous
spirit OF American indepenae,ca
against alleged European aggression
and, II satisfactory explanations from
the powers should not be received. 10
then convene congress and declare
war against the foreigner Linco,n,s
good sense, on this as on a later 90.
casion, saved the country from the die.
astrous effect of such policy. Tact.
fuliy avoiding antagonism with the
secretary of state. whose value ne an.
preciated. the president accomplished
all that was necessary without allow.
ing the country to suspect the danger
averted by his foresight.
ITO represent the United States at
the court of the Tuileries, 1t was nee.
essary 20 replace Mr.. Faulkner, a
southern appointee of the last admins.
tration. The president made forum.
ate selection for this important posi-,
ton in a former senator, Mr.. Dayton,
who had like Seward been sharpened
by the practice of public life. A re,
markable feature of American. demo,
cracy is that Its very freedom from the
empire OF fixed traditions gives its