Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-06
STORY OF: A DIPLOMAT
Gen. John w. Foster Com
pIetes His Memoirs.
TELLS OF HIS lIFEWORK
Interesting "reminiscences of His
Public Services.
CANDID COMMENT ON MEN
Personal Gossip the Characteristics
and Habits Of Those Who
Have Won Eminence.
TELLS OF HIS LIFEWORK
CANDID COMMENT ON MEN
RY WILLIAM r. CERTIS

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
Written for The star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
Gen John W. Foster has done what all
public men should do. He has written his
memoirs and they will be published with
in a few days. He has given the country
and the world the benefit OF his unusual
experience and a great deal of the vast
fund of knowledge he has acquired in
long and useful life. This is especially
valuable for ambitious young men, for
students of public affairs, as we'll as en-
pertaining to the ordinary reader. Men
who have seen and done things; men who
have been honored with positions high
in the public service are under obliga-
lions, 1t seems to me, to render an ac
count Of the way they have conducted
themselves in addition to whatever o,.,-
cial and formal reports may 'be required
of them; and there are yet several con-
spicuous statesmen. soldiers, members Of
the Senate and former members of our
diplomatic corps who have not yet per-
formed this duty. 1t was particularly I'M
have taken his departure without commit
ting to paper for the benefit of his fellow
cOuntrymen the information he had
gathered in his long career in public life,
the longest, 1 believe. Of any man on
He had knowledge of certain
events and incidents of our history that
was enjoyed by no other man. and by
his death 1t has been lost forever. Sena-
tor Sherman was more careful and his
memoirs are Of importance. Andrew ID.
White has recently given two volumes of
his experiences that are full of interest.
and now Gen. Foster gives US his con-
tribut.On to history, which is equally IN
teresting and valuable.
Diplomatic Services Described.
He has confined himself almost entirely
to his diplomatic service, which has been
longer and more important than that of
any of his contemporaries and perhaps
than that Of any man who ever served
the American government in such a ca
pacity. He might have added several
chapters about his service in the civil
war, but scarcely alludes to that part of
his life. He tells briefly of his early days
and of his grandparents. who made their
way into southern Indiana. and there, I'm
a log cabin built with their own hands.
raised farm produce which they floated
down the Wabash and Mississippi rivers
to New Orleans for sale, just as Abraham
did.
Gen. Foster graduated from the Uni
versity of Indiana In 1855 at the age of
attended Harvard Law School
for one year. studied another year in a
law Office in Cincinnati and at the age of
twenty-one began practice at Evansville.
Ind. He was an abolitiOnist. and took an
active part i'm politics before he became
of age. When the war broke out he en-
listed for three years in the Union army
and without solicitation received COM
mission as major from Gov. Morton. He
saw three and a half years Of active
service. commanded three different In
diana regiments and was mustered out as
brigadier general at the head of a divi-
sion of cavalry.
After the war was over he became ed
itor of an Evansville newspaper, took
in the republican party. was
chairman OF the state committee in the
presidential campaign of 1872 and at the
close was recommended to President
Grant for an appointment as minister to
Switzerland. BY a queer combination of
he was sent to Mexico in
stead. and there his long and distinguished
career as a diplomatist began.
II am a strong advocate for the es-
tablishment of a regular career for the
tic service of the United States,
MIR. Foster says in the first chapter of
his book II would have all secretaries
of legations enter the service through
competitive examination, continue in Of
lice during good behavior and as they
should prove worthy have them pro-
NOTED to ministers. But l doubt whether
the time will ever come when our gov
eminent will think ii wise to confine the
appointment of ministers and asnbassa-
doris entirely to promotion from the post
of secretary. II has never been so In the
governments of Europe, where regular
diplomatic career has long been an estab-
lished system. Many OF their most dis
diplomats have been those who
have never entered the service through
competitive examination. but who were
appointed from other branches OF the
public service or from private life"
The Accession of Diaz.
Gen. Foster gives a bird s-eye view of
the history OF Mexico for the next eight
cen years. which is perhaps the most i'm
portant period in the life of our neigh
boring republic. President Diaz and his
beautiful wife happened to meet for the
first time at the American embassy.
When Romero Rubio, one of the most
important politicians In Mexico. was COM
PEELED to fee for his life during the revo-
luton which brought Diaz into power he
commended his wife and children to the
care of Mr.. and Mrs. Foster. 1t so hap
pened that Diaz, the new president. at
tended one OF Mrs. Fosters Informal re-
ceptions and there met the beautlful ana
charming daughter of his implacable foe.
This acquaintance ripened into marri-
monial engagement, and the winsome
daughter of the chief of tie government
Diaz had overthrown became 1.-THE first
lady of Mexico"
eloquent tribute to Diaz. ard it is eSpec-
tally appropriate because OF the 80 mt
attacks that have been maze Upor the
latter's character and patriotism IN Amer
lean newspapers and magazines. But he
does not entirely approve OF his policy.
There could be no more unpreJudtced wit
ness, and his testimony is that X would
have been. better for Diaz to have re-
tired from the presidency at the end of
his second term rather than remain in
power continuously for twenty-siX years.
'.He would then nave been in position
to guarantee a peaceful election o.
successor" the author SAYS, and 8 con-
tinuance Of the good order and pro Fuer-
ity which he had established. Tie paopi-
also might have mad an opportunity 10 Yes.
their ability to conduct government by
means of a free and untrammeled e,ier-
else of the electoral franchise. condition
as yet unknown in Mexico. The benevo-
lent autocracy, under his administration.
has resulted in great prosperity for the
country, but II has done little to educate
the masses of the people in their duties
under republican government"
Transferred to Russia.
After eighteen years at the capital of
Mexico, Gen. Foster was transferred to
st. Petersburg, and spent several years
there in very interesting period of the
history of that country. He was received
by Emperor Alexander II, who was
shortly after assassinated, and he gives
us a graphic description OF the briiIignay
Of the Russian court. with personal
sketches of it's most conspicuous figures.
He gives us an account OF the asSassina-
ton of Alexander III. and the description
of the latter's funeral Is one Of sle most
striking passages In the book.