New-York tribune., 1909-12-15
yohn W. Fosters Diplomatic
Memoirs.

IL is a proud record 20 have served
ones country almost aninterruptedly
and with constantly growing distinction
for nearly half a century. 10 have held
important commissions under every
President OF the Knitted States from Lin
coin 20 Roosevelt. with the exception OF
Andrew johnson. and % have been in
trusted b. = foreign government with
important commissions. This Is the rec
ord OF the Hon. John ". Foster. well
known. IN addition, for quartet OF
books on diplomscy-"The Practice OF
DIPLOMACY" American Diplomacy In
the Orient" "A Century Of American
Diplomacy and Arbitration and the
Hague Court"-and for repeated articles
on international questions Of the day in
cur periodical press.
Born in 1896 an Evansville, Ind OF
English stock on his fathers side and
OF a Virginian Revolutionary family on
his mothers. Mr.. Foster was graduated
from the state University OF Indiana IN
1S55. attended the Harvard University
Law School in the following year. spent
1861 in a law Office in Cincinnati, and al
the age % twenty-one was admitted 20
the bar. starting 10 practise in the town
OF his birth His connection with public
affairs had begun before this for in
1876 Mr.. Foster. stin "A minor. but al
rcady pronounced anti-slsvery man.
took an active part in Fremont's cam
paign: four years later he was prom
inent an the organization Of the Repub-
licau party in his section for its great
candidate. -aeanwhile the young law
ycr and enthusiastic budding statesman
had married and established himself, but
when Lincolu's cali for 100000 voiun-
tocrs was issued he forthwith enlisted.
.fr Fosters military service, which he
dcals with bat briefly in this book. may
lpe summarized as follows: Commissioned
major Of tho 18th Indiana Regiment.
July. 1861: commander of three different
regiments Of his state; brigade and dis
trict commander. and finally head Of a
division of cavalry.
He saw service Al Knoxville, Fort
Donelson ana shiloh and was detached
Tor an independent command in Ken
sucky II was Grant who recommended
him for promotion 10 the rank Of briga-
der general. During his service in the
field Mr. Poster became personally ac-
ouainted with another future President
BENJAMIN Harrison. Lincoln he never
saw. but IN 1850 he was presented 20
President Pierce.
At the close or the Civil War Mr.
Poster returned 10 Indiana 10 take up
tie editorship Of one of its leading
lsapers. and in 49,. as chairman 81 the
Republican state Committee, ne did
valuable service for the reelection OF
Grant. VINO shortly afterward offered
him A diplomatic post He modestly and
rrudeutly chose Switzerland. but the
President appointed him Minister 10
Mexico Looking back. the successful
diplomatist frankly says:
was beWildered by tie proposition. u
Nas with much missiving a. 20 my h~tness ~
mission. one Of the lowest and most unim-
poItant Of the diplomatic posts; ana nov
Was rendered The highest and most III
rcult mission IN tie American hemlspherc
] frankly told the senator iOlNer = MOT
fon. of indiana that very much ooableo
thc wisdom OF acoeptinE sucn post win
iny entire ileNperieuce IN oiplomacl- a.
she tirne tpoke 10 foreign language, had
never been out Of my own country, ana
led onlv a textbook knowledge OF inter
national law. But the senator Only Sli4liee
rt nv hesitation. reasserted his confidence
~ nv ability, and said ] Was much bel
Ter ntted than most Of those who were ap-
pointed 10 our diplomatic service.
summing MP the result of his own expe-
riencc. Nj Poster afterward says;
am a strong advocate Of the establish
meut q - regular career Tor tnt alpioT
maiic service Of The United states,
would have an secretaries OF legation
enter the service through a competitive
examination, continue M oInce auilIs
good behavior. and. az they should prove
worthy. have fbom promoted 10 ministers
Ful . doubt whether the time WiA ever
come when our government VIII lllnk II
,,i-e 10 rorfne the appointment of min
listers and ambassadors entirely 20 promo
lions from the post Of secretary. II has
never been 50 IN tie governments OF Europe.
where the regular diplomatic career mas
long been an established system MANY
81 their most useful ana distinguished
sirlon1at~ nave Been those who never en-
tered tlic service through a competitive
examination. hBr Who were appointed
from other branches Of the public service,
a. from private life.
For proof Of this we need look no
further than the British Embassy in
Washington az the present moment
Tho list 81 our own ''most useful and
distinguished diplomats" appointed from
l,rivate life or other branches Of the ser
Nice is TOO long 10 be pat down here. IL
begins with Franklin. and reaches be-
Nond Motley and Lowell down 10 The
present day not forgetting Mr Foster
himself
The new American Minister 20 Mexico
found q delicate position awaiting him.
Internally the country was still IN a
state Of unrest and insecurity after the
long struggle between Liberals and Re
dictionaries, and the echoes Of the eKecu-
zion al QueretarO SIN echoed through
the land: attempts At revolutions We're
Of almost daily occurrence. The re-elec-
sion Of LcrdO was met by the revolt
under the leadership Of Diaz, the delay
Of our state Department I'm recognizing
his government, combined with the COM
pllcations on the Rio Grande frontier,
putting the new diplomatists skill 10 the
seNerest test for, still accredited 10 an
administration that no longer existed. he
had ouly an unofficial position in the
eyes 81 the new Presidents Foreign Min
ister. Again in 1873 when Mexico sus-
pected us 81 aggressive designs. Mr.
Fosters position became more than un-
PLEASANT. lie, llis family and suite were
publicly insulted al an official function.
but again tact and ability and a thor
ough knowledge 81 the situation enabled
linn 10 win TIE day. This account OF the
49,. r-fesFCp l. Df rrucor,rr,or, fr