The Washington herald., 1909-04-01
WASHINGTON CHAT.
Rr THE sPECTAToR.

appointed his successor will show the
English people two extremes Of life in
this republic
1t is safe TO say that whitelaw Reds
expenditures IN London ran into hundreds
Of thousands Of dollars a year. He kept
up palace in town. another in the coun-
try. and was one OF the most frequent
hosts In the court circle. President EIiors
yearly income will hardly amount 20 as
much as Mr.. Reid spent IN a month, and
yet those who have been entertained ar
The Eliot home in Cambridge need have
no fear for the prestige OF america while
he is ambassador at the Court Of St
James, and he viii set standard az sim
phcity and elegance that. no matter what
their wealth. 10 would De wise for his
countrymen 20 adopt. The prodigality Of
an American mulu-millionaire visiting OF
living in Europe gives the people of that
continent an entirely wrong impression
OF Americans and what our diplOmatists
should aim 10 bring about is 10 have their
country better understood by the people
20 whom they are accredited.
President Roosevelt-s administration
viii be noted for what was accomplished
in diplomatic affairs. and the work OF
The men he appointed 90 nm the impor-
tant posts win stand out IN history. as
viii the men themselves: for Il must be
admitted that the men President Roose-
welt chose 10 represent rs abroad were
out Of the ordinary. and whether by ac-
c.dent or through his intention. they were
al possessed ~ sufficient wealth and So
cial training % maintain their legations
ana embassies in a style equal 20 that set
by their colleagues
Mr. Ro0sevelts most important an
pointments were undoubtedly those OF Ar.
Reid and Mr.. Tower. but neither OF these
men could De cited as typical Americans:
they are rather citizens of the world
who order their lives by an international
standard Dr. Eliot. on tie contrary. all
though born in England is an American
. 70 the very core. the same sort -of an
American that Mrs. James Bryce Is an
Engisnman. citizen who knowing all
the best and worst IN other countries
all the best and worst in his own. IS yet
true 90 the latter. content to accept its
traditions and 20 abide by its standards.
II is charged by travelling Americans
and Americans resident on the other side
that some OF the multI-millionaire dIcIo-
mstists stationed az the various capitals
in Europe have sought 70 separate their
American friends from the people 10
whom they are accredited This is ex-
actly what they are sert there not 20 do.
An ambassador or a minister should be a
medium 10 make the country he repre-
se1ts and the country 10 which ne is ac-
credited better known 10 each other. This
James Russell Lowell did in England
Andrew .. White I'm Germany. Ellhu B.
Washburn In France-to go as far back
as The Franco -Prussiau war IN 1870. when
DE was American Minister there-a1d
James Bryce IS doins in America
Mr., Buchanan. former American Min
+ isJer 70 the Argentine Republic, and since
4 his six years OF service there special
ambassador on several important mis-
sions. has been more or less Uonlzed since
be has been In Washington. and with
/ good reason, for he has done more than
any one IN the last decade % srraighten
out the diplomats tsngle Of this gov
eminent. Last summer. when every
country that goes 20 make up Central
America seenfed 10 be boiling and seeth-
ing alid was IN a belligereat state against
every other country in the world it was
Mr.. Buchanan and Ambassador CreeI who
went on the United States cruiser Albany
on visits Of courtesy 70 the various az
& fccted governments. and gave them the
velvet hand Of friendship which covered
the steel hand Of power They were re-
ceived with an possible honOrs. and
when they left the visited countries fully
understood that this government would
/ brook no foolish uprisings
That Diplomatic mission finished TO the
/ satisfaction OF the state Department. Mr.
Buchanan was sent 10 Venezuela. where
I he was successful IN smoothing Out the
difference between this country and that
beniEhtcd land which. since the days %
Bolivar has been the quarry OF SO many
ambitious Adventures. He returns now
with that mission accomplished. and IS
enjoying to the full the honors and
/ homage. the dining and wining invariably
offered 20 the heroes in his profession;
( for somehow il seems the only way 10
show admiration for a diplomat is TO feast
him.
According TO a noted Venezuelan who
was in town not long since, the reason
why the affairs OF that country are IN
such a deplorable state is that most OF
I the young Venezuelans. who should take
an active part In politics, are narrow and
| insular. These youths scorn foreign edu-
cation. foreign travel and are impeuious
I to foreign influences. and remain faithful
10 the traditions Of their ancestors. fol-
( low their pursuits. and affect their amUse-
ments. and are immune TO the influence
o. the foreign women iH the families OF
members Of the diplomatic corps or the
merchant colony. They scorn 10 be classed
Z as Nankee-nnaniacs or French-Venezu-
eians and do nor lisp their "cs" as they
60 in Spain. but believe that South Amer
I ice Is for South Americans. and pin their
( faith 10 the girl who wears the mantilla
and hope the progress OF the North will
never blast the dolce far niente Of the
& South In a word. they dream their lives
away.
/ In this connection il should be remem-
\ bered that the United States was the
/ first country 10 send a diplomatic rep
resentative 20 Verezueia after il sep
arated from Colombia and set up an in
{ dependent government. aad we were rep
1 resented there continuously until recent
/ ly when diplomatic relations were disCon-
tinued. Some Of the American ministers
PLAYED a rather important part in the
history and development Of the country.
An American envoy was responsible for
I the building OF the railway from the
{ sea 10 Caracas. one Of the bOldest bits
! OF engineering in the world. and by FAR
7 the most important railroad Of the coun-
/ try. Another representative from the
7 United States was able 20 lend the then
( President vital assistance during re-
7 bellion. and. indeed, saved the govern
ment 10 which he was accredited. and
/ later on fl was Minister Scruggs who
was mainly responsible for the attitude