New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-27

long and public service many OF course L.
been settled for all time. The tariff wa -
always with us. but the tiresOme old bo,,ns..
disputes are out of the way Not so the 49,
quate compensation Of our foreign minig,.-.
These people," he writes % President I,ck..-
from S. Petersburg. "are fond Of extravae,.-
and show. and have not the least taste ~, -
publican simplicity and economy In order 80.
"A minister may hold high place in tbei. -
Z, m he must be able % return their civui,o-
They Judge much by appearances. The ma.
Of this reciprocity will be attributed N 49,
meanness Of the minister OF that OF hls con-.
try, OF both" The maxim that % the ylct.-
belong the sDOils he proclaimed 10 be infauo.-
and detestable, but IL must be admitted that 49,
Indignation was most manifest when his oDro'
nents were busiiy engaged in removing Doc.
masters Of bis party. Another much moo,.s
question crops up in his diplomatic dav.--
namely that Of the dress % be- worn al conn,
functions. The simple dress Of an Americ,.
citizen" prescribed by his orders was not a.
ceptabIe 20 his hosts. and. moreover. was a.
actIy like that Of the upper court servants =.
that some distinguishing mark was sought A,
first United States buttons were thought or h.,
plain dress sword was considered % have :
more manly and less gaudy appearance. tn.
susceptibilities Of his cOuntrymen were apDeas.4
by the reflection that the sword was very nr.ir,
with black scabbard and black hut u ia IDfe--
esting 20 note the steps by which this fine ola
strict cOnstructiOnist persuaded himself of the
desirability Of annexing Cuba % the Cnitea
States. having first persuaded Spain D. sell ,ha
Pearl Of the Antilles for SlO0OaOOO0
Both in speech and letter there is a general
tone OF seriousness, the plain statement OF fact
the appeal 20 reason and Continuance Of a logi-
cal and consistent formula. Seldom is there
flight Of fancy in these pages. and extraordinary
as Mr.. Buchanan's memory is known To have
been. and wide as his reading undoubtedly was
the quoted line or the familiar allusOn is not
frequent incident. Plain common sense be
exhibited in great measure. and balance and
pCise and devotion 20 his conceptions Of duty
A good downright American he was. and no
amount Of fiattery or attention on the part q
foreigners could make his conduct al a foreign
post other than II would have been az h0ms
Economy and vigilance he preached and prac-
tised. and was constantly ON the alert % detect
signs Of that Capitalization which De believed
to be fraught with danger u the Republic. IN
lighter vein than ordinary is correspondencs
between Mr. Buchanan. who had just left the
State Department. and John NJ clayton, his sue
cessOr. Il have never" says Buchanan. "fet
the least Inclination ID ADlloW your v"u pltce-
dent and tell you to go to the devil Although
YOU have played me a shabby trick yet I sin
cereIy desire that you should serve your eOun.
try with honor TO yourself in the Department
Of state. and lead a long and prosperous life in
this world before the old gentleman shall OBJ
tain his due" IF go TO the devil" retorts Clay
ton, good humOredly, 1t will be because an
here daily engaged in covering and defending all
vour outrageous acts" These little amenities 60
a great way toward sOftening the acerbities Of
political opponents.
The testamentary disposition Of Mrs. John
ston Harriet Lane made possible this truly
splendid monument 10 her uncle. and Il
pleasant 10 reflect that a lifelong devotion such
as his to his niece has been 50 finely appreG'
ated and recognized.