Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-01-13
F0ILED.
A Historical Story of
Diplomacy.
By F. A. mitchell.
By F. A. mitchell.
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

In looking over some papers, yellow
with age, l came upon the following,
written by my grandfather. who In
his younger days was a newspaper
correspondent Of considerable celebri.
ty:
During the civil war l was sent to
France as correspondent for the
Washington -. The duties Of Eu-
ropean correspondent are very differ
ent from one in America. There 1t Is
the duty of the enterprising journalist
to secure an entree to the society OF
those who are making the history Of
their times, from whom alone he cal.
get the news.
There was one man in France to
whom the Emperor Napoleon III. was
more indebted for bolstering him on
his throne than any Of his imperial
majesty's official councillors. One even
ing at a ball at the Tuileries this man.
whom | shall call Count de v. ap-
preached me and entered into a con-
versation with me about my journal
istic work. was rather surprised
that he should take any interest In
such q matter, for no American cor
respondent was part OF the Euro
pean system, being usually employed
| to gather the news as it was publish
ed and transmit it to American news
papers.
Among other things Count de v.
asked me If | corresponded with any
| other than American papers. re-
piled that had a commission to send
news to an English paper whenever l
had anything special to send. where
upon he asked me to breakfast with
him the next morning. promising that
he would give me an item.
When l met the count the next
morning at breakfast | was not only
amazed at the item he gave me. but
ut his giving 1t. He told me that the
emperor had been striving to secure
another power to joil him In interfer-
| ing to stop the war in America: that
! he had been working secretly and per-
sistently upon the English govern
ment the people Of England being al
most wholly on the side OF the south
| owing largely to their dependence on
getting cotton from that section. "The
emperor" he added, us about to sue
ceed. and within sixty days COM
bined French and English feet will be
on the American Atlantic coast to
break the blockade"
Patriotic American that | was. my
blood chilled at this information: but.
| Immediately remembering that If the
/ news were true man so close to the
emperor would be guilty of betraylng
a trust to give 1t to me, ! said. 1T
would be impossible for ME to secure
the publication of this news In any
English paper without documentary
proof"
II can give you the proof" replied
the count, provided that proof re-
mains with you and dies with you
that it is kept secret till we are all
| dead"
"I am quite sure, count" l replied.
that If can say that am convinced
the paper will act upon my assurance
that I have been convinced"
Count de Y. arose. went to cabinet.
unlocked a drawer with key he took
from his vest pocket and brought out
a package of papers, which he laid be:
fore me. I perused them with ever
growing wonder and long before ! had
finished was convinced not only Of the
truth of his statement. but that within
sixty days the independence Of the
| Confederate states would be acknowl-
edged by France and England. l kept
rereading the papers In order to gain
time to think. / was perusing docu-
ments of which President Lincoln was
| ignorant and which constituted the
death warrant Of the Union cause.
| What should | do-what could l do
| to arrest such blow? Finally look
! ed at the count and s1id:
"Count, you are either the greatest
knave or the greatest fool on earth or
you have some especial purpose which
! will result benefcently to the EN-.
peror."
81 am no knave. How much of a
fool am depends upon your sense OF
honor. That | have q purpose will
not deny"
"You have gone so far that you
must go further. Tell me ALL
The count deliberated for some time.
rnd before he spoke his manner indi.
rated that he had resolved to tell the
whole story.
Every WELL" he said. Listen. The
throne is tottering. There are too
many factions striving to possess the
government to permit the emperor to
remain in peace upon 1t. He realizes
this and desires to concentrate the
minds of the people on some foreign
achievement for the benefit Of Franc p.
He purposes to take possession Of the
government of Mexico. which has BEEN
offered him by few malcontents
there. Before doing this he desires
| to break the United States into two
! parts, gaining at the same time the
! good will of one. BY bringing about
this Intervention he will establish the
Confederacy and gain the eternal
gratitude Of the southern people. His
Meyican scheme will then be Oh fur
stronger basis"
Tho count paused. and noticed that