The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-26

into discussion with tho CANVASS.
winch degencrated into a tull. decged
HBht between the two.
Inc ambassador went to the assis-
lance Oh tbs cavass. and struck the
cabman over the head with MS cane,
"hereupon the fellow turned upon him.
ana was only kept at arms length, by
me ambassador drawing his court
sword Ihe cayass also drew tho
sc!EiitaT with which he was armed, and
the situation was becoming serious.
owing 10 the threatening attitude Of
Inc crowd, which sided with tho cab
man, lavishing abuse and insulting
eplthets upon the ambassador and am
bassadress, when fortunately some army
o!aceFs happened upon the scene. COM
ING TO the rescue OF the Mayor dea
fIdnches, secured another cab for them
and escorted them out OF Tho crowd
had such an indiynity been placed
upon BaFon Mar5chall Won Bieberstein,
ihe haisers huge and burly embas-
sador, upon the English. Austrian or
ffehen envoy. something very much
akin TO an u!timatum would have i'm
'neu!dtely followed. and falling to re-
celVe fuil satisfaction. the AMBASSADOR
would nave at once left CONSTANT
nope. But Mayor des Planches, APP
preciating probably the fact that his
CASTOR TO shelve him. II he withdrew
from Constaniinople. remained on, and
not only rallied to secure the punish
ment OF the hacknan and OF the three
attempt 70 protect the ambassador and
a!hbassadress. encouraging the mob by
their indifference, but actually found
himself unable TO obtain such apologies
ana redress as would have been offered
by the Sublime Porte to any of his
colleagues.
The fact that he had reen thus sub
jected to public indignity, without oh
tanning satisfaction, resulted in ir-
reparable injury 10 his prestige, in
native official circles. and among the
popalation OF the Ottoman metropolis
deprived his utterances and written
communications about other matters OF
the weight which they would but for
that nave possessed. and generally i'm
paitea ms usefulness as ambassador
II is always q mistake for an envoy
TO become involved In a stree, broii.
such as that which served to inaueu-
rate Baron Mayor des Planches's term
OF once at Constantinople. especially
II II results IN his being subjected 10
insult and ind!gnity. For by reason OF
his rank, the indignities. such as they
are. are suffered not only By himself
but by The nation. the government. and
above all by the sovereign whom he
personally represents.
But what was absolutely fatal TO
me barons reputation as veteran
diplomat was that he should have con-
sented 10 remain on at Stamboul al
ter having failed TO secure the fullest
KIND CT satisfaction and redress from
the Porte. Even II his government had
taken advantage OF the affair to
shelve him, he would have retired with
uhlmpaired prestige. causing his coun-
tTynen TO feel that they owed him
some reparation: whereas, now, he
retires In such q fashion that 1t is very
unlikely that he Will ever be employed
again; condemned as 4 distinct failure
at Consiantinople. with all his splendid
services as ambassador in the United
states completely forgotten.
Fortunately he is not dependent upon
his retired pay. which is very small.
having indeed abundant means. This
renders 1t all the more surprising that
he should have hung on at CONSTANT
nople after the street row there last
autumn. In fact. the course which he
adopted can only be ascribed to q fear
that. once out of office, his public
career would be at an end, and that he
Is hlled with ambition having been, in
deed. mentioned on several occasions
as a candidate for the post OF Minister
OF Foreign Affairs. The best that he
can now hope Is to receive. like Baron
fava, his predecessor at Washington,
seat in the Senate. But this is Inn
probable in the extreme. as long as
Giolitti or any member OF the present
administrati ton has the slightest voice
IN the conduct of affairs.
Copyright, 1911. by the Brentwood
Company