The Washington herald., 1914-03-20
HISTORY BUILDERS.
A Popular Minister to the Court Of
St. James.
CWritten expressly for The Heraldl
BY DIR. z. >. EDWARDS.

St. James.
written expressly for The Herald,
By DIR. Z. =. EDWARDS.
tcopriEht. DiiI
I was chatting one day in the carly
part Of the administration of Chester A
Arthur with the late Daniel q. RolI,n,
who, II Arthur could have had hi. w.v
would have been Attorney General !,
the cabinet. succeeding WAYNE MAJ
Veagh. who retired from Garfield.s cab,-
net almost Immediately after the death
Of President Garfield.
Mr. Rollins was very able LAWYER
and perhaps as intimate a personal and
political friend as President Arthur had.
He was wise counsellor, upon WHOM,
the President relied when he was s..k-
ing advice.
Judge Rollins said to me that IL was
Gen Arthur's opinion that Prssid.,,
Grant always felt that IL he had r.
tained Reverdy johnson as minister -
the Court Of 81 James he would b,v.
been spared not only a great ANNOYANCE
which he shared with the Secretary of
State. Hamilton Fish, while John Io-
Of st. James. but, furthermore, the o--
ganization OF the Liberal Republican
party in 1877 would not have been
thought Of
Andrew johnson. when Presid.,,
nominated Reverdy johnson. then a san-
ator from Maryland. as the successor n,
Charles Francis Adams. who in Isss ra-
signed the post he had held from 1871 a.
minister to the Court Of St James" saId
Mr.. Rollins.
ReVerdy johnson was not in Great
Britain three months before he gained n
popularity unsurpassed by that securad
by any of his predecessors In that ofics
everybody in Great Britain, from the
prime minister down TO the plain citizen
conceived sudden and great fondness
Ior tne American minister. have heard
that that was in part due to the extra
ordinary physical resemblance, especiaIIv
In his features and the shape of his
mead. OF Reverdy johnson to the typicaI
highbred man. whether peer or COM
rnoner. OF Great Britain. He certainly
did look like a true Englishman.
AZ all events. Johnson's popularity
made II possible for him speedily TO nego-
tate draft Of treaty which has passed
into history as the Johnson-CIarendon
treaty Had this treaty been ratified by
our Senate the Alabama claims commits
sion would not have met. The misunder-
standing between the United States and
treat Britain. due to our claims for dam
ages on account OF the depredations OF
the Confederate privateers upon Ameri-
ran commerce would have been easily
adjusted had the treaty which Mr.. John
son prepared been ratified
But II was not ratified. There was
feeling that some Of the Senator. who
voted TO reject this treaty had conceived
Intense jealousy for Reverdy johnson
and. Furthermore. feared that. were the
treaty ratified. Mr.. Johnson's party
would get the glory
Gen Grant. who was in WASHINGTON
at the time. greatly admired the draft OF
the treaty. as prepared by johnson. and
after Grant was elected President the
purpose was to retain johnson as minis
ter to the Court of St James. But when
he became President he found party
pressure too strong to resist He was
told that it would not be good politics To
keep Reverdy Johnson in office as min
ster 10 the Court Of st. James. He.
therefore. reluctantly determined 10 make
| new appointment and. on the advice of
Hamilton Fish. then Secretary of State.
he named the historian, John Lothrop
Motley.
Il never knew what the real reason
vas which compelled President Grant
% recall Motley about a year later
lave heard that Secretary Fish found
Mr.. Motley insubordinate. or at least
unwilling to heed his requests that re-
iewed attempt he made to secure a new
reaty by which the Alabama claims
'ould be adjusted. The removal OF Mot
ey gave very great ofiense to infucn-
ial Republicans who were in public life.
md especially to Charles Sumner and
'arl Schurz. It paved the way for bring
ng together all Of those disgruntled or
iealistiC Republicans who organized. two
ears later, as the Liberal Republican
arty. with Horace Greeley as the candi-
ate for President.
President Grant always felt that IL
Severdy Johnson had been retained as
Minister he could have negotiated a new
reaty which would have been satisfac-
ory. and then all Of the unfortunate
which followed his recall
nd the appointment Of John Lothrop
iotIey as his successor would have been
vOided.''
Tomorrow: How a Great Maryland
.awyer Went Into Court"