The Washington herald., 1914-06-25
HISTORY BUILDERS.
A Diplomat Without Charm Of Per
sonality.
D. DR. p. .. EDWARDs.

by DH- 4 =. DWAAD3.
One very hot afternoon late Ia the 70s
met Eugene Schuyler. He was seated
upon a bench in the lobby OF one Of the
large New York hotels. He had placed
his hat upon the seat beside him and
he was tanning himself with a newspa-
per. At that time Mr. Schuyler was con-
spicuousIy in the public eye because he
had, while consul general at Constants
nopIe. made a. report upon the Bulgarian
atrocities which had considerable part In
bringing on the war Of 1S77.
Mr.. Schuyler was not at all my ideal OF
q diplomat. at least OF an American Dip
lomat. had met a good many and had
never failed to find them chsracteristic-
ally American Some Of them were ut
in manner OF greeting.
Mr.. Schuyler. however. seemed to be q
man of very reserved habits Of mind. He
possessed and revealed the quality OF toe
iturnity which used TO be associated with
diplomacy, although II was a quality
which some accomplished diplomatists
knew how to conceal as Talleyrand did
by volubility.
II was almost impossible to persuade
Mr.. Schuyler to answer the questions
put to him. but I could not decide wheth-
er this was due TO q feeling OF indiffer-
ence toward the press or to . naturally
reserved disposition
Some years later learned that II was
due in part to this mannerism Of Mr..
Schuyler that he was compelled to with
draw for time from diplomatic service.
He seemed not to have the capacity to
make friends OF politicians. Yet he was
esteemed as valuable a diplomatic SER
want Of the lesser grade as the United
States possessed.
The late Robert H. Hit, who was very
successful in diplomacy. and who made
many friends while serving under James
G. Blaine as Assistant Secretary Of
State, enlarging that circle Of friends
when he afterward served as q member
of Congress from an Illinois district. told
me that II President Harrison could have
had his way Mr. Schuyler would have
been one of his QHitts) successors as
First Assistant Secretary Of State
President Harrison always had q
warm side for those who had achieved
greatly in literature. and in the higher
walks OF Journalism" said Mr.. Hit. Tt
was for this reason that he decided to
nominate Murat Halsted as Minister to
Germany and whitelaw Reid as Minis
ter to France. He also had an especial
fondness for the sons OF distinguished
Americans. and he felt that he would re-
ceive popular approval II he appointed
Col. Frederick D. Grant Minister 10 Aus
tris and Robert T. Lincoln Minister to
England.
President Harrison took a great fancy
TO Eugene Schuyler.
Il have been told that without consul
tation with anybody he decided to ap-
point Schuyler First Assistant Secretary
Of State. Opposition was encountered in
the Senate, especially among the friends
OF Mr.. Blaine. who was to be Secretary
Of State in Harrison's Cabinet. Probably
they thought that Blaine and Schuyler
would not be very congeniaL When the
President found that the Senate would
not confirm schuyler's appointment as
First Assistant Secretary Of State. he
made up his mind that he would find
something equally good for his friend. He
therefore nominated him as consul gen
eral TO Cairo, Egypt. and there wasn't
the slightest difficulty about persuading
the Senate to consent TO that appoint
/ ment
Some persons at Washington thought
that IL SchUyler's temperament had been
a little different he would have gained
much greater honor in diplomacy than
any that he did secure. successful
American diplomatist has got to be a
very tactful man"
sIyedl