Year: 1869




At the present moment there are three mis-
sions within the gift of the government which
will require very especial talent to fill in such
a manner that their selected occupants will do
honor to themselves and to the people whom
they represent. These are the missions to
Spain, Mexico and Brazil. The first will re-
quire a man thoroughly competent to deal
with the very delicate questions which are
about to arise between US and Spain with re-
ference to the Cuban question. He should be
well versed in the history Of the Spanish penin-
sula, and, above all, should speak the Ian
guage of the country There is no diplomatic
position in the world requiring to-day SO
much clear brain, quiet and determined poise
of mind, far-reaching management and gen.
tlemanly department as the Spanish mission.
Spaniard or Spanish American will, in a di-
plomatic contest generally outgeneral the
diplomats of any other people, if, perhaps, we
except the Portuguese and Brazilians. Spain
to-day hangs delicately between republican
and monarchical form of government She
is keenly sensitive to the sympathy which
our press, our people and our govern
ment have shown to the patriotic revo-
luton now going on in Cuba. In view OF these
facts the man who represents US at that polite
court may very readily make fool OF himself,
as most of our representatives do in Spain and
Spanish America, even under ordinary circum-
stances At Madrid we have had for long
time past . petty quarrel between Minister and
Secretary for the ediacation of those Euro
peans who stoop sufficiently low to take notice
Of the ordinary representatives who, as
mass, disgrace US in foreign countries. Let it
be remembered that even the first Bonaparte,
in both military and diplomatic campaign,
was whipped out of Spain, and that the present
one has met with as little success in handling
Spanish affairs as his uncle. Even that mon
grel Mexican race, with one-eighth mixture OF
bad Spanish to seven eighths Indian blood,
out-diplomatized the French generals at the
very start, as witness the treaty of La Soledad
at the moment of the French invasion Of
Mexico. 1t appears, therefore, of no light
moment that the selection for the Spanish post
should be very carefully made.


If Spain requires brains and solid ability, SO
does Mexico Here we find nation suffering
from revolutionary dry rot that is incurable
from any application that the patient possesses
or has the power to apply. Our Minister to that
unfortunate country win be obliged to act as
surgeon, who win simply be required to take
his diplomatic scalpel and Immediately lop of
the healthy limbs and leave the balance to be
dealt with little later by the military colo
nial system we propose to establish in all the
thickly settled Spanish American territory
from Panama north. 1t will, therefore, be
seen what strong, firm, ministerial hand We
require for the operation. It has to be repre-
sented to Mexico that she stands in our way,
in the way of the civilized world, and that
nothing but very radical change, which can
scarcely come from any internal force, viii
save her as separate nationality. Americans
and American interests have to be as rigidly
and carefully protected there as England pro-
tects Englishmen and English interests in all
parts of the world. England never spent four
millions sterling to greater advantage than In
her Abyssinian expedition. 1t has already
returned to her hundredfold in the protection
it has afforded to her citizens and their in
terests wherever she floats her flag. We
should profit by the lesson and give similar
ones in certain directions.


There is another country with an area but
little inferior to our own, and o population
one-third that Of the United States, which de-
serves greater diplomatic and commercial at
tention than we have heretofore extended TO
it, and that is Brazil. II represents the monar-
chical as opposed to the republican interests
of the southern half Of this Continent. 1t is,
from its geographical position, the dominant
South American Power; for, in its control of
the Amazon valley-twice the size of the Mis-
sssippi valley-and in its aims to dominate
the Plata basin, 1t will be seen that the whole
Atlantic front of South America is under i'm
perial hands. The Pacific front Is but mar
son to the broad Atlantic slope, and will in
the future play but minor role to what the
two great valleys of the world-the Amazon
and Plata-are destined to play. Our govern
ment should appreciate what we here present,
and send to that country a representative who
thoroughly understands the whole South
American people; who has travelled and
lived among them; knows their political
hopes and commercial wants, and who Is
familiar with their language. No man should
be sent simply for the political work he may
have done. Our interests in South America
have long gone to ruin under the old method
Of making appointments.


We have here presented few Of our thoughts
with reference to Spain, Mexico and Brazil
but in part they apply to almost every coun-
try with which we hold diplomatic relations.
Heretofore in foreign country, and espe-
cially on this Continent, the instances have
been rare where an American gentleman,
travelling would disgrace himself by calling