Year: 1870


Of tho Press.


The conversation Of our Washington corre-


spondent with distinguished foreign Minister,
the representative Of an imperial government,
on the power of the press and public opinion


and the dying out Of red-tapc diplomacy, as pub


lished in our columns on Friday last, shows


what revolution is going ON in the ideas of


the diplomats of monarchical Europe, even on
the subject of making state matters known to
the people. This foreign Minister had read
| the letter OF the HEIALD's Vienna correspOn-
dent, giving an account of the interview with
Won Beust, the Austrian Premier, and he


found it extremely interesting" He was, In
fact, 'squite surprised to hear of the Count
speaking SO unreservedly to newspaper cor


respondent" and he considered it svory


remarkable" and recognition of the power


and influence of the modern PRESS" paying at
the same time compliment to this paper as
the leading journal of this great country. But
surprised as he was at the frankness of Count
Won Beust in thus communicating his views on


great public questions, the Minister seemed to


be pleased with it, and, by way Of comment,
did not hesitate to say that he thought ''the
days Of old-fashioned diplomacy were passing
away, and that higher and more honest kind
is coming in vogue" 81 believe, he added,


''that the true diplomacy is the diplomacy of


public opinion. The press represents and re-


dects that opinion, and the press should be


respected"


The statesmen of monarchical Europe and


the foreign representatives here, with all the


crust of ages of exclusiveness hanging about


them, are more liberal, have broader views of


the rights and powers Of the people, and are
more progressive than our own public func-
tonaries at Washington. The exclusiveness,


red-tape formality and assumption Of the State


Department, for example, would suit an old
despotic monarchy that has not yet felt the in
fluence Of the age better than the American
republic. Indeed that musty institution,
under the weak and formal man who is now
Secretary. Is altogether un- American. s'Clothed


with little brief authority" Mr.. Fish has pre-


sumed to defy public opinion, has attempted


to mislead the public on o subject Of great


national interest, and has ventured to refuse
information to the people and their representa-
tiyes in Congress. We refer to his course par
ticularly on the Cuban question, though his


conduct generally has been more like that of
an autocrat than of the servant Of q free peo-


pie. There is no necessity for secrecy-for


scheming and plotting-in the State Depart


ment, and there ought to be none. 1t is an
outrage upon the American people and mimi
cal to our institutions. Let us have everything
open as the day--no concealments, no diplo-


matte subterfuges. This great republic can
and should declare frankly to all the world
what is its policy and what it will do. Besides,


nothing should be done that public opinion
does not approve under our popular form Of
| government. The Secretary of State and
other public functionaries at Washington may
learn valuable lesson from the conduct of
such European statesmen as Count Beust
| and Count Bismarck, and from such foreign
representatives as the one we have referred to,
! who believes that the old-fashioned diplomacy
| is passing away and that the true diplomacy is
I that Of public opinion.