Moreover,thenationhadjustescapedaterriblecatastropheatthelastgeneralelection;theignorant,careless,andperversevotehavinggonealmostsolidlyforafinancialpolicywhichwouldhavewreckedustemporarilyanddisgraceduseternally。
Timewill,nodoubt,developamoreconservativesentimentintheStateswherethisvoteforevilwascast;ascivilizationdeepensandadvances,betterideaswilldoubtlessgrowstronger;butitissurethattheadditionofCubatotheUnitedStates,ifitevercomes,meanstheaddingofavastilliteratemassofvoterstothosewhoatthatelectionshowedthemselvessodangerous。
OnalltheseaccountsIhadfeltveryanxioustoputoffthewholeCubanquestionuntilourRepublicshouldbecomesomuchlargerandsomuchmorematurethattheadditionofafewmillionsofSpanish—Americanswouldbeofbutsmallaccountinthetotalvoteofthecountry。
Then,too,IhadlittlesympathywithaspirationsforwhatSpanishrevolutionistscallfreedom,andnoadmirationatallforCentralAmericanrepublics。Ihadofficiallyexaminedoneofthemthoroughly,hadknownmuchofothers,andhadnobeliefinthecapacityofpeopleforcitizenshipwhoprefertocarryongovernmentbypronunciamtentos,whoneveracknowledgetherightsofmajorities,whoarereadytostartcivilwarontheslightestpretext,andwho,wheninpower,exerciseadespotismmorepersistentandcruelthananysinceNeroandCaligula。NoRussianautocrat,claimingtogovernbydivineright,haseverdaredtocommitthehigh—handedcrueltieswhicharecommoninsundryWestIndianandequatorialrepublics。Ifeltthatthegreatthingwastogaintimebeforedoinganythingwhichmightresultintheadmissionofthemillionstrainedundersuchinfluencesintoalltherights,privileges,andpowersofAmericancitizenship。
ButtherecamethedestructionoftheMaineintheharborofHavana,andthenceforwardwarwascertain。ThenewswasbroughttomeatagalarepresentationoftheoperaatBerlin,when,oninvitationfromtheEmperor,theambassadorswereoccupyingalargeboxoppositehisown。HardlyhadthetelegramannouncingthecatastrophebeenplacedinmyhandswhentheEmperorentered,andonhisaddressingmeIinformedhimofit。Hewasevidentlyshocked,andexpressedaregretwhich,Ifullybelieve,wasdeeplysincere。Heinstantlyasked,withapiercinglook,"Wastheexplosionfromtheoutside?"MyanswerwasthatIhopedandbelievedthatitwasnot;thatitwasprobablyaninteriorexplosion。Tomygreatregret,theofficialreportafterwardobligedmetochangemymindonthesubject;butIstillfeelthatnoSpanishofficerortrueSpaniardwasconcernedinthematter。IthasbeenmygoodfortunetoknowmanySpanishofficers,anditisimpossibleformetoconceiveoneoftheirkindashavingtakenpartinsofrightfulapieceoftreachery;
ithasalwaysseemedtobemorelikelythatitwasdonebyapartyofwildlocalfanatics,therefuseofaWestIndianseaport。
TheEmperorremainedfirminhisfirstimpressionthattheexplosionwascausedfromtheoutside。Evenbeforethiswasestablishedbytheofficialinvestigation,hehadsettledintothatconclusion。Ononeoccasion,whenalargenumberofleadingofficersoftheNorthSeaSquadronwerediningwithhim,heaskedtheiropiniononthissubject,andalthoughthegreatmajority——indeed,almostallpresent——thenbelievedthatthecatastrophehadresultedfromaninteriorexplosion,headheredtohisbeliefthatitwasfromanexteriorattack。
OnvariousoccasionsbeforethattimeIhadmetmycolleaguetheSpanishambassador,SenorMendezyVigo,andmyrelationswithhimhadbeenexceedinglypleasant。Eachofushadtriedtokeepupthehopesoftheotherthatpeacemightbepreserved,anddowntothelastmomentItookgreatpainstoconvincehimofwhatI
knewtobethetruth——thatthepolicyofPresidentMcKinleywastopreventwar。ButItooknolesspainstoshowhimthatSpainmustaidthePresidentbyconcessionstopublicopinion。Mypersonalsympathies,too,werearousedinbehalfofmycolleague。
Hehadpassedtheallottedthreescoreyearsandten,wasevidentlyininfirmhealth,hadfivesonsintheSpanisharmy,andhisson—in—lawhadrecentlybeenappointedministeratWashington。
Noticeofthedeclarationofwarcametomeundercircumstancessomewhatembarrassing。Onthe21stofApril,1898,beganthefestivitiesatDresdenontheseventiethbirthdayofKingAlbertofSaxony,whichwasalsothetwenty—fifthanniversaryofhisaccession;andinviewofthehighcharacteroftheKingandoftheaffectionforhimthroughoutGermany,and,indeed,throughoutEurope,nearlyeverycivilizedpowerhadsentitsrepresentativestopresentitscongratulations。InthesetheUnitedStatesjoined。ThroughoutourcountryarelargenumbersofSaxons,who,whilethoroughlyloyaltoourRepublic,cherishakindlyandevenaffectionatefeelingtowardtheirformerKingandQueen。
Moreover,therewasaspecialreason。FormanyyearsDresdenhadbeenacenterinwhichverymanyAmericanfamiliescongregatedforthepurposeofeducatingtheirchildren,especiallyintheGermanlanguageandliterature,inmusic,andinthefinearts;
nocourtinEuropehadbeensocourteoustoAmericansproperlyintroduced,andinvariouswaysthesovereignshadpersonallyshowntheirgoodfeelingtowardourcountrymen。
ItwasinviewofthisthattheSecretaryofStateinstructedmetopresentanautographletterofcongratulationfromthePresidenttotheKing,andonthe20thofAprilIproceededtoDresden,withtheembassysecretariesandattaches,forthispurpose。Aboutmidnightbetweenthe20thand21sttherecamealoudandpersistentknockingatmydoorinthehotel,andtheresoonenteredatelegraphmessengerwithanenormouslylongdespatchincipher。HardlyhadIsetthesecretariesatworkuponitthanothertelegramsbegantocome,andalargepartofthenightwasgiventodecipheringthem。Theyannouncedthedeclarationofwarandinstructedmetoconveytothevariouspartiesinterestedtheusualnoticesregardingwarmeasures:
blockade,prohibitions,exemptions,regulations,andthelike。
Ateleveno’clockthenextmorning,courtcarriageshavingtakenusovertothepalace,weweregoingupthegrandstaircaseinfullforcewhenwhoshouldappearatthetop,onhiswaydown,buttheSpanishambassadorwithhissuite!Bothofuswere,ofcourse,embarrassed。Nodoubthefelt,asIdid,thatitwouldhavebeenmoreagreeablejustthentomeettherepresentativeofanyotherpowerthanofthatwithwhichwarhadjustbeendeclared;butIputoutmyhandandaddressedhim,ifnotsocordiallyasusual,atleastinakindlyway;hereciprocatedthegreeting,andourembarrassmentwasatleastlessened。Ofcourse,duringthecontinuationofthewar,ourrelationslackedtheirformercordiality,butweremainedpersonallyfriendly。
InmybriefspeechondeliveringPresidentMcKinley’sletterI
tenderedtotheKingandQueenthePresident’scongratulations,withthanksforthecourtesieswhichhadbeenshowntomycountrymen。ThiswasnotthefirstoccasiononwhichIhaddischargedthislatterduty,for,ataformalpresentationtothesesovereignssometimebefore,Ihadtakenpainstoshowthatwewerenotunmindfuloftheirkindnesstoourcompatriots。Thefestivitieswhichfollowedwereinteresting。Thereweredinnerswithhighstateofficials,galaopera,andhistoricalrepresentations,givenbythecityofDresden,ofaverybeautifulcharacter。OntheseoccasionsImetvariouseminentpersonages,amongotherstheEmperorofAustriaandhisprimeminister,CountGoluchowsky,bothofwhomdiscussedcurrentinternationaltopicswithclearnessandforce;andIalsohadratheraninterestingconversationwiththepapalnuncioatMunich,morerecentlyinParis,Lorenzelli,withreferencetovariousmeasureslookingtothepossibleabridgmentofthewar。
Onthethirddayofthefestivitiescameagreatreview,andasightsomewhatrare。TogreettheKingtherewerepresenttheEmperorofGermany,theEmperorofAustria,andvariousminorGermansovereigns,eachofwhomhadintheSaxonarmyaregimentnominallyhisown,andleditpasttheSaxonmonarch,salutinghimashereviewedit。ThetwoEmperorscertainlydischargedthisdutyinaveryhandsome,chivalricsortofway。Intheeveningcameagreatdinneratthepalace,atwhichtheKingandQueenpresided。TheonlyspeechontheoccasionwasoneofcongratulationmadebytheEmperorofAustria,anditwasverycreditabletohim,beingtoallappearanceextemporaneous,yetwellworded,quiet,dignified,andmanly。TheceremoniesclosedonSundaywithagrand"TeDeum"atthepalacechurch,inthepresenceofallthemajesties,——thejoyexpressedbythemusicbeingdulyaccentuatedbycannonoutside。
Imaysay,beforeclosingthissubject,thatThomasJefferson’sfamouslettertoGovernorLangdon,describingroyalpersonagesasheknewthemwhileministertoFrancebeforetheFrenchRevolution,nolongerapplies。TheeventswhichfollowedtheRevolutiontaughtthecrownedheadsofEuropethattheycouldnolongerindulgeinthegoodoldBourbon,Hapsburg,andBraganzaidlenessandstupidity。ModernEuropeansovereigns,almostwithoutexception,workfortheirliving,andworkhard。Fewbusinessmengothroughamoreseveretraining,oralongerandharderdayofsteadywork,thandomostofthecontemporarysovereignsofEurope。Thisfactespeciallystruckmeonmypresentation,aboutthistime,tooneofthebestoftheminormonarchs,theKingofWurtemberg。Ifoundhimahearty,strong,active—mindedman——thesortofmanwhomweinAmericawouldcall"level—headed"and"aworker。"LearningthatIhadoncepassedawinterinStuttgart,hedetainedmelongwithamostinterestingaccountoftheimprovementswhichhadbeenmadeinthecitysincemyvisit,andshowedpublicspiritofasortverydifferentfromthatwhichanimatedtheminorpotentatesofGermanyinthelastcentury。ThesamemaybesaidoftheGrandDukeofBaden,who,inalongconversation,impressedmeasagentlemanoflargeandjustviews,understandingtheproblemsofhistimeandthoroughlyinsympathywiththebestmenandmovements。
RepublicanasIam,thisacknowledgmentmustbemade。Thehistoricallessonsoftheeighteenthandnineteenthcenturies,andthepressureofdemocracy,areobligingthemonarchsofEuropetofitthemselvesfortheirdutieswiselyandtodischargethemintelligently。Butthisistrueonlyofcertainrulinghouses。Thereseemstobea"survivalofthefittest。"AtvariousperiodsinmylifeIhavealsohadoccasiontoobservewithsomecarevariouspretenderstoEuropeanthrones,amongthemthehusbandofQueenIsabellaofSpain;PrinceNapoleonVictor,theheirtotheNapoleonicthrone;theDukeofOrleans;DonCarlos,therepresentativeoftheSpanishBourbons;withsundryothers;
anditwouldbehardtoconceivepersonsmoreutterlyunfitorfutile。
AstotheconductofGermanyduringourwarwithSpain,whilethepress,withtwoorthreeexceptions,wasanythingbutfriendly,andwhilealargemajorityofthepeoplewerehostiletousonaccountofthenaturalsympathywithasmallpowerbattlingagainstalargerone,thecourseoftheImperialGovernment,especiallyoftheForeignOfficeunderCountvonBulowandBaronvonRichthofen,wasallthatcouldbedesired。Indeed,theywentsofarononeoccasionasalmosttoalarmus。TheAmericanconsulatHamburghavingnotifiedmebytelephonethataSpanishvessel,supposedtobeloadedwitharmsforuseagainstusinCuba,wasabouttoleavethatport,IhastenedtotheForeignOfficeandurgedthatvigorousstepsbetaken,withtheresultthatthevessel,whichinthemeantimehadleftHamburg,wasoverhauledandsearchedatthemouthoftheElbe。TheGermanGovernmentmighteasilyhavepleaded,inanswertomyrequest,thattheAmericanGovernmenthadgenerallyshownitselfopposedtoanysuchinterferencewiththeshipmentsofsmallarmstobelligerents,andhadcontendedthatitwasnotobligedtosearchvesselstofindsuchcontrabandofwar,butthatthisdutywasincumbentuponthebelligerentnationconcerned。ThisevidenceofthefairnessofGermanyItookpainstomakeknown,andinmyaddressattheAmericancelebrationinLeipsicontheFourthofJulydeclaredmybeliefthatthehostilityoftheGermanpeopleandpressatlargewasonlytemporary,andthattheoldgoodrelationswouldberestored。KnowingthatmyspeechwouldbewidelyquotedintheGermanpress,ItookevenmorepainstoshowthereasonswhywecouldbideourtimeandtrusttothemagnanimityoftheGermanpeople。OfonethingIthenandalwaysremindedmyhearers——namely,thatduringourCivilWar,whenournationalexistencewastremblinginthebalanceandourforeignfriendswerefew,theGermanpressandpeopleweresteadilyonourside。
Theoccasionwasindeedapeculiarone。OnthemorningoftheFourth,whenwehadallassembled,badnewscame。CertainGermanpresseshadbeenveryprompttopatchtogetherallsortsofaccountsofAmericandefeats,andtopresenttheminthemostunpleasantwaypossible;butwhilewewereseatedattableintheeveningcameadespatchannouncingtheannihilationoftheSpanishfleetinCubanwaters,andthisputusallingoodhumor。
OnecircumstancemayservetoshowthebitternessatheartamongAmericansatthisperiod。Onenteringthedining—hallwithourconsul,Inoticedtwothings:first,thatthehallwasprofuselydecoratedinawayIhadneverseenbeforeandhadneverexpectedtosee——namely,byintertwinedAmericanandBritishflags;and,secondly,thattherewasnotaGermanflagintheroom。I
immediatelysentfortheproprietorandtoldhimthatIwouldnotsitdowntodinneruntilaGermanflagwasbroughtin。Heatfirstthoughtitimpossibletosupplythewant,but,onmyinsisting,alargeflagwasatlastfound。Thiswasspeedilygivenaplaceofhonoramongtheinteriordecorationsofourhall,andallthenwentonsatisfactorily。
AsthewarwithSpainprogressed,variouscausesofdifficultyarosebetweenGermanyandtheUnitedStates,butIfeelboundtosaythattheGermanGovernmentcontinuedtoacttowarduswithjustice。Thesensationalpress,indeed,continueditsworkonbothsidesoftheAtlantic。OnoursideittookpainstosecureandpublishstoriesofinsultsbytheGermanAdmiralDiederichstotheAmericanAdmiralDewey,andtodevelopvariouslegendsregardingthesetwocommanders。Asamatteroffact,eachofthetwoadmirals,whentheirrelationsfirstbeganinManila,wasdoubtlessratherstiffandonhisguardagainsttheother;butthesefeelingssoonyieldedtodifferentsentiments。
Thefoolishutterancesofvariousindividuals,spreadbysundryAmericanpapers,wereheartilyechoedintheGermanpress,themostnotedamongthesebeinganallegedafter—dinnerspeechbyanAmericanofficerataNewYorkclub,andaCongressionalspeechinwhichthepersonwhomadeitdeclaredthat"theUnitedStates,havingwhippedSpain,oughtnowtowhipGermany。"Still,thethinkingmenintrustedwiththerelationsbetweenthetwocountrieslaboredon,thoughattimestheremusthaverecurredtousasenseofthedivineinspirationofSchiller’swords,"Againststupidityeventhegodsfightinvain。"
OfcoursethetaskoftheembassyinprotectingAmericancitizensabroadwasespeciallyincreasedinthosetimesofcommotion。AtsuchperiodsthenumberofwaysinwhichAmericancitizens,nativeornaturalized,cangetintotroubleseemsinfinite;andhere,too,evenfromthefirstmomentofmyarrivalinBerlinasambassador,IsawevidencesofthesameevilwhichhadstruckmeduringmypreviousmissionsinBerlinandSt。Petersburg——namely,theconstantandingeniouseffortstoprostituteAmericancitizenship。Amongthemanifolddutiesofanambassadoristhegrantingofpassports。Thegreatmajorityofthosewhoaskforthemareentitledtothem;buttherearealwaysaconsiderablenumberofpersonswho,havingleftEuropejustintimetoescapemilitaryservice,havestayedinAmericajustlongenoughtoacquireAmericancitizenship,andthen,havingreturnedtotheirnativecountry,seektoenjoytheadvantagesofbothcountrieswhiledischargingthedutiesofneither。Evenworsewerethecasesofthedescendantsofsuchso—calledAmericans,mostofthemborninEuropeandnotableeventospeaktheEnglishlanguage;worstofallwerethecasesofsundryRussians——sometimesstigmatizedas"predatoryHebrews"——who,havingleftRussiaandgonetoAmerica,hadstayedjustlongenoughtoacquirecitizenship,andthenreturnedandsettledintheeasternpartofGermany,asneartheRussianfrontieraspossible。ThesewerenaturallyregardedasfraudulentinterlopersbyboththeGermanandRussianauthorities,andmuchtroubleresulted。Someofthemledalifehardlyoutsidethelimitsofcriminality;buttheyneverhesitatedonthisaccounttoinsistontheirclaimstoAmericanprotection。WhentheywereremindedthatAmericancitizenshipwasconferreduponthem,notthattheymightshirkitsdutiesandmisuseitsadvantagesinthelandoftheirbirth,butthattheymightenjoyitanddischargeitsdutiesinthelandoftheiradoption,theyscoutedtheideaandinsistedontheirright,asAmericancitizens,tolivewheretheypleased。Theircommunicationstotheembassywere,almostwithoutexception,inGerman,Russian,orPolish;veryfewofthemwroteorevenspokeEnglish,andverymanyofthemcouldneitherreadnorwriteinanylanguage。Forthehard—workingimmigrant,whetherJeworGentile,whocomestoourcountryandcastsinhislotwithus,totakehissharenotonlyofprivilegebutofduty,Ihavethefullestrespectandsympathy,andhavealwaysbeengladtointerveneinhisfavor;butinterventioninbehalfofthosefraudulentpretendersIalwaysfelttobeagallingburden。
FortunatelytherulesoftheStateDepartmenthavebeenoflateyearsstrengthenedtomeetthisevil,andithasfinallybecomeourpracticetoinformsuchpeoplethatiftheyreturntoAmericatheycanreceiveapassportforthatpurpose;butthatunlesstheyshowaclearintentionofreturning,theycannot。Verymanyofthempersistintheirapplicationsinspiteofthis,andonecasebecamefamousbothattheStateDepartmentandattheembassy。ThreeRussiansoftheclassreferredtohademigratedwiththeirfamiliestoAmerica,and,aftertheusualmanner,stayedjustlongenoughtoacquirecitizenship,andhadthenreturnedtoGermany。Oneofthemcommittedacrimeanddisappeared;theothertwowenttotheextremeeasternfrontierofPrussiaandsettledthere。AgainandagainthePrussianGovernmentnotifiedusthatundertherightexercisedbyeverynation,andespeciallybyourown,these"undesirableintruders"
mustleavePrussianterritoryorbeexpelled。FinallywediscoveredattheembassythatasecretarrangementhadbeenmadebetweenGermanyandRussiawhichobligedeachtoreturntheundesirableemigrantsoftheother。ThisseemedtoputthetwofamiliesingreatdangerofbeingreturnedtoRussia;and,soonerthanriskanewinternationaltrouble,aproposalwasmadetothem,throughtheembassy,topaytheirexpensesbacktoAmerica;
buttheyutterlyrefusedtoleave,andcontinuedtoburrowinthewretchedsuburbsofoneoftheGermancitiesnearesttheRussianborder。Reamsofcorrespondenceensued——alltonopurpose;aspecialmessengerwassenttoinfluencethem——allinvain:theypersistedinlivingjustasnearRussiaaspossible,andincallingthemselvesAmerican,thoughnotoneofthemspokeEnglish。
FromtimetotimeappearedinourowncountryattacksagainstthevariousAmericanembassiesandlegationsabroadfornotprotectingsuchAmericancitizens,andaverycommonfeatureofthesearticleswasanunfavorablecomparisonbetweentheUnitedStatesandEngland:itbeingclaimedthatGreatBritainprotectshercitizenseverywhere,whiletheUnitedStatesdoesnot。Thisstatementismostmisleading。GreatBritain,whilesheisrenownedforprotectinghersubjectsthroughouttheworld,——bringingtheresourcesofherfleet,ifneedbe,toaidthem,——makesanexceptionasregardsheradoptedcitizensinthelandoftheirbirth。Thepersonwho,havingbeennaturalizedinGreatBritain,goesbacktothecountryofhisbirth,doessoathisorherownrisk。TheBritishGovernmentconsidersitself,undersuchcircumstances,entirelyabsolvedfromthedutyofgivingprotection。ThesimplefactisthattheUnitedStatesgoesmuchfurtherinprotectingadoptedcitizensthandoesanyothercountry,anditisonlyrankdemagogismwhichcanfindfaultbecausesomeofourthinkingstatesmendonotwishtoseeAmericancitizenshipprostitutedbypersonsutterlyunfittoreceiveit,whofrequentlyuseitfraudulently,andwho,asmanycasesprove,arequitereadytorenounceitandtakeuptheiroldallegianceiftheycangainadvantagethereby。
Anothergeneraldutyoftheembassywastosmooththewayforthelargenumberofyoungmenandwomenwhocameoverasstudents。
Thisdutywasespeciallypleasingtomenow,asithadbeenduringmylifeasministerinBerlintwentyyearsbefore。Atthattimewomenwerenotadmittedtotheuniversities;butnowlargenumberswereinattendance。Theuniversityauthoritiesshowedthemselvesverycourteous,and,whentherewasanydoubtastothestandingoftheinstitutionfromwhichacandidateforadmissioncame,allowedmetopassuponthequestionandacceptedmycertificate。Almostwithoutexception,Ifoundthesecandidatesexcellent;butthereweresomeexceptions。Theapplicantswereusuallypersonswhohadbeengraduatedfromsomeoneofourowninstitutions;but,fromtimetotime,personswhohadmerelypassedafreshmanyearinsomelittleAmericancollegecameabroad,anxioustosecurethegloryofgoingatonceintoaGermanuniversity。CertificatesforsuchcandidatesIdeclinedtosign。TodosowouldhavebeenanabusesuretoleadtheGermanauthoritiesfinallytorejectthegreatmassofAmericanstudents:farbetterforapplicantstosecurethebestadvantagespossibleintheirowncountry,andthentosupplementtheirstudyathomebyproperworkabroad。
InsketchesofmyformermissiontoBerlinIhavementionedvariousapplications,someofthempsychologicalcuriosities;
theseIfoundcontinuing,thoughwithvariations。SomecompatriotsexpectedmetoforwardtotheEmperorbeggingletters,orletterssuggestingtohimnewideas,unawarethatmyriadsofsuchlettersareconstantlysentwhichneverreachhim,andwhichevenhissecretariesneverthinkofreading。
Otherssentbooks,notknowingtheruleprevailingamongcrownedheads,nevertoacceptaPUBLISHEDbook,andnotrealizingthatifthisrulewerebroken,notonebookinathousandwouldgetbeyondtheofficeofhisgeneralsecretary。Otherssentmedicinewhichtheywishedhimtorecommend;andonegentlemanwasverypersistentinendeavoringtosecurehisMajesty’sdecisiononawager。
Thenthereweresingersorperformersonwindorstringinstrumentswishingtosingorplaybeforehim,sculptorsandpainterswishinghimtovisittheirstudios,andwritersofmusicwishinghimtoordertheircompositionstobebroughtoutattheRoyalOpera。
Alltheserequestsculminatedintwo,whereinthegentlereaderwillseeamixtureofcomicandpathetic。Thefirstwasfromaperson(notanAmerican)whowishedmygoodofficesinenablinghertoobtainacommissionforabrilliantmarriage,——shehavinginreserve,assheassuredme,arealItaliandukewhom,foraconsideration,shewouldsecureforanAmericanheiress。Theother,whichwasfromaneminentlyrespectablesource,urgedmetoinducetheimperialauthoritiestostationintheUnitedStatesayoungGermanofficerwithwhomanAmericanyoungladyhadfalleninlove。AndtheseproposalsIwasexpectedtofurther,inspiteofthefactthattherulesforAmericanrepresentativesabroadforbidallspecialpleadingofanykindinfavorofindividualinterestsorenterprises,withoutspecialinstructionsfromtheStateDepartment。Discouragingwasittofindthatinspiteoftheelaboratestatementpreparedbymeduringmyformerresidence,whichhadbeenfreelycirculatedduringtwentyyears,therewerestilltheusualnumberofpeoplepersuadedthatenormousfortuneswereawaitingthemsomewhereinGermany。
Oneapplication,fromatrulydisinterestedman,wasgroundedinnoblermotives。ThiswasaneffortmadebyaneminentPolishscholarandpatriottowrestAmericancitizenshipforpoliticalpurposes。HehadbeenaninstructoratvariousRussianandGermanuniversitieshadshowninsomeofhisbooksextraordinaryability,hadgainedthefriendshipofseveraleminentscholarsinGreatBritainandontheContinent,andwasfinallysettledatoneofthemostinfluentialseatsoflearninginAustrianPoland。
Hewasamostattractiveman,wideinhisknowledge,charminginhismanner;butnotofthisworld。Havingdrawncrowdstohisuniversitylectures,hesuddenlyattackedtheEmperorFranzJosef,who,morethananyother,hadbefriendedhiscompatriots;
wasthereforeobligedtofleefromhispost;andnowcametoBerlin,proposingseriouslythatIshouldatoncemakehimanAmericancitizen,andthus,ashesupposed,enablehimtogobacktohisuniversityand,inrevolutionaryspeeches,biddefiancetoAustria,Russia,andGermany。Greatwashisdisappointmentwhenhelearnedthat,inordertoacquirecitizenship,hewouldbeobligedtogototheUnitedStatesandremaintherefiveyears。
Ashewastryingtonervehimselfforthissacrifice,Ipresentedsomeseriousconsiderationstohim。Knowinghimtobeamanofhonor,IaskedhimhowhecouldreconcileitwithhissenseofveracitytoassumetherightsofAmericancitizenshipwithnointentiontodischargeitsduties。Thissomewhatstartledhim。
Then,fromamoreimmediatelypracticalpointofview,Ishowedthat,evenifheacquiredAmericancitizenship,andcouldreconcilehisconsciencetobreakthevirtualpledgehehadmadeinordertoobtainit,thegovernmentofAustria,and,indeed,allothergovernments,wouldstillhaveafullright,underthesimplestprinciplesofinternationallaw,toforbidhisentranceintotheirterritories,ortoturnhimoutafterhehadentered,——therightofexpellingundesirableemigrantsbeingconstantlyexercised,evenbytheUnitedStates。Thisamazedhim。
HehadabsolutelypersuadedhimselfthatIcould,bysomesleightofhand,transformhimintoanAmericancitizen;thathecouldthenatoncebeginattemptstoreestablishthefineoldPolishanarchyinAustria,Russia,andGermany;andthatnooneofthesenationswoulddareinterferewithhim。Itwasabsurdbutpathetic。Myadvicetohimwastogobacktohislecture—roomandlabortoraisethecharacteroftheyoungergenerationofPoles,inthehopethatPolandmightdowhatScotlandhaddone——risebysoundmentalandmoraltrainingfromtheconditionofaconqueredandevenoppressedpartofagreatempiretoacontrollingpositioninit。Thisadvicewas,ofcourse,invain,andheisnowbuildingair—castlesamidthefogsofLondon。
InmylifeatBerlinasambassadortherewasatingeofsadness。
Greatchangeshadtakenplacesincemystudentdaysinthatcity,andevensincemylaterstayasminister。Anewraceofmenhadcomeuponthestageinpublicaffairs,intheuniversity,andinliterarycircles。GonewastheoldEmperorWilliam,gonealsowastheEmperorFrederick,andBismarckandMoltkeandahostofotherswhohadgivendignityandinteresttothegreatassemblagesatthecapital。Gone,too,fromtheuniversitywereLepsius,Helmholtz,Curtius,Hoffmann,Gneist,DuBois—Reymond,andTreitschke,allofwhom,intheolddays,hadbeenmyguestsandfriends。Themainexceptionsseemedtobeintheartworld。
Thenumberofmyartistfriendsduringmystayasministerhadbeenlarge,andeveryoneofthemwaslivingwhenIreturnedasambassador;thereason,ofcourse,beingthatwhenmendistinguishthemselvesinartatall,theydosoatanearlieragethandohighfunctionariesofstateandprofessorsintheuniversities。ItwasagreatpleasuretofindAdolfMenzel,LudwigKnaus,CarlBeeker,AntonvonWerner,andPaulMeyerheim,thoughgrowngrayintheirbeautifulministry,stilldailyatworkintheirstudios。
ThreeonlyofmyfriendsoftheoldergenerationintheBerlinfacultyremained;andasIrevisetheselinestheworldislayingtributesuponthegraveofthelastofthem——TheodorMommsen。
Withhimmyrelationsweresopeculiarthattheymaydeservesomemention。
DuringmyearlierstaysinBerlinhehadalwaysseemedespeciallyfriendlytotheUnitedStates,anditwasthereforewithregretthatonmyreturnIfoundhiminthisrespectgreatlychanged:hehadbecomeaseverecriticofnearlyeverythingAmerican;hisearlierexpectationshadevidentlybeendisappointed;weclearlyappearedtohimbig,braggart,noisy,falsetoourprinciples,unworthyofouropportunities。ThesefeelingsofhisbecameevenmoremarkedastheSpanish—AmericanWardrewon。Wheneverwemet,andmostoftenatacharminghousewhichbothofusfrequented,heshowedhimselfmoreandmorebitter,sothatfinallyourpathsseparated。TherecomesbacktomevividlyoneeveningwhenI
soughttoturnoffasharpcommentofhisuponsomerecentAmericannewsbysaying:"Youmustgiveayoungnationlikeoursmoretime。"Onthisheexclaimed:"Youcannotpleadthebabyactanylonger。Moretime!YouhaveHADtime;youarealreadythreehundredyearsold!"Havingsoughtinvaintoimpressonhimthefactthatthepolicyofourcountryisdeterminednotwhollybytheolderelementsinitscivilization,butverylargelybynewercommonwealthswhichmustrequiretimetodevelopapolicysatisfactorytosedatejudges,heburstintoatiradefromwhichItookrefugeinatotallydifferentdiscussion。
Somedayslatercameanotherevidenceofhisfeeling。Meetinganeminentleaderinpolitical,andespeciallyinjournalistic,circles,Iwasshownthecorrectedproofsheetsofan"interview"
ontheconductoftheUnitedStatestowardSpain,givenbyMommsen。Itwasevenmoreacridthanhispreviousutterances,andexhibitedsharplyandatgreatlengthourallegedsinsandshortcomings。CertainlyarepresentativeoftheAmericanpeoplewasnotboundtomakesupplication,insuchamatter,eventosoeminentascholarandleaderofthought,andmycommentwassimplyasfollows:"Ihavenorequesttomakeinthepremises——ofMommsenorofanybody。Thearticlewillofcoursehavenoeffectonthewar;ofthattherecanbebutoneresult:thetriumphoftheUnitedStatesandtheliberationoftheSpanishislandsoftheWestIndies;butmaytherenotbesomeconsiderationsofaverydifferentorderasregardsMommsenhimself?Whynotaskhim,simply,wherehisfriendsare;hisreaders,hisoldstudents,hisdisciples?WhynotaskhimwhetherhefindsfewercloudsoverthepolicyofSpainthanoverthatoftheUnitedStates;ofwhichcountry,despiteallitsfaults,hehasmosthope;andforwhich,inhisheart,hehasthegreaterfeelingofbrotherhood?"
HowfarthisanswerinfluencedhimIknownot,butthearticlewasneverpublished;andthenceforththereseemedsomerevivaloftheolderkindlyfeeling。Atmyowntableandelsewherehemorethanoncebecame,inameasure,liketheMommsenofold。Oneutteranceofhisamusedmemuch。Mywifehappening,inatalkwithhim,tospeakofacertainpersonageas"hardlyanidealman,"heretorted:"Madam,isitpossiblethatyouhavebeenmarriedsomeyearsandstillbelieveintheidealman?"
HisoldbetterfeelingtowardAmericacameoutespeciallywhenI
nextcalleduponhimwithcongratulationsuponhisbirthday——hislast,alas!Butheartiestofallwasheduringthedinnergivenatmydeparture。Myspeechwaslong,——overanhour,——forIhadamessagetodeliver,andwasdeterminedtogiveit——amessagewhichIhopedmightimpressuponmygreataudiencereasonsforafriendlyjudgmentofmycountry。AsIbegan,Mommsencametomyside——justbackofme,hishandathisear,listeningintently。
Theretheoldmanstoodfromthefirstwordtothelast,andonmyconclusionhegraspedmeheartilywithbothhands——ademonstrationrareindeedwithhim。Itwasourlastgreetinginthisworld。
Wouldthattherewerespacetodwelluponthoseinthepresentgenerationofprofessorswhohonoredmewiththeirfriendship;
butoneisespeciallysuggestedhere,sincehewasselectedtomakeafarewelladdressontheoccasionabovereferredto——AdolfHarnack。AtvarioustimesIhadheardhimdiscourseprofoundlyandbrilliantlyattheuniversity,butcametoknowhimbestatthebicentenaryoftheBerlinAcademy,whenhehadjustaddedtothelonglistofhispublishedworkshishistoryoftheacademy,infourquartovolumes:awonderfulwork,whetherconsideredfromanhistorical,psychological,orphilosophicalpointofview。Hisaddressonthatoccasionwasmasterly,andhisconversationatvarioussocialfunctionsinstructiveandpithy。Irememberinoneofthem,especially,hisdelineationofthecharacteristicsandservicesofLeibnitz,whowasoneofthefoundersoftheRoyalAcademy,anditwasperfectioninthatkindofconversationwhichisworthyofmenclaimingtopossessimmortalsouls:foritbroughtout,especially,examplesofLeibnitz’samazingforethoughtastoEuropeanpolicy,whichseemedattimeslikedivinelyinspiredprophecies。HealsogavemeanumberofinterestingthingswhichhehadnotedinhisstudiesofFredericktheGreat。SomeofthemIhadfoundalreadyinmyownreading,butoneofthemIdidnotremember,anditwasbothcomicalandcharacteristic。AruralProtestantpastorsentapetitiontotheKingpresentingagrievanceandaskingredress。ItwastotheeffectthathischurchwasononesideofariverinSilesia,andthatayoungerpastor,whosechurchwasontheoppositeside,wasdrawingallhisparishionersawayfromhim。OnthebackofthepetitionFredericksimplywrote,"Tellhimtogoandpreachontheothersideoftheriver:thatwilldrivehispeoplebackagain。"
HearingHarnackandhisleadingcolleaguesindiscourseattheuniversityoracademy,orinprivate,whetherintheirloftierorlightermoods,onecouldunderstandwhytheUniversityofBerlin,thoughoneoftheyoungest,istheforemostamongtheuniversitiesoftheworld。