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book which had gained him credit。 As the most serious questions
between the two countries were commercial； he seemed a godsend；
and； going to the President； I stated the matter fully。 Though
the young man was as far as possible from having any 〃pull〃 in
the State from which he came； was not at all known either to the
President or the Secretary of State or assistant secretary of
state； all of whom came from Ohio； and was equally unknown to
either of the Ohio senators or to any representative； and though
nothing whatever was known of his party affiliations； the
President； on hearing a statement of the case； ignored all
pressure in favor of rival candidates； sent in his nomination to
the Senate； and it was duly confirmed。
The next thing was the appointment of a military attache。 The
position is by no means a sinecure。 Our government must always
feel the importance of receiving the latest information as to the
armies and navies of the great powers of the world； and therefore
it is that； very wisely； it has attached military and naval
experts to various leading embassies。 It is important that these
be not only thoroughly instructed and far…seeing； but gentlemen
in the truest sense of the word； and I therefore presented a
graduate of West Point who； having conducted an expedition in
Alaska and served with his regiment on the Western plains most
creditably； had done duty as military attache with me during my
mission at St。 Petersburg； and had proved himself； in every
respect； admirable。 Though he had no other supporter at the
national capital； the Secretary of War； Governor Alger； granted
my request； and he was appointed。
These matters； to many people apparently trivial； are here
alluded to because it is so often charged that political
considerations outweigh all others in such appointments； and
because this charge was frequently made against President
McKinley。 The simple fact is that； with the multitude of
nominations to be made； the appointing power cannot have personal
knowledge of the applicants； and must ask the advice of persons
who have known them and can； to some extent； be held responsible
for them。 In both the cases above referred to； political pressure
of the strongest in favor of other candidates went for nothing
against the ascertained interest of the public service
The Secretary of State at this time was Mr。 John Sherman。 I had
known him somewhat during his career as senator and Secretary of
the Treasury； and had for his character； abilities； and services
the most profound respect。 I now saw him often。 He had become
somewhat infirm； but his mind seemed still clear； whether at the
State Department or in social circles his reminiscences of public
men and affairs were always interesting； and one of these
confirmed an opinion I have expressed in another chapter。 One
night； at a dinner…party； the discussion having fallen upon
President Andrew Johnson； and some slighting remarks having been
made regarding him by one of our company； Mr。 Sherman； who had
been one of President Johnson's strongest opponents； declared him
a man of patriotic motives as well as of great ability； and
insisted that the Republican party had made a great mistake in
attempting to impeach him。 In the course of the conversation one
of the foremost members of the House of Representatives； a man of
the highest standing and character； stated that he had himself；
when a young man； aided Mr。 Johnson as secretary； and that he was
convinced that the ex…President could write very little more than
his signature。 We had all heard the old story that after he had
become of age his newly wedded wife had taught him the alphabet；
but it was known to very few that he remained to the last so
imperfectly equipped。
Of conversations with many other leading men of that period at
Washington I remember that； at the house of my friend Dr。 Hill；
afterward assistant secretary of state； mention being made of the
Blaine campaign； an eminent justice of the Supreme Court said
that Mr。 Blaine always insisted to the end of his life that he
had lost the Presidency on account of the Rev。 Dr。 Burchard's
famous alliteration； 〃Rum； Romanism； and rebellion；〃 and that the
whole was really a Democratic trick。 Neither the judge nor any
other person present believed that Mr。 Blaine's opinion in this
matter was well founded。
An important part of my business during this visit was to confer
with the proper persons at Washington； including the German
ambassador； Baron von Thielmann； regarding sundry troublesome
questions between the United States and Germany。 The addition to
the American tariff of a duty against the sugar imports from
every other country equivalent to the sugar bounty allowed
manufactures in that country had led to special difficulties。 It
had been claimed by Germany that this additional duty was
contrary to the most…favored…nation clause in our treaties； and；
unfortunately； the decisions on our side had been conflicting；
Mr。 Gresham； Secretary of State under Mr。 Cleveland； having
allowed that the German contention was right； and his successor；
Mr。 Olney； having presented an elaborate argument to show that it
was wrong。 On this point； conversations； not only with the
Secretary of State and the German ambassador； but with leading
members of the committees of Congress having the tariff in
charge； and especially with Mr。 Allison and Mr。 Aldrich of the
Senate and Governor Dingley of the House； showed me that the case
was complicated； the various interests somewhat excited against
each other； and that my work in dealing with them was to be
trying。
There were also several other questions no less difficult； those
relating to the exportation of American products to Germany and
the troubles already brewing in Samoa being especially prominent；
so that it was with anything but an easy feeling that； on the
29th of May； I sailed from New York。
On the 12th of June I presented the President's letter of
credence to the Emperor William II。 The more important of my new
relations to the sovereign had given me no misgivings； for during
my stay in Berlin as minister； eighteen years before； I had found
him very courteous； he being then the heir apparent； but with the
ceremonial part it was otherwise； and to that I looked forward
almost with dismay。
For； since my stay in Berlin； the legation had been raised to an
embassy。 It had been justly thought by various patriotic members
of Congress that it was incompatible； either with the dignity or
the interests of so great a nation as ours； to be represented
simply by a minister plenipotentiary； who； when calling at the
Foreign Office to transact business； might be obliged to wait for
hours； and even until the next day； while representatives from
much less important countries who ranked as ambassadors went in
at once。 The change was good； but in making it Congress took no
thought of some things which ought to have been provided for。 Of
these I shall speak later； but as regards the presentation； the
trying feature to me was that there was a great difference
between this and any ceremonial which I had previously
experienced； whether as commissioner at Santo Domingo and Paris；
or as minister at Berlin and St。 Petersburg。 At the presentation
of a minister plenipotentiary he goes in his own carriage to the
palace at the time appointed； is ushered into the presence of the
sover