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deep and acrid； of everything German and especially of
German…Americans。 The ingenuity of some German papers in
supporting this thesis was wonderful。 On one occasion a petty
squabble in a Roman Catholic theological school in the United
States between the more liberal element and a reactionary German
priest； in which the latter came to grief； was displayed as an
evidence that the American people were determined to drive out
all German professors and to abjure German science。 The doings of
every scapegrace in an American university； of every silly woman
in Chicago； of every blackguard in New York； of every snob at
Newport； of every desperado in the Rocky Mountains； of every club
loafer anywhere； were served up as typical examples of American
life。 The municipal governments of our country； and especially
that of New York； were an exhaustless quarry from which specimens
of every kind of scoundrelism were drawn and used in building up
an ideal structure of American life； corruption； lawlessness； and
barbarism being its most salient features。
Nor was this confined to the more ignorant。 Men who stood high in
the universities； men of the greatest amiability； who in former
days had been the warmest friends of America； had now become our
bitter opponents； and some of their expressions seemed to point
to eventual war。
Yet I doubt whether we have any right to complain of such attacks
and misrepresentations。 As a matter of fact； no nation washes so
much of its dirty linen in the face of the whole world as does
our own； and； what is worse； there is washed in our country； with
much noise and perversity； a great deal of linen which is not
dirty。 Many demagogues and some 〃reformers〃 are always doing
this。 There is in America a certain class of excellent people who
see nothing but the scum on the surface of the pot； nothing but
the worst things thrown to the surface in the ebullition of
American life。 Or they may be compared to people who； with a
Persian carpet before them； persist in looking at its seamy side；
and finding nothing but odds and ends； imperfect joints；
unsatisfactory combinations of color； the real pattern entirely
escaping them。 The shrill utterances of such men rise above the
low hum of steady good work； and are taken in Germany as exact
statements of the main facts in our national life。
Let me repeat here one example which I have given more than once
elsewhere。 Several years since； an effort was made to impeach the
President of the United States。 The current was strong； and most
party leaders thought it best to go with it。 Three senators of
the United States sturdily refused； their leader being William
Pitt Fessenden of Maine； who； believing the impeachment an
attempt to introduce Spanish…American politics into our country；
resolutely opposed it。 The State convention of his party called
upon him to vote for it； the national convention of the party
took the same ground； his relatives and friends besought him to
yield； but he stood firmly against the measure； and finally； by
his example and his vote； defeated it。 It was an example of
Spartan fortitude； of Roman heroism； worthy to be chronicled by
Plutarch。 How was it chronicled？ I happened to be traveling in
Germany at the time； and naturally watched closely for the result
of the impeachment proceedings。 One morning I took up a German
paper containing the news and read； 〃The impeachment has been
defeated； three senators were bribed；〃 and at the head of the
list of bribed senators was the name of Fessenden！ The time will
come when his statue will commemorate his great example； let us
hope that the time will also come when party spirit will not be
allowed to disgrace our country by sending out to the world such
monstrous calumnies。
As to attacks upon the United States； it is only fair to say that
German publicists and newspaper writers were under much
provocation。 Some of the American correspondents then in Germany
showed wonderful skill in malignant invention。 My predecessors in
the embassy had suffered much from this cause。 One of them； whom
I had known from his young manhood as a gentleman of refined
tastes and quiet habits； utterly incapable of rudeness of any
sort； was accused； in a sensational letter published in various
American journals； of having become so noisy and boisterous at
court that the Emperor was obliged to rebuke him。 Various hints
of a foul and scandalous character were sent over and published。
I escaped more easily； but there were two or three examples which
were both vexatious and amusing。
Shortly after my arrival at my post； letters and newspaper
articles began coming deploring the conduct of the Germans toward
me； expressing deep sympathy with me； exhorting me to 〃stand
firm；〃 declaring that the American people were behind me； etc。；
etc。； all of which puzzled me greatly until I found that some
correspondent had sent over a telegram to the effect that the
feeling against America had become so bitter that the Emperor
himself had been obliged to intervene and command the officials
of his empire to present themselves at my official reception； and
with this statement was coupled a declaration that I had made the
most earnest remonstrance to the Imperial Government against such
treatment。 The simple fact was that the notice was in the
stereotyped form always used when an ambassador arrives。 On every
such occasion the proper authorities notify all the persons
concerned； giving the time of his receptions； and this was simply
what was done in my case。 On another occasion； telegrams were
sent over to American papers stating that the first secretary of
the embassy and myself； on visiting Parliament to hear an
important debate； had been grossly insulted by various members。
The fact was that we had been received by everybody with the
utmost kindness； that various members had saluted us in the most
friendly manner from the floor or had come into the diplomatic
gallery to welcome us； and that there was not the slightest
shadow of reason for the statement。 As an example of the genius
shown in some of these telegrams； another may be mentioned。 A
very charming American lady； niece of a member of Mr。 McKinley's
cabinet； having arrived on the Norwegian coast； her children were
taken on board the yacht of the Emperor； who was then cruising in
those regions； and later； on their arrival at Berlin； they with
their father and mother were asked by him to the palace to meet
his own wife and children。 A few days afterward a telegram was
published in America to the effect that the Emperor； in speaking
to Mrs。 White and myself regarding the children； had said that he
was especially surprised； because he had always understood that
American children were badly brought up and had very bad manners。
The simple fact was that； while he spoke of the children with
praise； the rest of the story was merely a sensational invention。
One of the marvels of American life is the toleration by decent
fathers and mothers of sensational newspapers in their
households。 Of all the demoralizing influences upon our people；
and especially upon our young people； they are the most steadily
and pervasively degrading。 Horace Greeley once published a
tractate entitled； 〃New Themes for the Clergy；〃 and I would
suggest the evil influence of sensation newsmongering as a most
fruitful theme for the exhortations of all American clergymen to
their flocks； whether Catho