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Show CRITICISM OF KNOX, Thoro in a good deal of force in tho criticism which Iteprpsentntivc Francis Burton Harrison of Now York directed in llio House on Friday against tho diplomatic service, and, especially. in his criticism of Secretary Knox. Some of his lalk, however, whilo sound enough in a way, criticises that which does not admit of correction. When he said that embassadors arc merely messenger boys for Washington, whilo there is a groat deal of truth in the assertion, it also remains true thnt: tho embassadors nre roprcsentng the dignity of tho Nation and upholding the high prestige of the United States. It is true that tho embassadors em-bassadors must receive their instructions instruc-tions from Washington, and that they are "messenger boys" in tho sense of convoying those instructions 1 to the chief rulers of tho foreign governments ' to which I hey aro accredited. Tho dan-gor dan-gor of allowing embassadors lo act upon their own notions has been) displayed so often, that on all matters of importance im-portance insi ructions from homo are asked and received. There can be no chango in (his, and so far as Representative Represen-tative Harrison is opposed to it, ho. is Dealing a shadow. Jt wo nre lo liavo embassadors at all (and we do not suppose "Representative Harrison wishes lo do away with thorn), they must remain re-main on the samo fooling that I hey occupy oc-cupy toda. His criticism of their clothing cloth-ing as being in knee brooches and wearing wear-ing a sword, is frivolous. Tho knee breeches form pretty good looking apparel; ap-parel; but porhaps Mr Harrison would suggest doing away with tho sword and buckling on a revolver in place of it, as more indicative of their business, besides be-sides being more modern, tho sword as a wonpon of war being practically obsolete. In another part of his speech, how-cvor, how-cvor, Representative Harrison was on solid ground. We refer to that portion wherein ho criticises Socrctarj Knox for his interference in Central American Amer-ican affairs. Unquestionably that was a gross blunder, which will compromise the United States for yoars to come in tho eyes of tho Latin-American republics. re-publics. From a mere diplomatic standpoint, stand-point, if it is contended that Zclaya had tho bottor of the argument, we do not see how that claim could be do-nied. do-nied. Pursuing his criticism further, Rcp- rcsontativo Harrison pointed out the blunder of Secretary Knox undertaking lo moddlo with tho Manchurian railwa". Tho raihvav situation in Manchuria is a delicate ono at best. To call upon Japan and Russia to neutralize (hose roads is even worse than for the United Unit-ed States to call upon tho groat railroads rail-roads of this country to surrender their proporty to the public. The chiof anxiety anx-iety of both Japan, and Russia with respect re-spect to the Manchurinn railroads is to see that thoso roads arc left absolutoly clear for government use with a livoly view, a monopolistic view for their use in time of war. It was for this that the war was fought. It is for this that both Japan and Russia hold so strenuously strenu-ously to the railroads which they have in that great province. It was a hope-loss hope-loss idea to think that cither of thoso nations would consent to tho neutralization neutral-ization of thoso railroads. It was a gross-diplomatic gross-diplomatic blunder to suggest such a thing, especially without provious consultation con-sultation with the great powers of Europe, Eu-rope, and without the least diplomatic bucking for tho suggestion as made. |