 | Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White |  |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART V-IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE (Continued)
CHAPTER XXXIII. AS MINISTER TO RUSSIA—1892-1894
Appointment by President Harrison. My stay in London Lord Rothschild;
his view of Russian treatment of the Jews. Sir Julian Goldschmidt;
impression made by him. Paris; the Vicomte de Vogué funeral of
Renan; the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. Our Minister, William Walter
Phelps, and others at Berlin; talk with Count Shuvaloff. Arrival in St.
Petersburg. Deadening influences: paralysis of energy as seen on the
railways; little apparent change in externals since my former visit;
change wrought by emancipation of the serfs. Improvement in the
surroundings of the Emperor. Visit to the Foreign Office. Presentation
to Alexander III; his view of the Behring Sea Question; his acquiescence
in the American view; his allusion to the Chicago Exposition. My
conversation with the Archbishop of Warsaw. Conversation with the
Empress; her reference to the Rev. Dr. Talmage. Impression made upon me
by the Emperor. My presentation to the heir to the Throne, now the
Emperor Nicholas II; his evident limitations; main cause of these.
Presentation to sundry Grand Dukes. A reminiscence of the Grand Duke
Michael. The Grand Dukes Vladimir and Alexis. The diplomatic corps.
General von Schweinitz. Sir Robert Morier; his victory over the United
States at the Paris Arbitration Tribunal; its causes; its lessons … 3
CHAPTER XXXIV. INTERCOURSE WITH RUSSIAN
STATESMEN—1892-1894
Last days of Sir Robert Morier at St. Petersburg; his last appearance at
Court. Count de Montebello. Husny Pasha. Marochetti. Count Wolkenstein.
Van Stoetwegen and his views regarding peace in Europe. Pasitch,
the Servian Minister; his two condemnations to death. Contrast between
the Chinese and Japanese representatives. Character of Russian statesmen;
their good qualities; their main defects. Rarity of first-class men among
them; illustrations of this view from The Hague peace programme and from
Russian dealings with Finland and with the Baltic Provinces. M. de Giers;
his love of peace; strong impression made by him on me. Weakness and
worse of Russia in the Behring Sea matter. Finance Minister De Witte; his
strength; his early history. Difference in view between De Witte and his
predecessor Wischniegradsky. Pobedonostzeff. Dournovo. My experience
CHAPTER XXXV. "ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS OF
MEN'' IN RUSSIA—1892-1894
The "Minister of Public Enlightenment,'' Delyanoff; his theory and
system. Hostility of sundry Russians to the Russian-Germans; evident
folly of this. Woronzoff-Daschkoff and General Annenkoff. The Caucasian
railways and the annexation of Bokhara. Galkin Wraskoy and the prison
system Orloff Davidoff, "the funniest thing he saw in America.''
Professor Demetrieff's account of the murder of Peter III and of the
relation of Catherine II to it. Prince Serge Wolkonsky; his ability and
versatility; his tour de force at the farewell dinner given me at
St. Petersburg; his lectures in the United States. Russian scientific
men. Woeikoff. Admiral Makharoff. Senator Semenoff and Prince Gregory
Galitzin. Mendeléieff. Two salons. Other attractions. General
Ignatieff. Princess Ourousoff and her answer to Alexander III. Princess
Radzivill. The copy-book used by Louis XIV when a child, preserved in
the Imperial Library; its historical importance. The American colony at
St. Petersburg. Mr. Prince; his reminiscences of sundry American
ministers. Mr. Buchanan's satire on spies, in the Embassy Archives.
Difficulties of the American Representative arising from his want of a
habitation. Diplomatic questions between the two countries The Behring
Sea Fisheries. My dealings with the Commandant of the Russian Pacific
Islands. Success of Sir Robert Morier; how gained. Worldly wisdom of
Great Britain. Difficulties regarding Israelites; my long despatch on
the subject to Secretary Gresham. Adventurous Americans. Efforts to
prostitute American citizenship. Difficulties arising from the
complicated law of the Empire. Violations of the Buchanan Treaty.
Cholera at St. Petersburg; thorough measures taken by the Government;
death of Tschaikovsky; difficulty in imposing sanitary regulations upon
the peasantry … 41
CHAPTER XXXVI. MY RECOLLECTIONS OF
POBEDONOSTZEFF—1892-1894
My desire to know Pobedonostzeff; his history; his power. Public
business which led to our meeting; his characteristics; reasons for his
course; his view of the relations of the Russo-Greek Church to the
Empire; his frankness in speaking of the Church. His hostility to
Western civilization. His discussion of revolutionary efforts in Russia.
His theory of Russian public instruction. His ultra-reactionary views.
His mingled feelings regarding Tolstoi. His love for American
literature; his paradoxical admiration for Emerson, his translation of
Emerson's "Essays''; his literary gift. Feeling toward him in Russian
society. His religious character. His esthetic character. Charles A.
Dana's impression of him. Our discussion of possible relations between
the Russian and English Churches; his talks upon introducing the "Holy
Orthodox Church'' into the United States. His treatment of hostile
articles in the English Reviews. His professorial friends. His
statements regarding Father Ivan; miracles by the latter; proofs of
their legendary character; Pobedonostzeff's testimony on the subject … 55
CHAPTER XXXVII. WALKS AND TALKS WITH TOLSTOI—MARCH, 1894
Moscow revisited. Little change for the better. First visit to Tolstoi.
Curious arrangement of his household. Our first discussions; condition
of the peasants; his view of Quakers; their "want of logic.'' His view
of Russian religious and general thought. Socrates as a saint in the
Kremlin. His views of the Jews; of Russian treatment of prisoners. His
interest in American questions. Our visit to the Moscow Museum; his
remark on the pictures for the Cathedral of Kieff; his love for
realistic religious pictures; his depreciation of landscape painting;
deep feeling shown by him before sundry genre pictures. His estimate of
Peter the Great. His acknowledgment of human progress. His view of the
agency of the Czar in maintaining peace. His ideas regarding French
literature; of Maupassant; of Balzac. His views of American literature
and the source of its strength; his discussion of various American
authors and leaders in philanthropic movements; his amazing answer to my
question as to the greatest of American writers. Our walks together;
his indiscriminate almsgiving; discussion thereupon. His view of
travel. The cause of his main defects. Lack of interchange of thought in
Russia; general result of this. Our visit to the Kremlin. His views of
religion; questions regarding American women; unfavorable view of
feminine character. Our attendance at a funeral; strange scenes. Further
discussion upon religion. Visit to an "Old Believer''; beauty of his
house and its adornments; his religious fanaticism; its effects on
Tolstoi. His views as to the duty of educated young men in Russia.
Further discussion of American literature. His hope for Russian
progress. His manual labor. His view of Napoleon. His easy-going theory
of warlike operations. Our farewell. Estimate of him. His great
qualities. His sincerity. Cause of his limitations. Personal
characteristics related to these. Evident evolution of his ideas. Effect
of Russian civilization on sundry strong men … 72
CHAPTER XXXVIII. OFFICIAL LIFE IN ST. PETERSBURG—1892-1894
Difficulty in securing accurate information in Russia; the censorship of
newspapers and books; difficulty in ascertaining the truth on any question;
growth of myth and legend in the Russian atmosphere of secrecy and repression.
Difficulties of the American Minister arising from too great proneness
of Americans to believe Russian stories; typical examples. American
adventurers; a musical apostle; his Russian career. Relation of the Legation to
the Chicago Exposition; crankish requests from queer people connected with
it; danger of their bringing the Exposition into disrepute; their final suppression.
Able and gifted men and women scattered through Russian society.
Russian hospitality. Brilliant festivities at the Winter Palace; the Blessing
of the Waters; the "palm balls''; comparison of the Russian with the German
Court. Visit of Prince Victor Napoleon to St. Petersburg; its curious
characteristics. Visit of the Ameer of Bokhara; singular doings of his son
and heir. Marriage of the Grand Duchess Xenia; kindness, at the Peterhof
Palace, of an American "Nubian.'' Funeral of the Grand Duchess Catherine;
beginnings of the Emperor's last illness then evident. Midnight mass on
Easter eve; beauty of the music. The opera. Midnight excursions in the
northern twilight. Finland and Helsingfors. Moscow revisited. Visit to the
Scandinavian countries. Confidence reposed in me by President Cleveland.
My resignation … 101
CHAPTER XXXIX. AS MEMBER OF THE VENEZUELAN
COMMISSION—1895-1896
The Venezuelan Commission; curious circumstances of my nomination to it
by President Cleveland. Nature of the question to be decided; its
previous evolution. Mr. Cleveland's message. Attacks upon him; his
firmness. Sessions of the Commission; initial difficulties; solution of
them. The old question between the Netherlands and Spain. Material at
our command. Discreditable features of the first British Blue Book on
the subject; British "fair play'' in this and in the Behring Sea
question. Distribution of duties in the Commission. My increased respect
for Lord Aberdeen; boundary line accepted by him, striking confirmation
of his justice and wisdom by the Arbitration Tribunal at Paris. Triumph
of President Cleveland and Secretary Olney. Men whom I met in
Washington. Lord Pauncefote. Secretary Carlisle, striking tribute to him
by an eminent Republican; his characteristics. Vice-President
Stevenson; his powers as a raconteur. Senator Gray and Mr. Olney.
Visit with the American Geographical Society to Monticello; curious
evidences there of Jefferson's peculiarities; beauty of the place.
Visit to the University of Virginia. My increasing respect for the
qualities of Mr. Cleveland … 117
CHAPTER XL. AS AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY—1897-1903
Nomination by President McKinley. Light thrown upon his methods by
appointments of second secretary and military attaché. Secretary
Sherman; his reference to President Johnson's impeachment. Judge
Harlan's reference to Dr. Burchard's alliteration. Discussions with the
German ambassador and others. Change of the American legation into an
embassy; its advantages and disadvantages. First interview with Emperor
William II; subjects discussed. His reference to Frederick the Great's
musical powers. The Empress; happy change in the attitude of the people
toward her. The Chancellor of the Empire; Prince Hohenlohe; his
peculiarities; his references to Bismarck; his opinion of Germans. Count
von Bülow, Minister of Foreign Affairs, resemblances between him
and his father; his characteristics as minister and as parliamentary
leader. Ambassadorial receptions; difficulties, mistaken policy of our
government regarding residences for its representatives. Change in
German public opinion toward the United States since my ministerial
days; its causes; evidences of it during Spanish War.
Misrepresentations in German and American papers, and their effects; our
own culpability as shown in the Fessenden case. International questions;
Haitian theory of the Monroe Doctrine. The Samoan question; furor
consularis; missionary squabbles; reasonableness of Minister von
Bülow. Attendance at Parliament; its characteristics; notes on
sundry members; Posadowski; Richter, Bebel; Barth. The German Parliament
House compared with the New York State Capitol … 131
CHAPTER XLI. AMERICA, GERMANY, AND THE SPANISH WAR—1897-1903
The Chinese question; German part in it; my duties regarding it, course of
President McKinley and Secretary Hay. The exclusion of American insurance
companies; difficulties. American sugar duties: our wavering policy.
The "meat question''; American illustration of defective German policy.
CHAPTER XLII. AMERICA, GERMANY, AND THE CHINESE WAR—1899-1902
Ex-President Harrison visits Berlin; attention shown him by the Emperor
and others; change in him since his Washington days. Difficulty
regarding embassy quarters; moral. Bicentenary of the Royal Academy of
Sciences—pomp and ceremony; picturesque appearance of delegates,
conversation with the Emperor on the subject; his jocose statement of
his theory of the monarchy. Coming of age of the heir to the throne;
reception of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary; gala opera and opinion of
the Chinese minister regarding it; banquet; speeches of the two
Emperors. Characteristics of the Emperor Franz Josef; conversation with
him; his views of American questions; prospects of his Empire. Visit
from the German-American Kriegerverein. Outbreak of the
revolution in China; American policy; commendation of it from foreign
source; my duties relating to it. Fourth of July speech at Leipsic in
1900. Visit to America; torrid heat at Washington; new revelation of
President McKinley's qualities; his discussion of public affairs.
Two-hundredth anniversary of the Prussian kingdom, celebration; my
official speech; religious ceremonies; gala opera; remark upon it by the
French ambassador. A personal bereavement. Vacation studies on Fra Paolo
Sarpi. Death of the Empress Frederick; her kindness to me and mine;
conversations; her reminiscences of Queen Victoria's relations to
American affairs; her funeral … 181
CHAPTER XLIII. CLOSING YEARS OF MY EMBASSY. BERLIN, YALE, OXFORD, AND
ST. ANDREWS—1901-1903
Assassination of President McKinley; its effect on German feeling. My
peculiar relations with the Chinese minister at Berlin; our discussions:
my advice to China through him; visits from and to Prince Chun, On his
expiatory errand. Visit to Mr. Andrew Carnegie at Skibo Castle;
evidences of kindly British feeling regarding the death of President
McKinley seen during
CHAPTER XLIV. MY RECOLLECTIONS OF WILLIAM II—1879-1903
My first knowledge of him, his speech as a student at Düsseldorf;
talk with his father and mother regarding it. His appearance at court;
characteristics. His wedding and my first conversation with him.
Opinion regarding him in Berlin. Growth of opinions, favorable and
unfavorable, in America. His dismissal of Bismarck; effect on public
opinion and on my own view. Effect of some of his speeches. The
"Caligula'' pamphlet. Sundry epigrams. Conversation at my first
interview with him as Ambassador. His qualities as a conversationist.
His artistic gifts; his love of music; his dealings with dramatic art.
Position of the theater in Germany. His interest in archæological
investigation; in education; in city improvements; in improvements
throughout the Empire; sundry talks with him on these subjects. His
feeling for literature; extent of his reading; testimony of those
nearest him. His freedom from fads. His gifts as a statesman; his
public and private discussions of state and international questions: his
thoroughness in dealing with army and navy questions; his interest in
various navies. His broader work; his ability in selecting men and his
strength in standing by them; his relation to the legislative bodies;
his acquaintance with men and things in all parts of the Empire and
outside the Empire. His devotion to work. His clearness of vision in
international questions as shown in sundry conversations; union of
breadth and minuteness in his views; his large acquaintance with men.
His independence of thought; his view of the Maine catastrophe.
His impulsiveness; good sense beneath it; results of some supposed
CHAPTER XLV. AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION
AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE OF TEE HAGUE: I—1899
Proposal of a Conference by Nicholas II. Reasons why the Netherlands
were preferred to Switzerland as its place of meeting. General
misunderstanding as to the Emperor's proposal. My own skepticism.
Resultant feeling regarding the Conference. My acceptance of the
nomination to it. Condition of things on our arrival at The Hague. First
meeting of the American Delegation. Am chosen its president. General
character of our instructions from Washington. American plan of
arbitration. Preliminary meetings of delegates. The opening session. The
"House in the Wood''; its remarkable characteristics. Proceedings.
General skepticism at first. Baron de Staal as President of the
Conference. Count Nigra. Lord Pauncefote and others. Public spirit of
the Dutch Government. Growth of hope as to a good result. Difficulties
as to disarmament The peace lobby. Queer letters and crankish proposals.
Better ideas. M. de Bloch and his views. Count Welsersheimb and others.
Organization of the Conference. First decision regarding the publication
of our proceedings. Rumors. Attitude of Count Münster, President of
the German Delegation. Attitude of Russia and sundry other powers
regarding the American proposal for exempting private property from
seizure on the high seas. New instructions sought by us from Washington.
First presentation of the Presidents of Delegations to the Queen; her
conversation. My talk with the British Admiral, Sir John Fisher. Real
and imaginary interviews published in sundry European papers … 250
CHAPTER XLVI. AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION
AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE OF THE HAGUE: II—1899
Apparent wavering of Russia regarding an arbitration scheme. Count
Münster's view of the Russian proposals. Social gatherings. Influx
of people with notions, nostrums, and whimsies. First meeting of the
great committee on arbitration. Presentation of the Russian plan; its
serious defects. Successful effort of Sir Julian Pauncefote to provide
for a proper court. Excellent spirit shown by the Russian delegates.
Final character of the American project for an arbitration plan.
Festival given to the Conference by the Burgomaster and City Council of
The Hague. I revisit Delft after an absence
CHAPTER XLVII. AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION AT THE PEACE
CONFERENCE OF THE HAGUE: III—1899
Festival given to the Conference by the city of Haarlem. Difficulties
encountered by the American proposal for the immunity of private
property at sea. Question as to what contraband of war really is in
these days. Encouraging meeting of the great committee on arbitration
and mediation. Proposal to the Secretary of State that the American
Delegation lay a wreath of silver and gold upon the tomb of Grotius at
Delft. Discussion of the Brussels Conference Rules. Great social
function at the house of the British Minister; John Bull's wise policy
in sustaining the influence of his Embassies and Legations, its happy
results so far as Great Britain is concerned. Work on the arbitration
plans progressing. Discouragement. Germany, Austria, Italy, and some
minor powers seem suddenly averse to arbitration. Determination of
other powers to go on despite this. Relaxation of the rule of secrecy
regarding our proceedings. Further efforts in behalf of the American
proposal for exemption of private property from seizure at sea.
Outspoken opposition of Germany to arbitration. Resultant disappointment
in the Conference. Progress in favor of an arbitration plan
notwithstanding. Striking attitude of French socialists toward the
Conference. My earnest talk with Count Münster in favor of
arbitration; gradual change in his attitude. My suggestion to Baroness
von Suttner … 288
CHAPTER XLVIII. AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION AT THE PEACE
CONFERENCE OF THE HAGUE: IV—1899
Declaration against an arbitration tribunal received from their Government
by the German delegation; their consternation; Professor Zorn and Secretary
CHAPTER XLIX. AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION
AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE OF THE HAGUE: V—1899
Celebration of Independence Day at Delft in the presence of the entire
Conference and of eminent Netherlanders; speeches by the Netherlands
ministers and American delegates; telegram from the King of Sweden.
Impressive character of the service; the wreath placed upon the tomb;
breakfast given by our delegation to the Conference, at the City Hall of
Delft. Presentation of the American Memorial in behalf of the immunity
of private property on the high seas; my speech in its favor: friendly
answer by M. de Martens in behalf of Russia. Visit to M. Cornets de
Groot at Ryswyck; relics of his great ancestor; curious information
regarding the latter. Dinner to the American delegation by the prime
minister of the Netherlands, happy reference to the arbitration plan.
Effects of our Grotius celebration. Great dinner given by the Queen to
the Conference at the palace in Amsterdam, her speech; her conversations
afterward. General satisfaction shown at our Grotius tribute. My
conversation with Mr. Raffalovitch regarding Russian disarmament. Its
difficulties. Unfortunate article in the London "Spectator'' on the
work of the Conference. Attack in the Conference upon the report on
disarmament. Discussion of matters subsidiary to arbitration. Hostile
attitude of the Balkan States toward the commission
d'enquétte; ill feeling quieted. Field day regarding
flattening and expanding bullets; attitude of the British and American
delegates. Difficulties regarding the Monroe Doctrine; special meeting
called by our delegation to obviate these, apparent impossibility of
doing so; project of an American declaration; private agreement upon it
among leaders of the Conference, agreement of the Conference to it.
Final signing of the conventions; seal used by me; reservation in behalf
of the Monroe Doctrine attached to our signatures. Closing of the
Conference. Speeches of M. de Staal and Count Münster. Drawing up
of our report; difficulties arising from sundry differences of opinion
in our delegation. Final meeting of the Conference. Remarks of the
leading representative of a Catholic power, on the correspondence
between the Vatican and the Netherlands Government which had been
presented to the Conference. Retrospect of the Conference. Summary of
its results … 327
My connection with the Diplomatic Service at periods during the last forty-five years. Questions which have been asked me regarding it; reasons why I have not thought it best to reply fully; reasons why I can now do so. Improvement in our service since the Civil War; its condition during various administrations before the Civil War; sundry examples. Mr. Seward's remark. Improvement in the practice of both parties during recent years. President Cleveland's worthy effort. Better public sentiment among the people at large. Unjust charges of pessimists. Good points in our service at various posts, and especially at London. Faults of our service at present. My replies to young men anxious to St themselves for it. Simplicity of the most important reforms; suggestions. Choice of Ambassadors; of Ministers Plenipotentiary; of Ministers Resident; of Secretaries of Embassy and of Legation. Proper preparation of Secretaries; relation of our Universities to it; part which should be taken in their selection by the Secretary of State. Appointment of expert attachés. Probable good results of the system proposed. Evil results of the present system. Retention of the men best fitted. Examples of English non-partizanship in such appointments. Foremost importance of proper houses or apartments, owned or leased for long terms by the United States for each of its representatives abroad; evil results of the present system; certainty of good results from the reform advocated. Present American system contrasted with that of other nations. Services rendered by sundry American diplomatists. Cheapness of our diplomatic establishment compared with its value. Increase of salaries. Summing up of results of all the reforms herein advocated … 355
PART VI-SUNDRY JOURNEYS AND EXPERIENCES
CHAPTER LI. EARLIER EXCURSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES—1838-1875
Usefulness of various journeys to me. Excursion through central and western
New York in 1838; in middle Massachusetts, Boston, and New York City
in 1842. Impression made by Trinity Church. Beginning of visits to Saratoga
in 1843; life there; visits of Archbishop Hughes, Father Gavazzi,
Washington Irving, Mr. Buchanan; the Parade of Mme. Jumel. Remarkable
progress of the city of New York northward as seen at various visits.
First visit to the West. Chicago in 1858; the raising of the grade; Mr.
George Pullman's part in it. Impression made on me by the Mississippi
River. Sundry stays in Boston. Mr. Josiah Quincy. Arthur Gilman; his
stories and speeches; his delivery of Bishop Eastburn's sermons; his stories
regarding the Bishop. Men met at Boston. Celebration of Bayard Taylor's
birthday with James T. Fields; reminiscences and stories given by the
company; example of Charles Sumner's lack of humor. Excursions in the
Southern States. Visit to Richmond at the close of the war; Libby Prison;
meeting with Dr. Bacon of New Haven at the former Executive Mansion of
the Confederacy. Visit to Gettysburg; fearful condition of the battle-field
and its neighborhood. Visit to South Carolina, 1875. Florida. A negro
church; discovery of a Christmas carol imbedded in a plantation hymn.
Excursion up the St. Johns River. Visit to Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Collection of books on the Civil War. A visit to Martha's Vineyard; pious
amusements; "Nearer, My God, to Thee'' played as a waltz … 375
CHAPTER LII. ENGLAND REVISITED-1885
Reason for going abroad after my resignation of the Cornell Presidency
in 1885. "Tom Brown'' at sea; sundry stories of his. Southwest of England.
Visit to the historian Freeman at Wells. The Bishop and his palace.
The Judge's dinner. The Squires in the Court of Quarter Sessions. A
Gladstonian meeting; Freeman's speech; his defense of the last Abbot of
Glastonbury. Bishop Bickersteth at Heavitree and Exeter. The caves at
Torquay and their lessons. Worcester Cathedral and Deanery. "The Bungalow''
of Halliwell-Phillips at Brighton. Oxford; chapel of All Souls College;
interesting change seen at Magdalen; Bryce's comparisons between British
and American problems; visits to various colleges. Discussions of university
affairs. Freeman's lectures. To Windsor. Stay with Sir Paul Hunter at
Mortimer. Visit to Bearwood. Mr. John Walter of the "Times.'' Visit to
"Bramshill.'' Cambridge. New acquaintances. Talks with Bishop Creighton
and Sir Henry Maine. Beginnings of technical instruction at Cambridge.
A Greek play. Lord Lytton. Professor Seeley and his lectures. "Audit
dinner'' at Trinity College. Professor Mahaffy's stories of Archbishop
Whately. London. Talks with Lecky … 391
CHAPTER LIII. FRANCE, ITALY, AND SWITZERLAND—1886-1887
Mme. Blaze de Bury. From Paris to the Riviera James Bryce. George von
Bunsen. Sir Charles Murray. Lord Acton; discussions with the latter; his
wide range of knowledge; his information regarding Father Paul, the
Congregation of the Index, etc. Sir Henry Keating and the discussion at
the Cercle Nautique of Cannes. Lord Acton's view of Napoleon.
Florence; talks with Villari. Naples; the Doctrine of Intercession as
shown in sundry pictures. Amalfi. Sorrento; the Catechism of Archbishop
Apuzzo; Francis Galton; his discussion of dreams; Marion Crawford; Mr.
Mayall's story of Herbert Spencer. Visit to Monte Cassino; talk with a
novice. Excursions in Rome with Lanciani. Cardinal Edward at St.
Peter's. Discussions of Italian affairs with Minghetti, Sambuy, and
others. The sculptor Story. Non-intercourse between Vatican and
Quirinal. Judge Stallo. The Abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls; his
minute knowledge of certain American affairs. Count de Gubernatis, at
Florence, on the legendary character of sundry Hindu marvels. Count
Ressi and his Catawba wine. Alfieri Sostegno and his school for
political and social studies. Ubaldino Peruzzi. Stay at the Italian
lakes. Visit to my colleague, Minister Both, in Switzerland; his duties
as Landamman. The Abbey of St. Gall and its library. Visit to
the Engadine. Talks with the British Admiral Irvine, at St. Moritz; his
advocacy of war vessels with beaks. Sermon at Geneva. Talks with Mme.
Blaze de Bury and Lecky at Paris. Architectural excursions through the
east of France. Outrages by "restorers'' at Rheims and at Troyes.
London. Sermon by Temple, then bishop. More talks with Lecky; his views
of Earl Russell and of Carlyle. Return to America … 411
CHAPTER LIV. EGYPT, GREECE, AND TURKEY—1888-1889
A great sorrow and disappointment. Court of Appeals decides the Fiske
suit, June, 1888. Reasons for going abroad. Scotland revisited. Memorable
sermon at St. Giles in Edinburgh. Cathedral towns revisited. Sermons at
Lichfield. The House of Commons; scene between the Irish leaders and
Mr. Balfour. A political meeting in Holborn. Excursions to Rugby; to the
CHAPTER LV. MEXICO, CALIFORNIA, SCANDINAVIA, RUSSIA, ITALY, LONDON, AND
BERLIN—1892-1897
My stay of two years in America. Lectures at the University of Pennsylvania.
Archbishop Ryan's Latin pun. The Mohonk Conference and President
Hayes. Excursion with Andrew Carnegie to Mexico, California, and
Oregon. Meetings with Cornell students. Cathedral of Mexico. Our reception
by President Porfirio Diaz and his ministers. Beauty of California in
spring. Its two universities. My relations with Stanford; pleasure in this
visit to it; character of its buildings; my lectures there. Visit to Salt Lake
City. To the Chicago Exposition buildings. The University of Chicago and
its work. My appointment as minister to St. Petersburg. My arrival
there on November 4, 1892. A vacation visit to the Scandinavian countries.
The University and Cathedral of Upsala. Journey through the Swedish
canals and lakes. Gothenburg. Swedish system of dealing with the sale of
intoxicating liquors; its happy results. Throndheim; cathedral; evidences
of mediæval piety and fraud. Impression made by Sweden and Norway
New evolution of human folly in Norway. The Ethnographic Museum at
Copenhagen. Moscow revisited. Muscovite ideas of trade. My visit to
Tolstoi. Resignation of my legation at St. Petersburg. Italy revisited. Stay
in Palermo The Church of St. Josaphat; identity of this saint with Buddha;
my talk regarding him with the Commendatore Marzo. Visit to the Cathedral
of Monreale. The media val idea of creation as revealed in its mosaics.
The earthquake at Florence; our experiences of it; its effects in the town.
Return to America. Conversation with Holman Hunt in London. Visits to
sundry American universities; my addresses before their students; reasons
for publicly discussing "The Problem of High Crime'' in our country. The
Venezuelan Commission. My appointment in May, 1897, as ambassador to
Germany … 445
PART VII—MISCELLANEOUS RECOLLECTIONS
CHAPTER LVI. THE CARDIFF GIANT: A CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF HUMAN
FOLLY—1869-1870
Twofold characteristics of the central route from New York to Niagara.
The lake country of western New York. The Onondaga Valley;
characteristics of its people; their agitation in the autumn of 1869.
Discovery of the "petrified giant.'' My visit to it; my skepticism; its
causes. Evolution of myth and legend. General joy in believing in the
marvelous origin of the statue. Gradual growth of a skeptical view.
Confirmation of suspicions. Desperate efforts to resist skepticism.
Clear proofs of a swindle. Attempted revival of belief in it. Alexander
McWhorter; he declares the statue a Phenician idol, and detects a
Phenician inscription upon it. View of Dr. Schlottmann, Instructor in
Hebrew at Leipsic. My answer to his inquiry. Be persists in his belief.
Final acknowledgment and explanation of the whole thing as a swindle.
Sundry later efforts to imitate it … 465
CHAPTER LVIL PLANS AND PROJECTS, EXECUTED AND UNEXECUTED—1838-1905
My early reverence for authors. Youthful tendency toward literary
studies. Change in this respect during my stay at Yale. Difference
between the Yale and Harvard spirit. Senator Wolcott's speech on this.
Special influence of Parker and Carlyle upon my view of literature. My
purpose in various writings. Preparations for lectures upon the French
Revolution and for a book upon its causes; probabilities of this book at
present. "Paper Money Inflation in France,'' etc. Course of lectures
upon the history of Germany. Resultant plan of a book; form to be given
it; reasons for this form; its present prospects. My discussion of
sundry practical questions. Report as Commissioner at the Paris
Exposition of 1878; resultant address on "The Provision for Higher
Instruction in Subjects Bearing Directly on Public Affairs.'' ]Happy
progress of our universities in this respect. Civil-service reform;
speeches; article in the "North American Review.'' Address at Yale on
"The Message of the Nineteenth Century to the Twentieth.'' Some points
in the evolution of my "History of the Warfare of Science with
Theology.'' Projects formed during sundry vacation journeys in Europe.
Lectures on the evolution of humanity in criminal law; growth of torture
in penalty and procedure; collection of material on the, subject.
Project of a small book to be called "The Warfare of Humanity with
Unreason.'' Vague project during sundry stays at Florence of a history
of that city; attractive points in such a history. Project of a Life of
Father Paul Sarpi formed at Venice; its relinquishment; importance of
such a biography. Plan for a study on the Life of St. Francis Xavier;
beauty of his life; lesson taught by it regarding the evolution of myth
-and legend. Project of a brief biography of Thomas Jefferson; partly
carried out; how formed and why discarded. Bibliographical introduction
to O'Connor Morris's short history of the French Revolution. Project of
a longer general bibliography of modern bi story transferred to
President Charles Kendall Adams. Project of book, "How Can Wealthy
Americans Best Use Their Money''; Deed of such a book in the United
States. Lectures given and articles projected on "The Problem of High
Crime in the United States"; reasons for taking up this subject. Two
projects of which I have dreamed; A brief History of the Middle Ages as
an introduction to
PART VIII—RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER LVIII. EARLY IMPRESSIONS—1832-1851
Religious ideas of the settlers in central New York. The Protestant Episcopal
Church; its relations to larger Christian bodies. Effects of revivalism in
them. My father and mother. A soul escaped out of the thirteenth century
into the nineteenth, Henry Gregory. My first recollections of religious
worship; strong impressions upon me; good effects; some temporary evil
effects. Syracuse. My early bigotry; check in it; reaction. Family influences.
Influence of sundry sermons and occurrences. Baptismal regeneration.
My feelings as expressed by Lord Bacon. The "Ursuline Manual''
and its revelation. Effects of sectarian squabbles and Sunday-school zeal.
Bishop DeLancey; his impressive personality. Effects of certain books. Life
at a little sectarian college. Results of "Christian Evidences'' … 513
CHAPTER LIX. IN THE NEW ENGLAND ATMOSPHERE—1851-1853
Influence of New England Congregationalism at Yale. Butler's
"Analogy.'' Revivals. Sermons and prayers in the college pulpit. Noble
efforts of sundry professors, especially sermons of Horace Bushnell and
President Woolsey. The recital of creeds. Effects of my historical
reading. Injury done the American Church at that period by its support
of slavery; notable exceptions to this. Samuel J. May. Beecher. Chapin.
Theodore Parker. Influence of the latter upon me. Especial
characteristics of Beecher as shown then and afterward. Chapin and his
characteristics. Horace Greeley as a church-goer; strain upon his
Universalism. Dr. Leonard Bacon. Bishop Alonzo Potter. Archbishops
Bedini and Hughes; powerful sermon by the latter; Father Gavazzi's reply
to it … 529
CHAPTER LX. IN THE EUROPEAN ATMOSPHERE—1853-1856
Student life in Europe. My susceptibility to religious architecture,
music, and the nobler forms of ceremonial. Beauties of the Anglican
service. Sundry experiences in European cathedrals and English
university chapels. Archbishop Sumner. Bishop Wilberforce. My life in a
Roman Catholic family in Paris. Noble work of the Archbishop of Paris.
Sibour; his assassination. German Protestantism as seen in Berlin.
Earnest character of Roman Catholic worship in central Germany. The
Russo-Greek Church as seen in Russia; beauty of its service; its
unfortunate influence on the people. Roman Catholicism in Italy; its
wretched condition when I first saw it;
CHAPTER LXI. IN LATER YEARS—1856-1905
My relations with Professor Fisher at New Haven; his good influence. My
interest in church work as a professor at the University of Michigan; am
asked to select a rector; my success. Readings in ecclesiastical
history; effect of these. Sale's Koran. Fra Paolo Sarpi's "History of
the Council of Trent.'' Dean Stanley's "Eastern Church.'' Bossuet,
Spalding, Balmez, Buckle, Lecky, Draper, the Darwinian hypothesis.
Special influence of Stanley's "Life of Arnold,'' Robertson's Sermons,
and other works. Good influences from sundry Methodists. Exceptions
taken by individuals to sundry Broad Church statements in my historical
lectures; their favorable reception. Sobering effect upon me of
"spiritualistic'' fanaticism. My increasing reluctance to promote
revolutionary changes in religion; my preference for evolutionary
methods. Special experiences. The death-bed of a Hicksite Quaker. My
toleration ideas embodied in the Cornell University Charter; successful
working of these. Establishment of a university chapel and preachership;
my selections of preachers; good effects of their sermons upon me.
Effects of sundry Eastern experiences. Mohammedan worship at Cairo and
elsewhere. The dervishes. Expulsion of young professors from the
American Missionary College at Beyrout; noble efforts of one of them
afterward. The Positivist Conventicle in London. The "Bible for
Learners.'' Summing up of my experience. Worship—public and private;
reasonableness of both. Recognition of spiritual as well as of physical
laws. Recognition of an evolution in religious beliefs. Proper attitude
of thinking men. Efforts for evolution rather than for revolution. Need
of charity to all forms of religion but of steady resistance to clerical
combinations for hampering scientific thought or controlling public
education … 557
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS … 575
INDEX … 583
| Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White | |