ERRORS AND MISCHIEFS OF MODERN DIPLOMACY, AS BASED UPON THE ASSUMED PREROGATIVE OF THE CROWN IN MATTERS OF PEACE AND WAR; WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON OF 1871, AND THE NEGOCIATIONS CONNECTED WITH IT, DOWN TO THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE TRIBUNAL OF CONTENTS. PAGE PREFACE. THE term "Diplomacy" is one of recent origin—a word not known to Johnson, and not to be found in the 5th Edition of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica,' published in 1817, nor indeed, as the writer believes, in any dictionary or encyclopædia published earlier than half a century ago. It is of Greek origin, derived from the word "diploma," which means a letter or epistle doubled up, and not open. It therefore implies duplicity, and secrecy, and is significantly applicable to the vicious practice in the conduct of State affairs, which has sprung up of modern times, as contradistinguished from the more constitutional mode of procedure which formerly obtained. The unfortunate and undignified perplexities in which we have been involved in connection with the recent Washington Treaty, and the Alabama Claims raised under it, following upon so many miscarriages in State policy which have occurred within the memory of the present generation, have, to use a homely phrase, put this same Diplomacy "upon its trial," and challenged public opinion as to whether our foreign relations are conducted altogether wisely |