Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White, vol 2 | Page 5

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 Panncefote. 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.
CHAPTER XL
. AS AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY--1897-1903
Nomination by President McKinley. Light thrown upon his methods by
appointments of second secretary and military attache. 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 Bulow, 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 Bulow. Attendance at Parliament; its characteristics; notes
on sundry members; Posadowski; Richter, Bebel; Barth. The German
Parliament House compared with the New York State Capitol.
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. The "fruit question" and its adjustment. The Spanish-American
War; attitude of the German press; my course under instructions;
importance of delaying the war; conference in Paris with Ambassador
Porter and Minister Woodford; the destruction of the Maine and its
effect; conversation with the Emperor regarding it; his view of it. My
relations with the Spanish ambassador. Visit to Dresden to present the
President's congratulations to the Saxon king; curious contretemps;
festivities. Change in character of European monarchs since Jefferson's
letter to Langdon. The King of Wurtemberg and Grand Duke of Baden.
Notes on sundry pretenders to European thrones. Course of German
Government during our Spanish War; arrest of Spanish vessel at
Hamburg. Good news at the Leipsic Fourth of July celebration.
Difficulties arising in Germany as the war progressed. The protection
of American citizens abroad; prostitution of American citizenship;
examples; strengthening of the rules against pretended Americans;
baseless praise of Great Britain at the expense of the United States.
Duty of the embassy toward American students; admission of women
to the German universities. Efforts of various compatriots to reach the
Emperor; psychological curiosities. Changes in Berlin since my former
official residence; disappearance of many strong men; characteristics of
sundry survivors; Mommsen; Harnack.
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