Gilded Age U.S. Diplomacy Gone Awry

The general Chilean attitude was probably best expressed by Eduardo Phillips, chief of the Diplomatic Section of the Ministry of Foreign Relations who, in a letter to a newspaper, described Egan as a person “utterly lacking in all elements of culture and courtesy, and ever-ready to descend to the level of invective and calumny.” — Public domain image of the late 19th C. US Minister to Chile, Patrick Egan. His tenure in diplomacy was highly unpopular and controversial. 

MINISTER EGAN AGAIN. Minister Egan may be relied upon not to permit any opportunity to go unimproved for showing that he is an uncivil person. It is not to be believed for a moment that he received instructions from Washington to remain away from the inauguration of the Chilian President. Secretary Blaine is altogether too well trained and prudent in diplomatic matters to be the author of any such instructions. It must be inferred, therefore, that Mr. Egan followed his own judgment as to what would be proper under the circumstances. And this judgment manifestly shows him to be not only a boorish but a semi-barbarous person. 

The inauguration of President Montt was the concluding event of a revolution which was set on foot to re-establish liberty and order, and we should have given our approval to the proceeding independently of the controversy which exists between this country and the republic of Chili. Granting that Chili is altogether in the wrong in the pending dispute, we can well afford to be magnanimous, not to say civil. Egans course was not merely a breach of diplomatic etiquette it was an infraction of good manners. It is little wonder, therefore, that the representatives of other powers evinced surprise at the policy of our Minister. 

There is a phase of the situation which ought to have had great weight with Minister Egan, if he really entertains a sincere desire to bring about an adjustment of our controversy with Chili. We have heretofore carried on negotiations with the Junta, a provisional and many headed authority. With the inauguration of a rightful President, however, matters will be greatly simplified, authority will become more definite and the means of communication more direct. Everything, therefore, invited Mr. Egan to adopt a policy of conciliation, but inasmuch as that person is a born conspirator he threw the opportunity away and disgraced the country of which, unhappily, he is the representative. — Stockton Daily Mail, 1891

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia