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This great edifice at Berlin is considerably larger on the ground
than is the State Capitol at Albany。 It is built of a very
beautiful and durable stone； and； in spite of sundry criticisms
on the dome in the center and the pavilions at the corners； is
vastly superior； as a whole； to the Albany building。 It is
enriched in all parts； without and within； with sculpture
recalling the historical glories of all parts of the empire and
calculated to stir patriotic pride； it is beautified by paintings
on a great scale by eminent artists； its interior fittings； in
stone； marble； steel； bronze； and oak； are as beautiful and
perfect as the art of the period has been able to make them； and
the whole； despite minor architectural faults； is worthy of the
nation。 The building was completed and in use within ten years
from the time of its beginning。 The construction of the
State…house at Albany； a building not so large； and containing
to…day no work of art either in painting or sculpture worthy of
notice； has dragged along during thirty years； and cost nearly
four times as much as the Berlin edifice； the latter having
demanded an outlay of a trifle over five million dollars； and the
former considerably over twenty millions。
The German Parliament House； apart from slight defects； as a
great architectural creation is in a style worthy of its
purposea style which is preserved in all its parts； while that
at Albany is； perhaps； the most curious jumble in the whole
history of architecture；the lower stories being Palladian； the
stories above these being； if anything； Florentine； the summit
being； if anything； French Renaissance； while； as regards the
interior； the great west staircase； which is said to have cost
half a million of dollars； is in the Richardsonesque style； the
eastern staircase is in classic style； and a circular staircase
in the interior is in the most flamboyant Gothic which could be
got for money。 To be sure； there are rooms at Albany on which
precious Siena marble and Mexican onyx are lavished； but these
are used so as to produce mainly the effect of an unintelligent
desire to spend money。
While in or near the Berlin edifice there is commemoration by
sculpture or painting of a multitude of meritorious public
servants； there is nowhere in the whole building at Albany a
statue or any fit remembrance of the two greatest governors in
the history of the State； DeWitt Clinton and William H。 Seward。
The whole thing plunges one into reflection。 If that single
building at Albany； which was estimated； upon plans carefully
made by the best of architects； to cost five millions of dollars；
and to be completed in four years； required over thirty years and
an expenditure of over twenty millions； what is a great 〃barge
canal〃 to cost； running through the whole length of the State；
encountering enormous difficulties of every sort； estimated at
the beginning to cost one hundred millions of dollars； but
including no estimate for 〃land damages；〃 〃water damages；〃
〃personal damages；〃 〃unprecedented floods；〃 〃unforeseen
obstacles；〃 〃quicksands；〃 〃changes of plan；〃 etc。； etc。； which
have played such a costly and corrupting part in the past history
of our existing New York canals？ And how many years will it take
to complete it？ This was the train of thought and this was its
resultant query forced upon me whenever I looked upon the
Parliament House at Berlin。
CHAPTER XLI
AMERICA； GERMANY； AND THE SPANISH WAR1897…1903
During the early days of this second official stay of mine at
Berlin； Russia had； in one way and another； secured an entrance
into China for her trans…Siberian railway； and seemed to have
taken permanent possession of the vast region extending from her
own territory to the Pacific at Port Arthur。 Germany followed
this example； and； in avenging the murder of certain
missionaries； took possession of the harbor of Kiao…Chau。 Thereby
other nations were stirred to do likewise；England； France； and
Italy beginning to move for extensions of territory or commercial
advantages； until it looked much as if China was to be parceled
out among the greater European powers； or at least held in
commercial subjection； to the exclusion of those nations which
had pursued a more dilatory policy。
Seeing this danger； our government instructed its representatives
at the courts of the great powers to request them to join in a
declaration in favor of an 〃open…door policy〃 in China； thus
establishing virtually an international agreement that none of
the powers obtaining concessions or controlling 〃spheres of
influence〃 in that country should secure privileges infringing
upon the equality of all nations in competing for Chinese trade。
This policy was pushed with vigor by the Washington cabinet； and
I was instructed to secure； if possible； the assent of the German
Government； which； after various conferences at the Foreign
Office and communications with the minister of foreign affairs；
some more； some less； satisfactory； I was at last able to do。 The
assent was given very guardedly； but not the less effectively。
Its terms were that Germany； having been from the first in favor
of equal rights to all nations in the trade of China； would
gladly acquiesce in the proposed declaration if the other powers
concerned would do so。
The Emperor William himself was even more open and direct than
his minister。 At his dinner to the ambassadors in the spring of
1900； he spoke to me very fully on the subject； and； in a
conversation which I have referred to elsewhere； assured me of
his complete and hearty concurrence in the American policy；
declaring； 〃We must stand together for the open door。〃
Finally； on the 9th of April； 1900； I had the satisfaction of
sending to the German Foreign Office the proofs that all the
other powers concerned； including Japan； had joined in the
American declaration； and that the government of the United
States considered this acquiescence to be full and final。
It was really a great service rendered to the world by Mr。
McKinley and Secretary Hay； their action was farseeing； prompt；
bold； and successful。
Yet another subject of contention was the exclusion of sundry
American insurance companies from Germany； due in part to a
policy of 〃protection；〃 but also to that same distrust of certain
American business methods which had given me much trouble in
dealing with the same question at St。 Petersburg。 The discussions
were long and tedious； but resulted in a sort of modus vivendi
likely to lead to something better。
The American sugar duties were also a sore subject。 Various
writers in the German press and orators in public bodies
continued to insist that America had violated the treaties；
America insisted that she had not； and this trouble； becoming
chronic； aggravated all others。 The main efforts of Count von
Bulow and myself were given to allaying inflammation by doses of
common sense and poultices of good…will until common sense could
assert its rights。
The everlasting meat question also went through various vexatious
phases； giving rise to bitter articles in the newspapers；
inflammatory speeches in Parliament； and measures in various
parts of the empire which； while sometimes honest； were always
injurious。 American products which had been inspected in the
United States and Hamburg were again broken into； inspected； and
reinspected in various towns to which they were taken for retail；
with the result that the packages were damaged or spoiled； and
the costs of inspection and reinspection ate up all profits。 I
once used an illustration of this at the Foreign Office that
seemed to produce some effect。 It was the story of the Yankee
showman who； having been very successful in our Northern and
Middle States； took his show to the South； but when he returned
had evidently been stripped of his money。 Being asked regarding
it； he said that his show had paid him well at first； but that on
arriving in Texas the authorities of each little village insisted
on holding an inquest over his Egyptian mummy； charging him
coroner's fees for it； and that this had made him a bankrupt。
Speeches； bitter and long； were made on both sides of the
Atlantic； the cable brought reports of drastic reprisals
preparing in Washington； but