The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-30 00:00:00

safely thrown aside with other trumpery of bygone
ages. In supporting its position the Tribune says
that the country has had more trouble with the mis-
sions than with the countries to which they are accre-
dited, and that little better can be expected from
men who make such agreedy scramble for these posts
as spoils—a course 11 ot calculated toinspiremuch con-
fidence in the prize-winners being actuated by pa-
triotic motives only. At the same time a broad
distinction is drawn between the Diplomatic Corps
and the Consular and Commercial Agenciez. The
latter the New York journal regards as indkpens-
able, whose officers, when the right men are selecte I,
will be amply suificiezt if additional powers be con-
ferred to protect the interests of American citizens
as well as Ministers, wherever they are located.
The correspondence could be conducted by the chief
Secretaries of Governments direct, and much cir-
cumlocution avoided. • The amount saved would be
considerable, and so many favouring circumstances
combining could scarcely fail to cause a measure
introduced into Congress for the purpose, to be re-
ceived with attention ; perhaps, even as the 7'ribune
states, " to be cordially welcomed by the people
generally." That journal replies to the argument
of the benefits the country derived through a few
of its representatives in Europe during the " late
domestic difficulties," that these peculiar labours
were necessitated by the foul manner in which the
diplomatic service had been prostituted in previous
years for advancing the cause of treason :—" The
poison disseminated by Secessionists in the garb of
American Ambassadors gave to the Rebellion prestige
abroad, by diffusing false theories and statements
concerning our institutions and condition. The re-
sults of our war have happily rendered impos-
sible a repetition of such rascalities, and averted
the necessity of similar agencies for counter-
acting them." To the unadvisability of abolishing
Diplomatic Corps, while other countries retain that
paraphernalia, the Tribune answers that the Re-
public is not to be governed in this matter by
European example, any more than in reference to
regal forme, standing armies, Church and State
systems, aristocratic land monopolies, and other
practices that, to American minds generally, are
" more honoured in the breach than in the observ-
ance." Though there is force in these remarks,
and the circumstances under which representatives
were originally appointed have so changed as nearly
to deprive them of their use, still we are not pre-
pared as yet to endorse the position taken up by
the Tribune. A Minister may commit an irrevoc-
able mistake when carried away by a strong national
prejudice, unrestrained by the sobering influence
of the representative of the other country at his
elbow. Though the circumstances may rarely occur
when an Ambassador is placed in a position to be of
incalculable use, yet so enormous are the interests
then involved, so stupendous the consequences
likely to flow from an irrevocable mistake, that one
in a century being the means of averting a great
war justifies the retention of the whole machinery,
and the expenditure, through it, incurred by the
nation. We would freely subscribe to the propo-
sition of the Tribune, if guaranteed that the Secre-

taffies of Foreign Affairs were to be always such
men as could be entrusted to resist every influence
and impulse till placed in a position which fairly
entitled them to decide. But who is to supply the
supernatural guarantee many would first earnestly
desire to get? How often has it happened that
statesmen celebrated for knowledge and moderation
have forwarded despatches which, if communicated
at once to the foreign Government., might have in-
volved the nations in war. If sent direct, that might
have been the result ; but sent to a Minister (who
being on the spot and understanding the position
better), they have been withheld, modified, or so
interpreted as to lose their real significance. We
maintain that this has of ten occurred, more especially
within late years, and had there not been a CHARLES
F. ADAMS at the Court of St. James's during the
Civil War, the map of the United States might, at
this day, have under:4-one a very material alteration.
Direct correspondence between the ruling officers of
the Governments would not then have answered, and
any great mistake in such ticklish times might have
changed the future history of a continent. Suppos-
ing that men of extensive knowledge, free from
prejudice, and excelling in moderation, were alone
appointed to transact the foreign affairs of great
nations, the antiquated paraphernalia might be abo-
lished, some such system being substituted as that on
which the great journals work, say, by retaining a
few gentlemen of high training, extensive travel,
and knowledge of huguages, at the, elbow of the
Minister, to be dispatched as agents for the con-
duct of any negaciation of mere than ordinary
difficulty that might arise, thus gaining two objects.
This would not only be less expensive, but we believe
would be more effective, provided the understanding
became so universal as to be embodied in the in-
ternational code, that no Government should act
until it had personally communicated with such
an agent. The chief advantage of a well-instructed
corps in the ante-room of the Minister would be
that he could obtain reliable information regarding
the country with which the difficulty had arisen at
once ; that he could instruct his agent, and send
him there with a keen sense of the national feeling

of his own country in him. The very atmosphere
that such a man would bring into the presence of the
Foreign Minister would impress him, and his influ-
ence would be magnetic, while the agent exchanged
by that Foreign Minister would impress in a similar
way the other. We believe that if well-trained corps,
specially selected for such work, and compelled to
keep themselves acquainted with the occurrences,
the changes, and the prevailing tone of foreign na-
tions, each having a certain range, were maintained,
the objects of diplomacy would be better served by
them under the present improved means of travel and
communication. With this reservation, we hold
the Tribune to be righ t,considering thepresent system
antiquated, cumbersome,expensive, and by no means
will adapted for securing the ends in view; but
we doubt, indeed deny, the expediency of bringing
Foreign Ministers into direct correspondence on
questions of very grave importance. The Consular
service is a necessity of trade, and its officers could,
as the Tribune suggests, receive a greater range of
power to qualify them to protect American citizens
abroad. We should not be surprised to see the
Republic take the initiative in abolishing Ministers
to Foreign Courts. There is something attractive
in leading the world in this new direction, and no
other country is as well placed to do so as the
United States. Some member of Congress will,
next session, assuredly introduce the measure, and
then it will be seen what the opinion of the nation
on the subject really is. The Government may not
be ripe as yet for the change, but the country is for
its discussion, and it is just possible that the present
incumbents will be the last of the " antiquated
paraphernalia" accredited by any Administration of
the United States, and that the next President
' elected will be released from the onus of appointing
Ministers to foreign Courts, and the Senate from
deciding on the correct garb for a citizen of the Re •
public in which to present himself before Royalty.

Salnave has abandoned Jacmel, and is now besieging
Aux Caves. Zhe news from Japan is to July 29. The
civil war had ended and the Daimios were disarming. Mr.
Fletcher, the British Consul at Yeddo, was dead. From
China the death is announced of Consul Gibson. It is
stated that his decease was hastened by anxiety, in c..m-
sequence of the recent troubles. Cuban news received in
New York up to July 23 from insurgent sources asserts
that the volunteers are again beceming insubordinate, and
that a conspiracy in which several prominent Spaniards
are involved, has been discovered in favour of Cespcdes,
the insurgent leader. Six thousand man are about to leavo
Spain for Cuba.

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