The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-30

establishments cost almost as much as the
entire gross amount of the aggregate value of
imports and exports-namely, about 800, 900.
In japan, with trade of 81 800, O00 we
pay upward of S25, 600 to our official repre-
sentatives.
In Mohammedan countries we pay &61 900
for official agents, with a trade of only
81, GOO, 600; in Portugal, $2S, 600, with trade
of $500, 600; in Denmark %29,OOO, with a
trade of & 300, 900. In Peru we pay $2j, 900,
the same amount we pay in Cuba, though
with the former country the trade amounts
only to 100000 and with the latter to
nearly $40, 100000. 1t is well said in the
Congressional report that ''such a system inn
poverishes the people by abstracting from
their pockets many hundreds of thousands of
dollars, to be lavished upon ministers who
attitudinize as Talleyrands among the Pata-
gonians, while trade which might enrich our
people slips from our hands and passes to
other markets of the world"
These and similar facts disclosed in the
report that has been submitted to the Senate
from the Joint Committee on Retrenchment,
90 far to corroborate the opinion which we
have repeatedly expressed in regard to the
woHhlessness of our diplomatic and consul
lar system. We fully agree with the commit
tee in its opinion that ''other considerations
besides commerce are certainly worthy of at
tention in connection with foreign coun-
tries. But we agree with it still more
thoroughly in its additional statement that
Commercial intercourse affords one of the
most practicable means of testing the effici-
ency Of the foreign service, and the value
which it yields as compared with the expendi-
tuTe which it involves
Regarding as we do our diplomatic and
consular system as a miserable failure, so far
as the promotion of national interests is con-
cerned and entertaining but little hope of a
change for the better, we think it is time for
our merchants, through their regular Cham
bers of Commerce, to devise means for the
improvement of our commerce and naviga-
ton. They may take for granted that nothing
of the kind will ever be done under our pres
ent system of representation in foreign coun-
tries. We are great nation only in imagi-
nation SO long as we do not possess our full
share of the commerce and enterprise of the
globe. Previous to and during the war we
were all absorbed by the slavery question,
and the financial speculations since the res
toration of peace have been rather turned into
the channel of local operations than towards
commerce, industry, and navigation.
That a change is necessary III this direc-
ton, in order to vindicate our claims as a
commercial and enterprising people, must be
obvious to the careful observer of our ma
tional vicissitudes. But since the impulse
which is given in Europe to foreign commerce
and navigation by able and industrious Off
cial agents is not vouchsafed to our people, it
behooves our Chambers of Commerce to take
hold of this vast subject and we know of no
public bodies in our country who could do
justice to it more effectively. These organi-
cations in our principal cities are composed
of our most distinguished merchants and ship
owners. No one can excel them in practical
| experience and genius for elucidatng this
| question, and for taking measures that may
restore prosperity to our mercantile enter
prise. The zeal displayed by ministers OF
commerce in Europe might be advantageou
emulated by our mercantile chambers, witt
the invaluable difference that the energy OF
the individual citizens would prove far more
effective than the costly machinery of gov
ernmental direction, and give at the same
time startling lesson to the supineness OF
the administration and it's host of do-nothings