The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-21
W4SHBURNBS "CONTyNGEYT Elk
PENSES."


ALAS and alack! and how are the mighty
fallen! The Hon. Elihu b. washburne of
Illinois, holds the position of Minister Pleni-
potentiary and Envoy Extraordinary from the
United States to the Court of Napoleon III,
with salary of $17, 500 in gold. Since Min
lister Washburne has been residing abroad, he
has crept into the newspapers of his own
country but twice. The first appearance was
during the summer, when we were called upon
to note his arrival at notorious German re-
sort, where, in comp any with Ministers Curtin,
Jay, Jones, and other American diplomats, he
was invited to dinner by prominent banker
from Frankfort -on-the Main. Minister Wash
burne, it now appears, has torn himself away
from the attractions of Hombourg, and settled
down, at last, in Paris. But no sooner has he
done SO than he makes the disheartening dis
covery that it is quite impossible for him to
support the dignity of his official position on
the paltry sum of S17, 500 in gold per annum
He therefore makes an appeal for Sl5, 900
in gold for ''contingent expenses" and we
suppose that his appeal will receive the atten-
ton of Congress, even if it does not move the
hearts of that body to acquiescence.
Minister Washburne's immediate predeces-
sors in the French mission, General John A.
Dix and Hon. John Bigelow, found it pos,
sible to live and thrive in Paris on $l7, 500 in
gold per annum; but then what are Dix and
Bigelow by the side of Washburne? Dix and
Bigelow understood the language and were
familiar with the customs of the people to
whom they were accredited, while Washburne
is, or few months ago was, blissfully igno-
rant of both their language and their customs,
as we'll as utterly without experience in the
diplomatic sphere. If any argument in favor
of increasing his allowance could he brought
forward, this argument certainly can. The
dullest sort of a Congressional intellect will
not fail to perceive that an inexperienced
diplomat who speaks only his native tongue
will prove more expensive than one who has
had some little experience abroad and is the
master of one or two foreign dialects.
When Minister Washburne was member
of the House of Representatives, he achieved
an enviable reputation for the vigilance with
which he guarded the public treasury During
the last years of his service in Congress he
was known indiscrimipatey as ''the Father of
the House snd ''the Watchdog of the Trea-
sury. and the latter soubriquet was quite as
! much deserved as the former. Indeed, when
! we consider the zeal which he displayed in
! his efforts to introduce economy into every
! branch of the public service, We can only re-
! gret that he permitted the delusiye splendors
! of diplomacy to overshsdow the more sub
stantial honors of his position as law-maker;
! and when we consider his acknowledged un-
! fitness for a foreign mission, our regret
/ is transformed into downright sorrow. The
fact that Lord Lyons, the British Minister at
the Court of Versailles, receives a salary of
$50, 600 in gold, together with house rent, is
no argument in favor of voting Mr.. Wash
burne a contingent allowance of $4,000.
If Mr.. Washburne had devoted his whole
career to diplomacy, and could lay claim to
a tithe of the diplomatic experience and tact OF
Lord Lyons, the argument would avail him in
hispresent pecuniary embarrassment. But moi
until our diplomatic service is raised to the
elevated standard of Great Britain can there
be any reason in demanding that our repre-
sentatives abroad should be paid on the same
liberal scale.