New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-06-14
RETRENUHMENT.

l
A desire has been repeatedly expressed
by the present Executive and Congress II
retrench where it can be done withou
detriment to national prosperity. Their
is one appropriation, at least, which at
fords fine field for the exercise of tn
cutting-down process, and that is the larg,
sum annually voted for diplomatic ser
vice. 1t is not pretended even by the ad
vocates of these second and third class
missions that they are necessary for the
transaction of diplomatic business, ex
cept where treaty is made, but that in
Difference to international custom and
reciprocity of diplomatic courtesies, we
ought to keep up the system. This ia
bosh, tor our institutions and government
are not the same as those of other nations.
We are a people apart, and must be
| guided by our own rules of good com.
mon sense instead of submitting to those
Of peoples whose ideas are totally different
from our own. 1t might be urged with
the same propriety that we ought to have
an Order of Decorations like the Bath or
the Legion of Honor, and be allowed to
approach our respected President only in
knee-breeches, (since these things belong
to the same ornamental category as use
less diplomatic missions). because France
and Great Britain have them. The friends
of gold lace and pumpernickel say that it
would be impolitic in US not to send a
diplomat to country which sends one to
Washington. We, as political people.
fail to see an act of impoliteness in with
drawing an agent from place where he
is of no use. To pay an officer who gives
no equivalent in service, is subversive of
our popular theory of government and is
foreign to our ideas Of common sense.
They, according to their education may
think it is, but why should We accept
their judgment on a matter of this kind
when we are perfectly capable of forming
one of our own?
Some nervous Americans say that if we
broke up our legations abroad foreigners
would laugh at US. Let them. The pre-
is that we would survive their
hilari!y. We used to be very sore on the
subject Of the foreign laugh, but we have
gotten bravely over that. The United
States is the Gigantic Fact of this century
if we may venture on the assertion with
out mourning the charge of making the
bird of freedom scream-and the world at |
large knows it as well as we do. 1t is a
fact of such colossal dimensions that it is
difficult to hang ridicule upon. If the
foreign law-maker and ruler says that our |
government machinery is imperfect and |
badly run, our answer is found in pointing |
to the Gigantic Fact If We abolished our
present European system of diplomacy,
and he, according to his traditions. should |
lad such a course unwise, We would
again refer him to the Gigantic Fact,
straight on, all the lighter for
being relieved of the diplomatic incubus.
In reply to the much used argument
hat our diplomats are necessary to make
;reaties, we say, that the country can do
IS it did in the days of Franklin, i. E.,
when the United States wishes to make a
reaty let an especial agent be sent abroad
or that purpose. and as soon as he has
accomplished his errand let him bring
pack the treaty in his pocket. This is sim.
lie and practical. Even this is hardly
Necessary, for two Ministers of Foreign
Affairs can arrange all the details of a
realty over the cable, and exchange du.
'licates for ratification by mail. The lay
ng of the ocean telegraph has inflicted
low on old timed diplomacy whichit will
ct long survive. OF course, Consuls are
and should be treated and
aid better than they are.