The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-10

duties upon the American Minister, thai will |
be a good reason for increasing his salary, !
but it cannot be known until after the lapse |
of some little time whether this will be the
case or not.
If tho salary should be raised it will be
simply measure of justice TO the minister,
not q compliment to the Government to which
he is accredited. The consideration ex-
pressed for a foreign Government depends
upon the rank of the minister, not his pay.
His compensation is a matter between him
self and his own Government; his rank in
the diplomatic scale is the only thing that
can be interpreted as a mark of respect.
Now, in point Of fact, the mission 60 Berlin
is of the same grade as that to London and
Paris. The title of the American Minister
to each of those capitals is ''Envoy Extra
ordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
This is q meaningless dignity except that it
determines the rank and precedence of the
minister on occasions of ceremony, and indi-
Gates the respect in which we hold the gov
ernment near which he resides We send to
Russia, Prussia, and nine other governments,
minister of the same grade as to England
and France; but the salary varies from
ST., 800 to $4,000 being regulated by the
supposed laboriousness and Importance of the
duties. 1t would be an impertinence in a
foreign government to go behind the rank of
q minister and inquire into his compensation;
the scale of salaries having nothing to do with
the dignity of the mission.
The American Minister at Berlin has, as
vet, no additional duties, and it is therefore
premature to ask for him an increase of sa-
larry. But the haste of Mr.. Bancroft is easily
understood. IL the enhancement does not
get into the appropriation bill this winter, he
will receive only $12,0 900 for the ensuing
year, and the fate of Motley warns him to
make hay while the sun shines He has no
certainty of holding the Office even for ano-
ther year. Grant is willing the salary
should be raised because the proposal gives
him an opportunity to make a bid for the
German vote, and because higher compen-
sation may enable him to send some rival
! into honorable banishment, or to get rid of
some inconvenient member of his present
Cabinet. But if fitness of time and pro-
priety of taste had been consulted, he would
| have forborne this demonstration of respect
for Germany until after the conclusion of
peace. So precipitate compliment to Ger
many is an affront to the national pride of
France. 1t does not beft the dignity of the
American Government to be a busybody in
foreign changes that are not yet settled.
So much for the propriety of General
Grants recommendation, if we could con.
cede the soundness of his premises. But the
resemblance which, copying Mr.. Bancroft,
he attempts to draw between the Government
Oh OeTnlduy anu tudJ Vi Uue " ulVeu OGbloS IL
utterly preposterous. If he can perceive nc
important difference between the things he
compares, he is reereant to republican insti-
tutions, and is q dangerous man to be at the
head of our GovernElent If General Grant
thinks the German Government as good az
ours, as his message clearly implies, be
would have no objection to the remouldine
of ours after the German model. The En-.
peror William claims to be a monarch
by divine right Bismarck, his prime
minister, is the most relentless absolutis
in Europe. General Grants indorsing eulogS
shows what kind of government he ad
mires, and reveals him to the country as ar
imperialist at heart. He would be glad tc
see the United States what Germany has just
become. He would like to be the Kaiser
Ulysses of the Federal Union, an imperia
despot holding his power in spite of the
people, and welding the same authority al
Kaiser William. We have come to an alarm
ing pass when an American President Car
send message to Congress arguing tina
there is little to chose between the govern
ment of Germany and that of the United
States, and when the Republican part,
acquiesces in the abjuring parallel. Alb
juring, because General Grant gives VI
and renounces, as of little Importance, thu
points in which our Government differs from
that of imperial, domineering Germany. w
have no doubt that this strange message is
faithful key to General Grants politica
wishes. OF what avail is it that the Consti
tuition forbids the election of any but a native
born citizen of the United States to the offic
of President, if our Presidents may thu
publicly renounce their fidelity to American
institutions? Bismarck himself, in Genera
Grants place, could not have sent to Con
gress o more anti-American message.
panegyrio on the German empire is a renun
citation of all that is distinctive in our repub
lican institutions. If the German Govern
ment is as good as ours, there is no reaso
whv ua shouId NOT adont IL