The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-11

| clnSs, composed mainly or mo fathers and
kindred OF these dependents, take caro- TO
see that they arc well paid Mt the expense
| OF the state. Consequently the British
service is the best rewarded in the world
| That Is 10 say, the favored few are luxuri-
ously supported at the expense Of the toll
| ing many.
| And this is the example that is now held
| up to us for imitation in n time Of general
| suffering, aud IL used IA an argument
| against the effort TO rctrcnch growing
tendency in the same direction. which has
been enc, ......'e'g~l hv the Republican party
In every possible way. We arc told. be-
cause England and Russia and other great
powers keep up magnificent embassies and
costly consulates to provide for their poor
or improvident 1ristocracy, therefore the
United States should pension worthless
politicians on a corresponding scale.
Republican leaders are driven to this sort
OF miserable defence for their past prodi-
gality. But Democrats who pretend
favor reform have no such excuse
posing 1t when Offered IN = oo,,aoi ond
,"D,o s""Po' "'' writ of this city
"rH'eu e'aou'"'y against the new bill,
"nu esPVo'' " IN regard to tho consular
ch""s'S On the plea that commerce was TO
DC Id .Lred by the retrenching policy. He
81 rely knows that consuls at best are mere
1 ly ministerial agents, who have nothing to
do with the creation or enlargement of
commerce. They may in some degree af-
feet its operations by the manner III which
their duties are performed.
But il is yet to be shown by any exhibit
ton OF facts, why cOusulates which for
| fifteen or twenty or more years have de-
clincd in value until they have become
merely nominal, should receive large
salaries, or cannot be changed into agen-
cies that would be self-supporting and
equally useful for all the wants of trade
Mr.. HEWITT proved nothing but a desire
to support what he calls the dignity OF the
nation by AN official representation abroad
for which there is no need.
Mr.. Woop, too, was verv vehement I'm
the same line, and spoke RS If he had been
prompted by the Secretary OF state for the
occasion. He has not quite recovered
| from his disappointment In the Speaker
ship. or his subsequent rejection rs leader
of the House. Hence the work OF more
successful rivals is not regarded with
favor, aud no opportunity IS lost TO strike
nh indirect blow at their success.
when Mr. WOOD told the House that Mr..
WAsHnURNE had said TO him that his
salary of sl7500 was not more than enough,
and that at the end of the year he had no
thing out OF 1t to spare" one or the other
Of them must have been grossly mistaken.
| Mr.. WAsHBURNE has nercr spent much
more than hdt his salary In representa-
tire capacity and It Is no secret that he
has sent home considerable sums for in
vestment.
The only fault 10 be found with Mr..
RANDALL's bill Is that II does not go far
enough. Restraint is It's weakness. IL he
had consolidated more Of the missions and
abolished more Of the consulates he would
have been fully justified by experience, by
sound policy. and 10y the condition of tho
country. As 1t H. he has acted for the best,
and can well afford to stamp under foot
the small jeaouses on his own side Of the
House, and is abundantly able To take care
Of the shams that are put forward to cover
up Republican squandering Of the public
| money.