National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-22
"Yankcc Nicanness."

OF February 5, it INDUCES the following
criticism
The Republic of the United States is the
richest country on the face of the earth, and
the Americans are proud to be considered the
"smartest' and most busineSs.like of people.
1t is nevertheless true that in melting out the
reward Of official service the American Gov
eminent shows parsimony which Is at once
mean and short-sighted. We published yes
terday dispatch from Philadelphia in which
our correspondent summarizes the provisions
of u bill upon diplomatic salaries that has just
been drawn up by the Appropriations Com
mittee of the House of Representatives. From
this 1t Is apparent that the majority in
Congress are still bent oil cutting down the
public expenditure at the point whore it can
bear reduction the least The diplomatic SER
vice is only one of tho fields in which the
JOSEPH HUMEs of Washington are free to e1-
ercise their ingenuity, for the army, the navy,
the revenue services, and the Indian Depart
ment are given over to the same petty and de-
grading economy. Foreigners take note Of the
reductions from which the diplomatic and
consular appointments suffer more readily
than Of those which are enforced upon local
officials in the United States, but it is probable
that the latter are even more harsh and de-
plorablc. The cost Of living in the great
American cities, in spite Of the decline In
prices that has been one of the consequences Of
pean capital, London, Paris, Berlin. and
Vienna not excepted. Yet the salaries Of the
Cabinet Ministers at Washington, welding
vast power and dispensing large patronage, are
fixed at El,6OO year.
The starvation policy adopted by Con-
gross in establishing the rates of compensa-
ton for the diplomatic service, and for OH
cials in the home departments at the Ma
tionnl Cnnitnl IL simnly mean and finds its
origin in a desire to make q show oil econ
omy, no matter how expensive to the eff
cheney and welfare Of the service. The ef-
feet is to lower the standard OF ability and
reduce the character of our public servants
to plane scarcely up to mediocrity.' In n
nation noted for the extent Of its material
resources, and for its intellectual abilities
this narrow, pinching, starving policy, that
grows out of the sheerest and pettiest
demaCogism, is simply contemplate, and
deserves the severest criticism and denun-
citation from the press Of this country and
Europe
But il ia scarcely within the line of reason
to hope to find stream under the natural
laws Of gravitation rising above its head,
and hence no one need look to q majority
of Congress for higher order of statesman
ship OF iuster sense of duty and RESPONSE
bi,ity than is averaged in that body. Mar
row minded and pursimonious men canno,
take broad, catholic and liberal view OF
questions relating to official qualification
and its Just rewards. No matter how
small man may be intrnscally. if by any
accident he finds himself in Congress, this
transfer scarcely ever clevates him above
his normal condition. He makes diminu,
tive and parsimonous Representative, and
his views of public policy show that pig
mics, though perchCd on Alps, are pigmies
still"
The Government is beittled and reduced
in public respect by these influences, and
stands little chance.of elevation until tn,
people find higher order of material will
which 10 adorn the halls Of Congress ant
the other departments that make up th'
allied forces of administration.
Congress is not without its wise and abl'
men in its makeup but they are far from
majority in either body. They are lost il
: the chaff which circumstance, instead o
true merit, has thrown around them. In
representative form Of government whcr
the people rule, this, to some extent, cannO
be avoided, and can be tolerated where tn
want of merit has not become too unani
nous. But the character Of the presen
Congress should admonish the people (.
greater care in selecting Representative
| 70 m, rntl,,.r than in rIn,
with the measure Of their personal ambi
= tons.
Statesmen should be endowed with men
tai and moral attributes that will enable
them to comprehend intelligently tn
, public needs and dignities that they ma,
t be met in a way commensurate with tn
: demand of great, multitudinous, and dig
nitied republic, whose ambition and who's
| destiny it is to stand at the head of al
, the civilized nations of the earth. Tn
people shall mar this prospect by the re
; peated experiment of clothing small mel
8 with great powers, in which they are utterl!
, lost to usefulness.
/ II was our purpose in the outset of thi
article to point out the error, not to say al
1 surdity, Of adopting in any branch Of thu
! public service Of this great and growing ma
Q ton belittling, starving scale of compen
y sation for public service, which substan
r. Italy excludes sterling ability unless
d chances to be allied TO wealth.
e is far better TO provide well for
;. poor wise man in the public seryc,
: than to invite folly clothed in wealth I
: take charge of public affairs. In this vie
g of the case we feel constrained to enter OF
n humble protest against needless and sens
y less reduction OF salaries, to afford son
4 cheap reputation to petty demagogues, WI
d have no intellectual power to hew out IL
e themselves higher and nobler fame,
d The onslaught made upon the diplomat
= service of this nation by the House Commi
d too of Appropriations is fearful and ndefel
IS sible, and has specially attracted the after
& ton of the London Times. 1t says:
It The expenditure of tho Federal GoyernmcI
il upon the diplomatic aud consular services hi
. been already cut down 30 far that 1t demands
70 degree OF boldnCss remarkable even anon
e American politicians " propose further redu,
4 tons. Any one who Is acquainted with the d.
. mands made upon q minister IN one of tn