National Republican., 1878-12-10
COMMERCIAL AND CONSULAR BIPLo-
MACY.


Wherever civilization has set its stamp
upon the nations of the earth desire for
commercial supremacy has followed rapidly
in its track. England now stands in the
front rank of all civilized countries. and she
owes this proud position largely to her COM
mercial marine. In all parts of the globe
where fathom of water can float her mer-
chantmen there the red cross of ST. GEORGE
is displayed. This commercial enterprise
and industry has brought to Great Britain
wealth, knowledge, and power 1t has re-
vealed the hidden mysteries of ages, and
made the British ensign known and re-
spccted even by the most savage and unciv-
ilized peoples of the earth. 1t has carried
trade and traffic, wealth and knowledge,
prosperity and civilization, where, before its
approach, all was poverty, ignorance, OBJ
security, and vice and its most potent agent
in these achievements has been CONNER
cial enterprise. England has a grand
system Of diplomacy, which has been form
ulated under the tuition of centuries, and is
as nearly perfect rs experience and wisdom
can make it. From the more humble clerk
up to vice.consul, consul consul-general
charge dG6dirCs, minister, and special en-
bassador, that government has perfected her
diplomatic service step by step until the
more ignorant and yet watchful clerk be-
comes the reticcnt, learned, and willy diplo-
matist. As the ship goes wherever fathom
of water is found to float her, there goes
Englands representative, armed with the
seal Of his country, to plant her commercial
| flag and foster her interests This is the se-
cret of Great Britaln's commercial power
The intelligent and persevering representa-
| tive soon acquaints himself with the country
to which he is accredited. 1t may be rich in
mineral wealth; it may possess luXuriance
of soil and be productive in agriculture, and
the products of the earth may waste for
want of consumption the mineral wealth
may be as so much worthless earth to the
! people who inhabit it, all Of which is duly
noted and communicated by the representa-
| tive to his home government. Then follow
the vessels of commerce and rich frcights
with which English merchants are made opu-
lent and the commercial supremacy of Great
Britain is again extended.
This brief consideration of the commercial
estates of older nations leads to the inquiry
| Shall our own country soon learn wisdom
from the history Of these eXamplcsr Shall
the United States, with its vast resources
its intelligence, its enterprise, and industry
fall in the rear and keep up the race with
other and inferior nations for future SUI
prcmacy holding such competitive relation
| This will be unavoidable until We have an
energetic, faithful intelligent, and shrewd
| diplomacy; but when that comes, and
we are represented at the smallest as
well rs the most powerful kingdoms by
competent, intelligent, and experienced dip
| lomatists and cOnstns, then will this nation
begin to drift ahead in her commercial rank
with the other civilized governments of the
earth. Thus far in our history we have moi
given proper attention to the question oi
our diplomatic relations We have been
blinded by our own prosperity, and have
not bestowed proper thought upon the iu
ture. The parsimony that has pinched ouI
diplomatic service has stintcd the growth O
our commercial power. Appropriations fol
| its advancement have been stingy, mean
and crippiug, mud have borne unhealthy
| fruits to some oxtent. The service has been