The New York herald., 1879-02-03
Rstrenehment of Diplomatic Expenses
Our Navy the True symbol OF Ma
tionaI Dignity.

Rstrenehment OF Diplomatic Expenses
Our Navy the True symbol OF Ma
tionaI Dignity.
The latest of our diplomatic appoint
merits is that of Senator Christiancy as
Minister to Peru, made last week and
unanimously confirmed on the same day.
The reason publicly assigned for this ap'
pointment is so futile as to be ridiculous.
Mr.. Christiancy, who is not in good health,
thinks tropical climate would bene mt
him. An envy extraordinary and mlnis-
ter plenipotentiary is to be commissioned,
not for any public or poltica! or inter-
national reason, but on purely sanitary
grounds, with view to enable an estimable
citizen to try an experiment on his health
at the expense Of the national Treasury.
We concede that this is a more respectable
motive than the one by which most OF our
diplomatic appointments are prompted.
Instead of being hospital or sanitarium
for men physically disabled our foreign
missions are, for the most part, retreats for
manned or crippled politicians, who are
supported at the public expense MIR.
Christiancy is favorable specimen Of this
class of appointees, since his maladies are
merely physical, and his intellectual and
social qualifications are equal to
the position. But still it is none
the less farce to bestow such
positions for sanitary reasons and for the
mere private advantage of the incumbents.
Why should Mr.. Christiancy rather than
anybody else travel for his health and re-
side in a southern climate at the expense of
the government?
The vacant mission to Berlin is not yet
filed, and it may be difficult to find an
appointee SO accomplished and popular as
the late Bayard Taylor. The fact that no
public interest is thought to suffer by the
long delay in selecting his successor is an
additional proof Of what everybody knew
before, that the German mission is of no
practical consequence. Everything goes on
precisely the same and precisely as we'll
under temporary charge d'affaires as under
a regular minister. This honorable posi-
ton was given to Beyard Taylor, not for
any important diplomatic service he was
expected to render, but to facilitate his re-
searches for writing life of Goethe. What
interest has this country in the great Ger
man poet to justify an Investigation Of the
minutest particulars of his history at the
expense Of our government? 1t was, Of
course, great deal better to send to Berlin
a scholar capable Of employing his time in
so respectable an investigation than it
would have been to fill the place with one
of the herd of vulgar politicians who
are ignorant of the language, people and
history of Germany but for any serious
business purpose the mission of Bayard
Taylor was as useless as if he Ind been an
ignorant politician of the ordinary type.
What, then, is the use of missions which
may be filled by mere brokendown politi-
cal hacks, or by men of letters who covet
them for facilities Of literary research, or
which may be left vacant for indefinite
periods, without loss or detriment to the
country?
The HERALD advocates the discontinuance
of thu greater part of our foreign missions
and reduction Of the expenses of the
half dozen which it may be ex-
pedient to retain. When sudden emer.
gency arises, or when new treaty
is to be negotiated, special ENJOYS
may be sent and the appropriations for the
contingent expenses OF the State Depart
ment should always be sufficient for such
occasions. With such O provision nearly
all the foreign missions could be discon-
tinued without detriment to any public in
terest. The few retained should be regarded
as posts of honor, to be filled by eminent
citizens willing to accept the honor as the
chief part of their compensation.
The first in point of time and the greatest
in capacity OF all the diplomatic agents
employed by the United States every in
telliCent reader will see that the reference
is to DR.. Franklin-strcnuousl main
tanned that the most important po-
sitions in the government should
have no pecuniary compensation attached
to them The illustrious mple Of Washing
ton had some influence in shaping his views,
but they rested on reasoning rather than
precedent. franklin was a member Of the
Convention which framed the federal consti-
tuition, and in that body he made speech
against allowing salaries to executive off,
GERS In note to this speech by the best
and ablest of Franklins biographers it is
said: = Franklin and Washington taught
in the most eloquent way, though unsuc-
cessfully. the iinpolicy OF allowing
any compensation to executive officers
they both declined to accept what
the law awarded them. Franklin con-
sented to receive something less than
ninety dollars to cover his postage
account while President Of Pennsylvania,
and In his will bequcathed the rest to
various charities" In the clause referred
to in Franklin's will he said-'Tt having
been long a fixed political opinion of mine
that in democratical State there ought tc