The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-09

nj Berlin. at immense expense, In order to al
ford American scholars an opportunity TO
study German literature.
Minister Maynard is absent from his post
on D visit to friends In Massachusetts,; Min
lister Stoughton Is on tramp through
Europe; Minister Lowell ID also of duty on o.
leave Of absence; Minister Welsh Is mad be-
cause he IL not paid as much as he thinks he
is entitled to. and has threatened to resign
and come home; Minister Noyes sympathizes
with Welsh and has spent his time during
his diplomatic sojourn abroad travelling
around and playing lackey to Grant; Minis
ter Seward is at home on trial for malfeasance
and swindling while abroad; Minister Marsh
is bedridden and unable to attend to his
duties, and Minister Foster has been ordered
home to take charge of the Republican cam
paign In Indiana.
Yet, strange to relate, despite the absence
Of these diplomats, our relations with the
various powers to which they are commits
stoned 90 on as pleasantly as ever. There Is
not the faintest indication OF war with any Of
these nations In consequence Of their absence,
| and what little red-tape there is to attend to
in the way Of writing notes Of coincidence on
sad family occasions, and notes Of gratula-
ton on cheerful ones, appears to be attended
to by the secretaries as ably and satisfactorily
and could have been done by the distinguish
ed diplomats themselves.
The total cost to the government Of these
expensive barnacles is $10s,0O0 yearly. We
understand, and we have no reason to doubt
the assertion, that these eminent gentlemen
ajv In. frYd nfc
that It Is their habit to do SO with prompt
ness and regularity that does great credit TO
the method OF our diplomatic service. This
is very we'll, but what do these people do to
earn their money! What possible use can we
have for them abroad?
The truth OF the business liz that this is
purely ornamental executive patronage,
which serves no purpose except to pension off
bankrupt politicians and provide refugees for
Senators whose States have repudiated them
There Is no earthly occasion for our having q
minister at single European court. Our in
tercourse with these nations Is purely OF q
| commercial character, and no questions are
likely to arise between any or them and the
United States which would not come within
the purview OF our consular service, and could
not be attended to better by that branch OF
the service than the diplomatic. It has al
ways been the policy OF our government to
steer clear Of all the entaDglements OF Euro
pean diplomacy and to have nothing to do
with European affairs and complications.
We have, as a necessary consequence,
never had any diplomatic service In
Europe and will never have any 50 long
as we persist In the wise policy we have
pursued. But, as the Post very sensibly
intimates, we do need an ADLER and larger
consular service all over the world, 10 every
port where we are endeavoring to find mar
kets for our products. The money which is
now spent on these ornamental sinecures for
decrepit and repudiated party hacks might
well be devoted to the development Of our
commercial interests abroad by the appoint
ment Of more and better qualified consular
agents.