The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-06
FEWER MINISTERS AND MORE CON
SULS.

European affairs which has been uniformly
pursued by the United States government
since Its first establishment, and of the OK.
tremely rare occasions when complications
have arisen or are likely to arise between o,ll
own and any Of these foreign States, 1t has
long been question with PRACTICAL people
what possible use we can have for the costly
and ostentatious missions sustained BY The
United States at the several European CAPT
tails.
Immediately after the revolution, when ou1
young republic was seeking recognition as
one of the coming powers Of the earth, we can
easily. conceive the necessity Of being repre-
sented at all the European courts by
resident ministers, selected from among
our wisest and most distinguished
men. But long years ago this
necessity ceased to exist. There was a time
! when the eminent abilities Of such men as
Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and Jay were very
useful to US abroad, and when we had to enter
into the combinations Of European politics
and form alliances for our own protection
against the aggressions and cupidity OF
stronger States. But this country has long
since become too formidable to render any
such participation In European diplomacy
necessary or desirable, and by reason OF her
Isolation, the preservation of the balance OF
power, the everlasting source Of European in
trigue and warfare, has become to her a
matter OF supreme indifference. Despite this
altered condition Of affairs we 20 on keeping
up these missions abroad, and with more
ostentation and at a larger expense than
when they were Of real use and impor-
lance. We find them filled, however,
by a much lower order Of men than
in the old times when they were something
else than mere ornamental sinecures, and, In
consequence, what few more difficult negotia-
tions we have entered into of late years with
the nations OF Europe were intrusted to spe-
cially delegated Representatives, and not to
our resident ministers.
It is we'll known fact that Reverdy john
son was sent to the Court OF st. James for no
other purpose than to bring about q settle
ment Of the Alabama claims, and that but
for that dangerous and important compica-
ton, so respectable a lawyer and diplomat
would never have been given the appoint
ment. AS soon rs his mission was completed
he withdrew, and his place was filled byJ. Ed
wards Pierrepont, whose special mission ap-
pears to have been to play flunkey to Grant
and procure him vulgar and sensational
reception In England. The predecessor
Of Mr. johnson was the notorious Schenck.
Of er-playing and Emma mine memory,
who brought nothing but disgrace to the
American name.
This Is the history Of the embassy to the
Court of st. James since the war, but what
may be said Of it applies to nearly all the rest
of our foreign missions, and for period long
to the war. The truth Of the mat
ter is these positions have come to be re-
garded as sinecures with which to pension off
broken down party hacks, and reward the
partisan services Of politicians whose con-
have repudiated them.
There have been some notable exceptions, but
the very character OF the men selected In these
occasional instances shows the unimportance
Of our diplomatic relations with the countries
to which they are accredited. Mr.. j. Lathrop
Motley was 6 pure able and learned man
but we have never heard him spoken Of as
Diplomat, and 1T is fact known to all, and
openly avowed, that the only consideration
might be allowed the fullest opportunity OF
his history Of the Dutch Repub-
lie. A similar motive prompted Bayard
Taylor's appointment to Berlin, where he
went for the avowed purpose Of prosecuting
his studies with a view to the production Of
I great work on German literature. Some
such purpose, 1t is said, caused j. Russell
Lowell, whom we have never heard spoken
II except as scholar, poet and q student,
certainly not as diplomat or man Of affairs,
% be sent to Spain, as the American
best qualified after Longfellow, who, we
believe. refused the mission, to write up the
fanciful and Evolutionary literature Of
Spain. AS compared with the considerations
which have controlled the appointments Of
The rest Of our foreign ministers, those which
Induced the selection OF these gentlemen are
most commendable. Yet they prove these
missions to be utterly useless as State en-
oagsies. and it may well be questioned if it be
The duty Of the government to pay the ex-
penses Of scholars and book-makers while
pursuing the researches Incident to their
work. Mr.. Lowell appears to be hugely dis
gusted with his experiences at Madrid, and
in giving expression to his feelings he bears
the fullest testimony to the utter useessness
Of maintaining the Spanish mission. He COM
plains that he Is made a mere convenience Of
oy strollIng Americans, and that his sole du-
ties appear to be to act as a sort of guide and
chaperone to his visiting countrymen.
aWhat we do need abroad, as the DEMOCRAT
las time and again sought to impress, is
xNP {oI l0{a
filled by active, intelligent and able men,
whose duty it shall be to furnish the govern
nent with the fullest statistical and general
Information in regard to the markets, pro-
lucts and commerce of the countries to which
hey are accredited, and, at the same time,
render to our own producers and traders
every possible assistance in the extension of
American commerce abroad. This is the sys-
EN- pursued by England, and to it Is attrib-
ltable her monopoly Of the most valuable