The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-04-14
OUR COSTLY FOREIGN SERVICE.
Remarks of Mr.. Cox i'm the House-Abolish
the Useless Ministers and Their Satel-

Remarks of Mr.. Cox i'm the House-Abolish
the Useless Ministers and Their satel-
Iftes!
Congressional Record
Mr.. Cox-I rose few moments ago for the
purpose of saying to the House. as chairman
of the committee on foreign affairs, that any
intimatIon that we have been derelict in
providing by law for q new consular and
diplomatic system was not authorized by the
fac s. at least in so far as it referred to
myself.
1t was said by the gentleman from Georgia
Mr. Blount) that have opposed again and
again in this House the expensive and use
less diplomacy by which our treasury is so
much depleted and for which there is no
adequate compensation in the services rem
dered.
Why should we not withdraw from the
salary of diplomats as much money as Is
possible to aggrandizs the consular system?
The great need of this country is the ex-
tension of trade. Let us find new avenues
and opportunities for our commerce.
Why, therefore, should l not feel some re-
sentiment at remarks made on Saturday by
gentlemen, inasmuch as / could not tell
under the rules, what took place in the For
eign Affairs committee?
If the truth were known its cha rman
should not be reproached in the slightest
man from Illinois Mr.. Townsend) referred
to me and to my committee, to which he
sent a general resolution asking for a radical
change in this diplomatic system. Now
say. since il has been discussed here, that
have twice brought before that committee
his resolution. 1 may say, with propriety
that that committee is dislnclined TO make
any such change as he recommended; and
so far as l am personally concerned have
debated the matter involved IN his resolu-
hon, here, years ago, year after year, till to
me il is threadbare My then able colleague
Mr. Hewitt) who on the + o -eigd Affairs
committee. made an exhaustive speech of
the same tenor. / collected from the Han
sard English debates, as he had from the
Globe and our Records, all that was worthy
10 be authority on point OF this kind.
Ny friend from Kentucky Mr.. Black
burnl followed in this path. He would
strike down these useless ministerial ap-
pendages. l cheer him in his work. In
this day of newspapers, steamships, rail-
roadP, and telegraphs (msrine aud terres-
trial), and when the appliances of our civ
ilization are making their marvels of ad-
vancs ment, is 1t not time to disuse a system
so futile and tuial and so utter y effste?
Why not so restore us, even to the old
fashioned plan of mon entaugling al
llances" which Washington, franklin, and
our fathers recommended, and which, in
my uuOIc cAdOOIdbo cpccCu Ou bnlb OilA. Il Will
show they recommended as infinitely SUI
perior to the unrepublican and contemplate
methods now in vogue? Why not, If you
please, combine all Europe, or all South
Americs, or Central America, or the Pacific
coast China and Japan into one embassy,
and. by shrewd business sense, remit the
great bulk OF our diplomatic work to one
diplomatic head, and its commercial work
to our consular system?
However Our consular svRtem NAV be px-
tended, is it not consummate?
Sir. we have a splendid consular system
1t does not need much reform. Here is a
book prepared at the state department. II
is worth studying. 1t rsmIfies all through
our commerce and into all .ts vicissitudes,
enterprises aud fortunes. Now, sir, when
we are seeking these foreign avenues of trade
| would enhance and strengthen the COM
mercial agencies, and none others To do
that abolish these luxurious, unrepublican
and inordiDate salaries for ambassadors and
their satellites. Is it not their only bust
ness, when they chance to be at their posts,
to dine at cafes, TO dance attendance on no
bility, to lis EN- 10 the frivolous gossip of
those who have no sympathy with republi
canism, to write silly epistles about court
receptions and dances and fooleries, and who
return to us so undemocratized, so donation
allied, that at their elegant leisure and
abundant pleasure they patronizs us, their
superiors, after galivanting all through
Europe at the expense of the tax-psying and
Woodworking people?