New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-23
c0NSUL BYERS IND HIS LETTER.


1t is reported from Washington that the
State Department has severely Ieprlmanded
Consul Bvers for writing the letter on foreign
emigration to the United States, recently pub-
lIshcd III THE TRIBUNE: and that he would be
further p9nisfcd by removal were it not t)r his
excellent record as a soldier and consular
Officer Mr. Byers's offence is said to lie IN his
suggestion of a policy antagonistic to that or
| "Our Government" and in the violation of
consular regulation. We know nothing about
the consular regulations governing the writing
of newspaper letters by our commercial repre-
sentatives abroad, but if any exist which pro-
bIbit the expression of honest and thoughtful
opinions on subjects of great interest to the
peOple Of this country, they are more h0nOred. iii
the breach than the Observance. AS to the
other branch of Mr.. Byers's offence, it seems
straiDing point TO bring Consul under.t the rules
and traditions governing Minister. A Consul is
not "A diplomatic representative, and ms vie VS.
OH matters outside the commercial functions
which he exercises cannot be taken to he those
OF the Government commissioning him. Min
isteIs are the spokesman and negotators of the
Administration to represent It's policy at foreign
coptals. and to speak for it With authority in
States. Consuls are business agents to aid the
commerce of Their country and assist the GUS
toms authorities in collecting the tariff rev enue.
Besides it il NOT consistent with the spirit of
our institutions that subordinate officials should
he required to express the views OF then supe
rors on public questions, or keep their mouths
shut The citizen is no less a citizen when he
accents office, and does not forfeit the hight OF
free discussion. Because the State Department
may believe in unrestricted immigration Con-
sul IN switzerland should not be prohibited from
pointing out the evils of the system in the
public prints-cvils, by the way, which he is in
a mucl better situation to observe than the
officers OF the Department. But II may be said
that he should have addre ssed his commune
cation to the Department instead of to
THE TRIBUNE. II he had done 80 it would
lave been buried i'll a bulky volume OF dipO-
matte and consular correspondence, printed
wear or two after It's date, and read by very
few persons.
Whatever technical fault Consul Byers may
have committed, he deserves the thanks OF the
American public for calling attention to a sub
iect of great importance in its bearing on the
future welfare Of this country. We undOubt-
edly have the right as a nation to select the
material which is to be moulded with
native population to form the future American
r,ce. II we choose to exclude paupers and
criminals. or any classes or races that are not
likely 10 blend with our own people, or to fur
njsh a support for our free institutions, we are
at full liberty to do 80. Whether it would be
wise 70 exercise such discrimination and to turn
back foreigners who seek the hospitality of our
shores, is n question which may fairly challenge
the most thoughtful discussion. This is the
question raised by our Consul at Zurich, who
has no doubt had occasion to observe the char
acter of tic emigTants departing for this cOun-
fry from Switzerland and Southern Germany
Formerly the SWiss Cantons were in the habit
ot shining their paupers to us because it was
cheaper to pay their passage to New York than
IN maintain them at home. We do not know
that the practice is continued, hut among the
thousands of foreigners who arrive every week
at our ports there are unluesuonably large
number who speedily become public burdens
or public pests in their new homes. The Wis
dom OF some governmental supervision to keep
out such persons can hardly be questioned.
As to the policy of our Government it can
scarcely be said to have one, unless 1t be to let
The matter alone Some OF the States, notably
New York assume jurisdiction over the subject
nroyiding for the protection Of emigrants aud
occasio nally refusing the steamship companies
permission TO land beggars and criminals, but