National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-19
Our Diplomatic and Consular Service.

who travel abroad are satisfied with the
manner in which the United States is
represented in foreign countries.
As general thing American Ministers
and Consuls are ignorant of the language
of the country to which they are accred-
tied, unacquainted with its history and
traditions, and foreign to its business
rules and social customs.
As result our representatives abroad
are not en- rapport with the people with
whom they dwell; they are insulated ;
amid the currents of business and politics
they are almost deaf and dumb. How
ever able they may have been at home
they are comparatively powerless abroad
from the lack of the necessary tools to do
their work with. Understanding no
language but English, their mouths and
their ears are almost Theoretically sealed.
And thus armed and equipped they go
up and down in the land and among a
people whom they ought to be able to III
fuence for the good of our Republic and
its citizens.
But the fault has been largely with our
own political leaders at home. Foreign
missions and consulates have been looked
upon as sinecures, as comfortable asy-
lums for unsuccessful or decayed poll
ticians, and so have been parceled out
by our political chieftains among their
followers with little regard for fitness or
adaptability, OF anything else except the
adequate rewarding of personal political
services.
1t goes without saying that this is all
wrong, and should be reformed alto
gether. Civil-service reform has no
greater opportunity than i'll the selec-
ton of our foreign representatives.
The first and great prerequisite-the
sine gasa non of fitness in an Ambassador
or consuil-is that he should have a
thorough and intimate acquaintance
either with the language of the country
in which he is to represent us and our
interests, OF in the language of diplo-
macy-the French. We do not mean a
school-boy smattering of the tongue, but
the power to use it effectively in conver-
sation and writing on affairs of business
and affairs of state.
With this indispensable power our rep
resentatives can bring into active use
their knowledge of the history, traditions,
business, and varied commercial needs
and capacities of foreign countries, and
can vigorously aid in stimulating trade
and all commercial relations between
those countries and our own.
The exports of the United States have
already reached colossal proportions, but
they are vet capable of indefinite expan-
sion.
The great foreign demand for our grain,
pork, beef, cotton, and petroleum may be
readily increased. Rumors to the dis
credit of our goods, like the false report
of the hog cholera, must be promptly re-
flted The market for American manu-
factures may be made almost worldwide.
The myriad products of the inventive ge
MUS of our land, those thousand little
articles ofdaily need and use, will be
eagerly sought for abroad as rapidly as
their comfort and utility are made known,
and the products of American skill and
ingenuity may be distributedto the ends
of the earth.
1t is with pleasure that we here give
utterance to widespread belief, which
we make no doubt viii be justified by
the fact, that the administration of Presi-
dent Garfield will render itself illustrious
by broad, comprehensive and well di-
gested plan to develop and extend the
commerce of the United States to largely
increase the volume Of our exports, and
to send American goods under the Amer
lean flag to even the most remote nations.
In this grand and worthy endeavor the
administration is fortunate in having as
Secretary of State gifted gentleman.
who has made this subject special study
for years.
But the first step to be taken for this
grand end, we submit, is thorough re-
modelling of our diplomatic and consular
corps, and a replacement where neces-
sary of the old and untitled representa-
tives by new men, who shall unite an
adequate knowledge Of the languages
with a special fitness for their work, and
thus be able to carry forward to fruition
the liberal plans ofthe President and the
Secretary for great and advantageous
extension of our commercial relations.
In this connection we note with pleas
ure the appointment of Hon. Levi P.
Morton as Minister to France. Mr.. Nor
ton is an apt and thorough French
scholar, and gentleman of large and
varied business and political experience.
His appointment will unquestionably be
received as compliment by the country
to which he is accredited, and will re-
dound to the advantage and influence of
our own land.
We hope and believe that the wisdom
which dictated this appointment will be
exercised in the selection of all our for
eign representatives, and that the admin
istration now starting out amid so many
happy auguries will thus take the first
and greatest step toward the revival of
American commerce.
-4
An Extra Session of Congress.