Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-01-19
"0ur Diplomatic Relations

! Jenkins, formerly chairman of the Repub-
| lican State Central Committee of Virginia
during Grants time, is now successful
lawyer out in Colorado. He is one of the
candidates for the Senate before the Colora-
do Legislature. Forty millionaircs arc con-
testing for the coming vacancy, thereby put
ting seats in the Legislature AT an enormous
| premium. Jenkins was poor when he lived
| N Virginia, where he grew thinner day hy
day in his attempts to nurse the republican
! party into Il healthy growth. Becoming
tired, jenkins said Il will 60 abroad and
rest He went to Washington He visi-
ted the White House No one stopped him.
He walked right into Grant and told him
what he wanted. Grant treated Jenkins
very politely, and said to him: Il recognize
| the value of your services. But | do not
keep the run of the foreign appointments
You so over and talk with Fish. | will give
youa card to him, saying that would like to
have you sentabroad."
Jenkins took the card and went away de-
lighted. 1t was Thursday When he reach
cd the department he found it was diplo-
matte day. \ messenger stopped him at
the first door. The State Department was
then on Fourteenth street, in the building
now used as an orphan asylum: jenkins,
when stopped by the messenger, said "Well
l thought there was always some place
where style is put on by an administration.
I did not encounter it at the Presidents
] but here ! meet it in six-hundred-
dollar messenger" He succeeded in get
ting the man to read Grants card, however,
and was then admitted. He entered at p.
M, and Fish kept him waiting until nearly
o clock. When jenkins was finally ad-
mltted Mr.. Fish did not allude to the sub.
Jcct OF the Firginian visit, but began TO
prattlc i'll Il solemn way about the new State
| Department building, then nearly compile
ted. Finally Jenkins blurted out his wishes
breaking into the middle ofone of Mr.. Fish's
sentences. 'Ah," said Mr. Fish, "you want
Il second or third class mission, sir | am
perfectly satisfied with all the present in
cumbents, and could not ask for a rcsigna-
ton to crafty even YOU But my dear sir,
us you are friend of Gen. Grant, / shall
see what can do?"
Calling for list offorcign offices, Mr.. Fish said:
| Mr.. Jenkins, how would you like to go to Jcru-
salem"
What is the pay?'
Twelve hundred dollars year"
Mr.. Fish, have wife and six children. l do
not think twelve hundred dollars would pay our
| way out there if we were shipped as freight and
am sure We could not live aftcrward on that sum-
| But there is one place would like"
| What is that said Fish
Said jenkins. tgloomily:) II you have vacancy
in the consulate in the Jerusalem will take
it at any price
| Mr.. Fish did not smile. With great solcmniy he
said: Sir! The achievements of this adnin:stra.
| lion have hccn great. By peaceful means it has
settled some of the most vrxcd diplomatic ques-
tlonS "i modern tirnc$: but in spite of all of its
! great achievements il has never succeeded in cs-
tab!Shing diplomatic relations with the new Jcru~
salem If 1t ever does, Mr.. Jenkins. YOU shall have
the first chance for the place"
jenkins slammed out at this and ran back 10 the
! White House. Grant laughed when he heard his
cNpcricncc. and soon after appointed him secretary
! to the then Territory Of Colorado. Instead of 60
ing abroad to starvc, Jenkins went West and has
! now fortune for his wife aud babies