Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-14
FROM THE ORIENT.
How the American CousuIships Differ
From Those Of Almost Every
Other Nation.
Graduates From Our Colleges Should
Compete for Positions in the
Foreign Service.
What It Costs the American Government TO
Change a Consui-srany Things
That Might he Done.

BElHOUl, b1klAt MATCH loJ ioov'-- AZ
numerous changes In the United States
consular service within the last few
months, lead the American traveller OF
resident abroad TO contrast the system
In vogue with us with that Of Other
countries. The "spols" system could
not be exhibited 70 the nations at large
In any more practical or striking way.
In talking with a number Of foreigners on
this subject, found II hard for
them TO understand how such a
principle could control matters so
purely commercial. For them TO witness
on the incoming of a new party admins
tratlon at Washington so sweeping a
change In the consular service, gives a
strong impression OF the instability Of
our form Of government All those
numerous relations, Official Commercial
and social, which have becn the growth
OF years are suddenly broken of. a
new man must 90 through the
tedious initiation into office; tire.
some 70 himself as well as 20 those with
whom he has 70 deal. hundred ties
which united the business relations Of the
two countries are dislocated, perhaps
never 10 be rearranged.
But II the change Is noticeable TO for
who In his travels has frequent occasion
10 seek the service of or advice OF the
United States CONSUL. Alter the old
consul gets notice that he Is 10 be super
seeded he he is quite likely TO lose all his
interest In his work and in many cases
he Is inclined TO resign Immediately and
leave vacancy until his successor can
arrive. This Is especially probable II the
consul feels that he has been treated
unjustly when the new Official arrives
It takes him many months az the best TO
get so thoroughly familiar with his new
surroundings that be Is able 70 be o. the
most service 70 the traveller Ia many i'm.
portant particulars. Let me refer TO
some Of my experiences within the last
few months.
In a number Of European cities | found
on inquiry that the American consul had
resigned aud gone home, leaving the rou-
tine duties of the post TO clerk Who
could not be expected to be Of much serv.
ice In general way. EVERYWHERE
among the consus OF the old regime
stu holding Office / found the greatest
uncertainty as to their future. One man
said ~ gave up lucrative and honor
able position at home 10 enter the CON !
sular service. devoted much time and
money to prepare myself for the duties
before me. ! expected to make the sery.
ice my life work. But heie am, Just In |
the prime Of life, thoroughly acquainted |
with my duties, with a large family about |
me, aud there Is every probability Shat
shall be superseded and be compelled 10 |
30 home and pick up what work can. ~ |
am glad to say that the consul In ques-
ton has not been superseded as vet. In
an Important city in Central Europe had
occasion To seek an Introduction to the
head Of the education department. Lap.
piled TO the new American consul for an
introduction. found him perfect gen
tleman who did his best TO serve me.
Armed with letter to the president OF
the educational board | sailed forth.
when to my great discontinue found on
presenting myself at headquarters that / |
had letter addressed TO man who had |
been dead two years. l concealed the |
disgrace as we'll as could and departed |
from that city sadder but wiser man. |
mention these facts as the results of |
certain faults Inherent in our system, and /
not as rejecting upon the officials met. |
such mistakes must frequently happen in
the present order OF things. At the best |
there Is a great deal OF red tape In mat. |
tiers OF this kind, and it takes long ex.
perience to get thoroughly familiar with |
the duties of such an Office.
our revenue system imposes unusual |
duties ON consul. II takes all his time |
and requires special knowledge, to be |
gained only by careful and unremittlng |
study of the reports from the
region in which he Is placed,
and he must be thoroughly familiar
with the markets. His special duties
are as follows; To aid and protect
American citizens; to settle disputes be-
tween masters and seamen OF American
vessels; 10 ship and discharge the crews
TO care for sick and disabled seamen, and
generally to guard American shipping in
terests, He must and in the extension OF
our trade by protecting II where Il ex-
lists, by seeking new markets, and by
furnishing American merchants early,
correct and useful lnformatlon He mas
to protect the revenue OF the United
States by examining into the truthfulness
OF statements contained In the Invoices |
presented to him for the cerlihcation of
goods TO be Imported into the United |
States, and by giving the customs officers 4
early. Information of facts Of Importance
to them. In some territories the consul !
has TO actas Judge In civil cases where 1
his countrymen are defendants; and To
try them when accused OF crime. He 1
must sometimes act as postmaster.
England, France aud Germany send
out men specially prepared for those on |
erous duties. Berlin and Paris have /
special governmental schools for
candidates for the consular services.
England has special 0iieutal school /
at ConSantinople for young men who |
are TO enter the service in the East. She
also sends her oonsul-pupils to various |
sections OF the world on sufficient salary 4
TO enable them 10 become thoroughly /
familiar with the countries where they /
are TO spend their lives In all these |
countries the consular service Is career,
aud the change OF administration has |
nothing to do with the matter. Young |
men after special studies begin 81 the /
bottom Of the ladder and slowly rise, ac- l
cording TO merit. When they arrive Al |
an advanced age they are retired on
salary.
II has been my fortune to talk with
large number OF consuls, both old and
new, and they all affirm that this service
ought 20 be made career for Young
Americans. II ought To De put on the
same basis as the army and navy. There