The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-27
Eorelpn Miniatars

Congressman William McAdoo, of New
Jersey, has prepared bill that must have
been suggested by admiration for Jefferso-
MAN simplicity and the extreme intent of
the Monroe doctrine more than by horse
sense. Long ago the usage was established
that the minister Of the United States to a
foreign court must appear on State occasions
in plain black suit such as the American
gentleman at home wears on evening occa-
sions When it is remembered that the am
bassadOrs of European nations appear in the
courts to which they are accredited wearing
all the gold lace and badges of high orders
that can be made to hang on their gorgeous
raiment of many colors. the black coat and
tie starched shirt front of the representative
of our great Republic do seem gIoriously
simple. When Queen Victoria opened her
present Parliament in the presence of the
peers of the realm in their scarlet robes. and
the diplomats Of the nations of the earth in
their gay clothes, it was remarked by spec
tator that Mr. Phelps, the American minis
ter, looked like fly in plate of ice cream.
Our country is great enough to stand all
such comparisons as this, however. But
Mr.. McAdoo wants TO attain still greater
simplicity by sending no ministers to foreign
courts His bill proposes the abolition of
the diplomatic service, leaving its duties to
be performed by special agents or officers of
the consular service. Thus, the expense Of
the service would be saved, and Mr.. McAdoo
thinks the country would get along as well.
NO doubt some money could be saved but
can the United States afford to DEPART from
the teustom of all nations for the sake of
saving few dollars? 1t is conceded that
most of the time foreign minister has little
to do but have good time socially at the ex-
pense of his government. But occasions are
liable to arise at any time requiring the most
important officer that nation can have.
And as European usages are at present an
agent OF diplomatic rank can do the most eff
fectlVe service for his government. There
Is no doubt that Charles Francis Adams. as
the American minister resident at the En-
gllsh court, had much more influence for his
country in the crisis of the civil war than
would have had a consul or simple agent
even had that consul or agent been Mr.. Ad-
ANS minister is not merely an agent for
the transaction of business; he is also an
agent for the cultivation of friendly rela-
lions between peoples, as well as between
governments. Mr.. Lowell and Mr.. Phelps
showed how much could be done in this re-
spect by men of tact and abilities; and
Lord Sackville demonstrated what harm a
stupid diplomat can do. Instead of degrad-
ing the rank of our representatives at such
courts as the English, it would be more sem
sible to raise it. We send now simple min
lister plenipotentiary to England. This
sounds rather large, but in reality the rank
is very lowly for a nation such as ours. An
ambassador is step higher than minister
plenipotentiary, and that step means consid-
cradle more than precedence on state occa
sions. 1t means also precedence in the
transaction of business. Six or seven ma
tiOns-Germany, France. Russia, Turkey,
Austria, Italy and Spain, and perhaps one
or two more, maintain ambassadors at the
English court; and any one of these ambas-
sailors has precedence at the foreign office
over minister This is not ALL The minis
tiers rank according to the length of time
they have been accredited. So it happens
that when Mr. Lincoln presents himself at
the Britishforegn Office to see about the fish
or the seals of our nation of sixty millions
OF people. he must not only wait in the ante
room while any one of six or seven ambassa-
doris goes in, but lie may have to await the
pleasure of any one Of twenty or thirty min
listers who may have been atthe court longer
than he. When Mr. Phelps went to England
he found himself ranking below the repre-
sentatives of Denmark, Mexico, Persia,
Chill, Hayti, Costa Rlca, Salvador, Guatema-
la, Siam, etc, to the number Of twenty
three. uad he been an ambassador he
would have been the eighth at least from the
head of the diplomatic corps. And the rep
resentative of the United States should have
position as high as this. Instead of abol-
ishing our ministers, some Of them should be
promoted.