St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-31
THE DIPLoMArIC SERVICE.

L u6 u ulteu OtdttS ScudtC Spcit I"O
days discussing the proposition to
change the title of our representatives
to the principal foreign courts from
minister resident and envoy eXtraordi-
nary to ambassador. and finally adopted
it by close vote. If the purpose had
been to relieve the title of its jaw-b break
ing quality, no one would have a reason
to complain of the senate's action. But
inasmuch as it was done in toadying
spirit, and for the purpose of tickling
the European partiality for tit les, the
American people will not eXpe-
rience any particular gratifica-
ton over the change. Ambassador
is more high-sounding title
in European ears than plain
minister, and consequently those repre-
sentatives who come to court with the
title of ambassador affixed to their Gre
dentiaIs are given the precedence at
court. Since it has got to be the fash
ion in this country to give high diplo-
matte appointments to none but those
of pedigree, CONGRESS doubtless thinks
it the proper thing to do to raise our
diplomatic service to the aristocratic
plane of European countries. In the
good old days of plebeian craftsmanship
a brainy man like HENRY CLAY would
accept foreign mission without queS-
ton of what his status at the court to
which. he was sent would be. He went
there as an American citizen and was
proud of it. In the pride of patriotism
he looked down i'll contempt upon the
red tape processes of monarchical gov
eminent which eliminated brains, cult
ure and craftsmanship from its opera
lions, and paid respect only to that which
bore the marks Of fictitious greatness.
1t is different now. The American rep
resentative abroad wants to rub up
against roy alty; he wants a seat of dis
tinction at the banquet table; he wants
to be ornamented with gold lace and
stars; and as long as he can puff his in
dividual pride by basking in the favor
of aristocracy, he is perfectly willing to
forget that the country which he repre-
sents is a republic which was estab-
lished on a basis of antagoniSm to all
the tomfoolery he is catering to.
That our diplomatic service is as
valueless as it is costly has long been
apparent to the American people, yet
it seems an utter lmpossibility to abol-
iSh it. The submarine cable has brought
this country into direct communication
with all Europe. There is no reason
why the secretary of state should not
communicate directly with the prime
minister of any foreign country instead
of making his communications through
the medium of minister or am
bassador. Secretary BAYARD could
negotiate with BISMARCK directly
concerning the Samoan complica-
lions just as easily as to do
it through Minister PENDLEToN;
or he could sit in his Office at Washing
ton and talk to Lord SALISBURY on the
subject of our Canadian difficulties with
all the facility that he cables his stuff
to Mr.. PHELPS, to be repeated by him
to the British prime minister. Still, in
the face of the utter worthlessness of
the diplomatic service, we frankly con-
TESS that we have no hope of ever see
ing it abolished. As long as public Of
fees are to be made the reward of parti-
san services there is absolutely no hope
of being able to abolish them.