Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-22

this country gets ss,O0o also and is supposed to
emoluments. Unfortunately il is impossible to
ascertain very accurately about these things,
because those who hold the places always seem
to be inclined to give low estimates OF their pay
| and profits, just az winners at poker are disin-
clined to admit their gains. It 10
worth mentioning. by the way, that
Benjamin Franklin, when he was min
lister to France. was paid for his services at the
rate OF 5000 colonial pounds per annum-at
$2.50 per pound. Until within q very few
years each diplomat accredited by this govern
ment was given an outfit and an Unfit. That is
to say, he was presented with one years salary
extra to start him of to his post and quarter
pay to fetch him back. This has been done
away with. for it not infrequently occurred in
those days that . man accepted the appoint
ment to o foreign country. cabbaged the year g
pay that came with it and promptly resigned,
thus doing the government out Of several thou
sand dollars.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN srARrED REPUBLICAN SIM
PLICITY.
John Adams, 100 years ago, said that "blood.
shed" would result if this nation did not sup
port its representatives abroad in better style.
1t was Benjamin Franklin who started the idea
Of republican simplicity for Americans ut for
eign courts. His gigantic tact told him that it
would never do to try contest in dudery with
the courtiers Of Louis XVI, SO he appeared in
the presence Of that monarch in homely attire,
which the king evidently did not consider to
his disadvantage when he said that Franklin
made him Iouis) 'the second man in his own
realm" Since that time this country has become
the richest in the world, and plutocrats burst
ing with dollars are eager in soliciting situa-
tons from the government in foreign parts.
1t is said now that no man who Is not million
ARE can afford to accept mission from this
country so enormous is the expense of such an
appointment. For, say what you will, a min
lister to England or France feels the same hu-
initiation that afflicted John Adams when he
found himself unable to keep his end up in be-
half OF the United States with diplomats from
other nations. In q small way the is very
well illustrated by the situation of an American
naval officer OF rank. Such a man, in the ser
vice of Great Britain, when exposed to u neces-
sity for entertaining, is supplied by his govern
ment with fund for the purpose, or is author
ized to send In bills to the admiralty. There
are circumstances under which American
naval officers are put to really very great ex-
pense in this way. For instance. at the recent
New Orleans exposition an admiral was sent
In command OF o small feet to do the honors
on the water for this country. There were
vessels present for complimentary purposes
from all other important powers and neces.
sarily courtesies had to be exchanged. The
officers of the American ships were entertained
on board those Of each foreign government,
and balls and dinner parties had to be given in
return. This meant great cost, all of which had
to be betrayed out of the private purses of the
United States officers some of whom were COM
PEELED on this account to mortgage their mea-
ger salaries for year or two in advance to
meet these international obligations. For the
expenses of this sort incurred by the foreigners
their home government paid as a matter of
course. 1t seemed. however, to be considered
part Of the United States officers duty to set
up the wine and other refreshments on the
semi-public occasions in question. So it is
always. These foreigners, too. are used to the
very best and most expensive wines and cigars,
and the officers OF the American navy cannot
decently return their hospitality with inferior
turntables and smokeables.
A MINISTER'S DISADVANTAGE.
like disadvantage is experienced by a
minister abroad. Robert Lincoln has no pro-
vision mado for the entertainments he has
been obliged to give in his official capacity
Seventeen thousand and five hundred dollars a
year seems big salary but he has it not to spend
upon himself or his family. To certain extent
only Is this modified. There never man
better thought of during his residence abroad
than Rober: Mclean who never made any at
tempt at gorgeousness in the entertainments
he gave there. What he had to offer in a
simple way was accepted for all
that it was really worth, because-he was
gentleman. This goes a much longer way I'M
der such conditions than might be imagined.
He and others like him have produced a favor
dUlo Impression aDrOuu-Mlnlster Lincoln Is
among this number-without squandering I'M
limited cash, while a ready-made millionaire
would never be able to get along under like
circumstances without throwing gold about
with both hands. But the fact remains that
there can hardly be situation more unpleas-
ant than that of a minister who succeeds to the
position previously occupied by a man who
could, out of his own personal fortune, afford
an expenditure beyond the possibilities Of an
insufficient salary. The proposition will still
hold good. as things now are. that poor man
cannot afford to be an envoy from the United
States of America.
The position Of consul at Liverpool pays
$4,000 a year, with no costly social obligations.
1t is a better post, therefore for any poor man
than that of minister to England. But those
who are ambitious Of such place must remem-
Der that there is absolutely no social distinction
attached to it. There is no greater advantage
in this way to be arrived at in connection with
the consul generalship at Paris or Lon
don or elsewhere. In England-and the same
rule works to more or less
extent in other European countries
there are no occupations looked upon favorably
from a social point of view save the army, the
navy, the law or the public service in the civil
line. Professional men, even lawyers, are a
trile beyond the pale. Views in this regard
are becoming slowly more liberal in England
but, you may possibly remember. James Rus
sell Lowell said: Progress in England il like
the movement of a glacier; you can't see it,
but IL you come back after q century you will
find that there has been an advance"