Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-04-06
CONSULAR AGENTS.
Aims OF the Democrats Regarding
headed Reform.

headed Reform.
The democratic party is specifically
committed to the extension of the for
eicn trade of the United States The
argument for tariff reduction has
rested on the ground that at home
lower tariff would reduce the cost OF
living and abroad it would extend the
markets for our products, thus expand
ing home industry, offering more en-
ployment to labor and increasing the
volume of its compensation
The national administration and the
party, therefore. are bound to avail
themselves of every agency. consistent
with party doctrine, to increase our
foreign trade. The consular service
abroad can be made a great lnstru-
mentality to this end. If II is properly
manned. In the main the consular
service is purely a commercial service
Save in rare cases, 1t has no diplomatic
duties to perform. and in few other
cases it has occasional social duties
perform Nine out of every ten of our
consuls abroad should be selected
chiefly with view to their business
capacity to find new markets for Amer
lean goods and to inform the merchants
of the country of favorable opportuni-
ties for international exchanges L
giving to the country a satisfactors
government, the new administration
we believe, intends to make this COLI
sideration a controlling one in the Sc
lection of consuls and consular agents
1t involves a considera BILE departure
from the rules and customs which have
obtained in the state department for
some years We make no sweeping
and indiscriminate attack upon the
consular service of the United States,
but it is perfectly well understood by
all familiar with the facts that il has
not been built upon business princi-
pies That branch of the government
has been made an asylum for the rich
and indolent, for the needy with inf1u-
ence at their backs, for those wishing
to enjoy vacations abroad at the pub
lie expense. and for a dozen classes Of
the Indifferent The theory frequently
followed has been that man who is
not good for much else would make a
fair consul, and as the duties of the
position have been understood and
discharged the theory bss not been far
from the truth
1t is not necessary to show that these
| officers can he made of the greatest
| service to American trade. Tariff laws
! are great obstacle to the growth of
International trade, but unfamiliarity
with foreign business customs, fash
| iops, tastes and requirements are also
obstacles. The former can be removed
| only by acts of congress; the latter
can be reduced, if not altogether
overcome, by the selection of qualified
men for the great number of smaller
consulates. The complaint is made
that the compensation is too small to
] induce capable business men to under
take the work. The Washington Post
and the New York Tribune both argue
| for an increase in the salaries of
/ consuls At present the consular
service, as rule, is paid every dollar
| it is worth to the government If
more efficient men are secured. the re-
suits of whose endeavors will be mani
| fest to the trade and industry of the
| United States, there is no doubt that
/ the work will be paid in time what it
deserves.
The purpose of the Cleveland admin
istration to make more efficient the
consular service is one of the best of
the reforms it has undertaken--Al-
bauy Argus