Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-04-08

Aims of the Democrats Regarding II
Needed Reform.


The democratic party is specifically
committed to the extension Of the for
eign trade of the United States. The
argument for tariff reduction has
rested on the ground that at home a
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 ~instru.
mentality TO this end, il it Is properly
manned. In the main the consular
service is purely a commercial service.
Save in rare cases, it has no diplomatic
duties to perform, and in n few other
cases it has occasional social duties to
perform. Nine out Of every ten of our
consuls abroad should be selected
chiefly with a 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 In
giving to the country a satisfactory
government, the new administration,
VIC believe, intends to make this con-
5idcration a controlling one in the Sc
lection of consuls and consular agents,
1t involves "A considerable 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 it 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 inlu- |
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 a 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 has not been far
from the truth.
1t is not necessary to show that these
officers can be made of the g greatest
service to American trade. Tariff laws
are a great obstacle to the growth of
International trade, but unfamiliarity
with foreign business customs, fash
ions, 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
The complaint is made
that the compensation is too small to
induce capable business men to under.
the work. The Washington Post
and the New York Tribune both argue
for an increase in the salaries of
consuls At present the consular
as a rule, is paid every dollar
1t is worth to the government. II
more efficient men are secured, the re-
suits OF whose ~endeavors will be mani
to the trade and industry of the !
United States, there is no doubt that
work will be paid in time what it
deserves.
The purpose Of the Cleveland admin.
to make more efficient the
consular service is one OF the best of
he reforms it has undertaken. Al.
bany Argus.
Secretary Carlisle has disnapeoS