The evening call., 1893-06-19
THE FOREIGN SERVICE.
Duties of Our Representatives in Courts
Abroad.


Abroad.
Many of the most interesting ap-
pointments made by a new President
are those in the diplomatic and con-
sular service, says the Youths Com
paniOn. Our ministers, consuls and
consular agents in foreign cities are
important to the nations welfare in
three ways. They are to protect
| American citizens living or travelling
abroad, and to attend to certain de:
tails in connection with merchan-
disc which is to be imported into this
country.
Second, they must study the meth
obs, social and industrial, of the To-
calities to which they are sent, and
report to the State Department such
facts as may be usefully applied in our
own institutions
Their third duty is sometimes the
most important of all; to stand as the
representative Of their government
in the immediate presence of foreign
states, and on all occasions to receive
and offer the cOurtesies and atten-
UlO1S ApCNgOu UCONCCH
In European Governments, this
last duty OF foreign minister is the
most important 1t is the ambas-
sador who lays the foundations for
great international alliances. 1t is
ne who prepares treaties, and his per-
sonal actions may often bring on or
avert war.
It is perhaps the fact that the
chief duties of an American and of
European foreign representative are
different, which explains the wide
difference between the American
diplomatic and consular service and
that Of other great states. In the
Presidents appointments, the feel
ing has become general that the |
foreign service is on the same plane |
with service of the government at |
home
Every President is expected to ap-
point men to foreign embassies or
cOnsulates on the same ground as he |
is asked to appoint others to Treasury
clerkshlps and country postoffices
The candidates value as a political
leader, and his services in a presi-
Dental campaign, often count for as
much in the one case as in the other.
That is not the European plan.
Across the Atlantic the consular SER
vice is profession by itself. Men
enter it, as they would enter on the
study of law or medicine, early in
lite.
In the British Foreign Office an
applicant must serve in the depart
nent at London six months, before
he can be sent on foreign duty. He
must then pass rigid examination;
ne must be able to speak French,
must also understand the language
of the country to which he is to be ,
sent, and have a sufficient knowl- -,
Edge of mercantile and commercial :
aW.
When he has passed successfully :
such an examination and has gone to :
lis consulate, he is for two years
under probation" and will be dis
missed if he is found incapable; but if !
le passes his probation time with a =
tood record, only disgrace, death, or .
will remove him from the
ervice.
Not only this, but he knows that y
earch for real ability is so keen that -
enuine merit will surely be rewarded =
With promotion. y
In France the system is nearly the .
anne. The candidate for consular .
flee must understand two languages -
eside his own. He must pass a a
trict examination in international u
lw, diplomatic history. statistics, - ~
olitical economy and geography. - -
If he stands the test successfully =.
e may count on sure promotion as a " =.
eward for industry and capacity, "
nd may feel absolutely secure ~
gainst capricious dismissal, or be- * l..
ause some other man desires his '.
lace. 81
The result Of such systems is to
i've these governments a thoroughly
ompetent, useful and creditable >,
1reign service. -
or our consular service the same -
hing cannot always be said. Our =,
minister's to important states are al =.
lost Invariably men of whom Ameri- 49,
ans can be justly proud, but there is r.
item an American consul in a-far-off :.
port who is quite un- -;
lual, commercially or socially to :,
is duties ~ ~
Indeed, it could hardly he other 4. -
ise- He is chosen often merely be- a. a.
ause he has been skillful political 81 81
ader in the far West or because he a. a.
ad been faithful party Congress ~ ~
an and had failed of reelection ~ ~
Then, too it is highly probable VI VI
lat he succeeded in his office a man al
the opposite party who was sum- 40 40
arily dismissed, a fate which he m mDu
so looks for when the other party W. '"
turns TO power. The abuse of Oh
lch appointments are among the a
orst results OF the ''spoils system" II. ~
LII