The Progress., 1893-10-07

n
house rent of ~
minister who as -
pired to occupy his
proper social sta JAMES J. VAN ALIEN.
tion there 1t is well known that every
American who goes to London, Paris, Ber
lin, Vienna or Rome to represent this gov
ernment in the capacity of ambassador or
minister must be willing to devote to the
service not only his time, but "a large ex-
penditure beyond the sum which he receives
from the government.
In Regal style.
For instance, when Mr.. Whitelaw Reid
was our minister at Paris, with a salary of
Sl1, 800, he paid $22, 600 per year for the
rental of his hotel, "a every large mansion
within the Notifications is called in Paris
Mr.. Reid's establishment was not lavish
nor nearly so expensive as the establish
ments maintained by the ministers repre-
senting other countries at the French cap
ital. Yet the whole expenses of his estab-
lishment were not less than $4,000 IA year.
and the difference between $4,000 and
Sl7, 500 came out of his private purse
The same thing is true to a greater or
less extent in the other European capitals
The American minister finds it impossible
to live there in a manner creditable to him
self or to the nation which sent him with
out spending more than his official income.
Some people argue that our representatives
abroad should live as simply as possible in
modest houses, with one or two servants,
and if necessary ydispense with the enjoy
ment of a private stable. These people
argue that simplicity is the cornerstone of
our official institutions, and that there is
no reason why our ministers abroad should
be anything but plain, unassuming gentle
men whose private establishments are com
monplace and cheap.
But it is safe to say that the people who
indulge in these arguments have never
been in Europe. They do not understand
the absolute necessity that exists there for
maintenance on the part of our ministers
of that degree of style, dignity and hos
pitality which is expected of the represent
atives of a great nation. 1t is impossible
for minister to live cheaply, to decline in
vitations, as he must do if he is also to
eschew the giving of entertainments at his
own house, and at the same time to main
tain creditable status. To appear before
the society of the capital TO which he is
sent either as poor or parsimonious
man is to lose caste, standing and influence.
For Rich Men Only.
IL il should occur some time or other that
we had as ministerin London or in Paris a
man who was determined to live within
his official income, and, by his failure to as
sumo the position and influence which
other ministers or ambassadors enjoy, our
government were to suffer in some impor-
tant diplomatic negotiation or our national
pride were to be in some manner hurt or
humbled, a great outcry would go mp
against this man, and he would be driven
ANONYMOUSLY from public life.
The representative of this government at
a foreign capital has an important duty to
perform toward his fellow citizens Thou
sands upon thousands of Americans travel
every summer in Europe. Many of them
are people of high standing and of great
Importance at home, and while abroad they
have the right to expect some hospitality
at the hands of their representatives. Those
of them who are not invited to the table OF
the minister, or who are not shown by him
many of those little courtesies which the
accomplished diplomat knows so well how
to show, expect, at least, when they call at
the legation of their government. they will
find it worthy of their country, and not
some mean, cheap and dingy little office or
house in an questionable and undesirable
quarter of the city.
It would be foolish for any American to
accept one of the first class diplomatic posts
and expect to live upon his salary. 1t Is
impossible so to do The result is that poor
men or men in moderate circumstances are
absolutely barred from these fields in which
great distinction may be won and where
great services may be rendered to ones
D rNl huxy in fQnf hf.Qn a.
nrizes for rich men only. do not believe
any considerable number of American peo
nile will admit that this is right. In our
country, happily, the poor man has nearly
as GOOD a chance to win the highest official
bonors as the rich man, and it is easier for
a poor man than for rich man to reach the
highest of all official stations, the presi-
dency of the United States. There is not an
office i'm our government that poor man
cannot aspire to, none except these first
class foreign missions from which he is de
barred by the smallness of the salary paid
and the enormous demand made upon the
purse of the incumbent.
The time will never come, hope, when
we shall have in this country officeholding
only for the rich. These conditions do pre-
vail In some European countries, and while
travelling in Europe few weeks ago met
a number of Americans or so called Amer
leans who insisted that one of the great re
forms needed in the political system OF our
country was the wiping away OF salaries
for senators, representatives and members
of the cabinet. These nominal Americans
were of stripe who every year visit Eu-
rope. They are so much in love with Euro
pean customs, manners and modes OF living
that they see very little that Is good OF
praiseworthy in their own country. ihey
are sorry they are Americans and do not