The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-29
PLUMS OF DIPLOMACY.
DESIRABLE OFFICES IN THE GIFT
or THE ExECUTIyE.
Robert Graves Thinks MI. Cleveland Should
Fill tho Entire Consular Ser
vice with Editors.


good American citizens are at this very mo-
ment considering whether or not 1t would
be a proper thing for them to go abroad as
n representative of the United States gov
eminent during the next four years. 1t is
always so at q change Of administration.
For every place in the diplomatic service
there are at least n half hundred aspirants.
In this quality Of furnishing great num-
Der Of pegs for every hole one political party
resembles another as one pea is Ike It's
mate out of the same pod.
And why not, prayS Why should not
self respecting. well ordered, successful
and enterprising American citizen aspire
to the honor of representing his country in
foreign land? There is nothing disgrace
full about the aspiration, am sure, for
! have no sympathy with that small but
noisy class of critics who say the whole sys-
TEN of diplomatic and consular representa-
ton should be abolished. II for no other
reason than the one that a great many OF
our ministers and consuls are editors or
former editors of newspapers-hardwo
ing and deserving men who go abroad to
| enjoy much needed rest-and are among the
class that would thus be sacrificed, | raise
my voice not only in favor Of retention
but of extension of the foreign service. My
observation has been that no class of citi-
zens make such good minister's and consuls
as editors They seem fitted by nature, by
training and instinct for the work. Some
of the very best Of our present foreign
agents are journalists
Perhaps no two men in the whole service
enjoy better reputation or have done more
for their country with limited Opportuni-
ties than Frank Mason, our consul at
Frankfort-on-the-M Main, and Thomas j. Nc
Lain, Jr, consul at Nassau, Bahamas.
Both have been good many years in the
service, and both were former editors Mr..
Mason was for a long time editor Of the
Cleveland Leader, aud Mr.. McLain was
at one time a prominent Washington cor
respondent. In their respective countries
they have looked out with jealous eye
for the rights Of American citizens trav-
cling abroad, and at the same time they
have gathered and sent to the state de-
partment to be printed in the consular
reports information which has been of in
estimable value TO American manufactur-
ers and merchants
1t will be noticed that this is work for
which the editorial and journalistic mind
is particularly adapted, and without stop
ping to mention many other journalists
who have given a good account of them
selves in the same field | want to make
public announcement of my intention 10
use all my influence with Mr.. Cleveland,
be it much or little, in favor of filling the
whole consular service with editors. There
fore if there are editors in any part Of the
-bo fa n a lla "A
rest, and at the same time do little some
thing for their country, l hope they will
not be backward about filing their applica-
tions either with me or Mr. Cleveland.
The big ministerial places, as usual, will
probably go to the politicians who aspire
to places in the cabinet and are disappointed
in that ambition. 1t is becoming sort Of
rule in this country that the diplomatic
service is made a hospital for injured and
broken aspirants for higher honOrs. 1t is a
bad rule, but | see no way of changing it.
In fact, great many men contrive to have
themselves mentioned for cabinet places,
and to have their friends work up boom
for them, with no other practical purpose |
in view than the winning of an appointment |
as minister to some foreign country. These |
places would be in much better hands il |
given to the editors, but of course the poll
ticians must have some show.
| venture TO say that the people who adj
vocate abolition of our diplomatic and con-
suar service have never travelled abroad. IL |
there is anything that does good TO the
eyes and the heart of the wandering Ameri-
can il is to come upon the flag of his cOun-
try floating over a legation house or con-
sulate, and TO find within an American citi-
zen charged not only with the duty of be-
ing sOciable and helpful in little ways, but
Of giving succor in case of trouble. The
merchants Of the country and those manu-
facturers who are striving for the foreign
market would not be content to see the
foreign service abolished. II Uncle Sam
is not rich and generous enough to have his
government represented wherever there is
any likelihood OF an American citizen,
tourist, merchant or traveller needing assist
ance or protection, he had better 90 out of
the business Of keeping government All
the other nations of the earth do il, and
the greater the nation the more generous it
is in these matters.
And what, should like to know, would
become OF American interests in such cpl
sOdes rs that of the New Orleans lynching
affair with Italy or the trouble with Chill
but for the presence in the capitals OF those
countries Of diplomatic representatives of
this government?
The chief trouble with our diplomatic
service is that it has not been made strong
enough. Many Americans have blushed
for their country on seeing American min
listers cooling their heels in the anteroom
of a French or English foreign secretary,
patiently awaiting an audience, while the
representatives Of little by 8 countries
from the south Of Europe or South Amer
lea were passing in ahead of him.
Representative Hit, who was once Amer
lean charge daffaires at Paris, tells me
that he has seen our minister ut that cap
ital spend three days waiting for an audi
ence with the minister of foreign affairs
simply because his rank was only that of a
minister plenipotentiary, while the other
governments were represented there by
ambassadors. 1t is altogether matter OF
rank, you know, and If Patagonia sends
one OF her highland warriors TO Paris labeled
ambassador" he has precedence over the
best citizen Of the great United States
whose rank is only that Of minister. But
because the American diplomatic service
has for this reason sometimes been made
ridiculous is not good grounds for its aboi-