Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-01
..lMnaSsAnoRs, saLaRLEs.

why tho Salaries should he Doubled If
the Positions Are 10 IiG Filled by Men
Of MIR. Bayard's Character and Ability.
New York sun, May asth,
ON one of the most important of the
minor subjects which the Fifty-thir Con-
gross will have to consider the st. Louis
RPtjte offers these thoroughly frivolous
remarks;
We are nos told that on row Ambassadors
must have Increased pny TO sustain their in-
creased dignity. II they feel as II they cannot
stand 30 nllich dignity on such smsN wages. lot
thcn feirerct an dignity
Talk OF THAT sDr. is ui.worth Of news
paper Ti;r Common sense, and il is unjust
"a the gentlemen who represent our gov
rrnmcni st London at Paris and at Berlin.
The legislation by which they Lave been
made ambassadors instead Of ministers
was not OF heir seeking. When the last Com
greas provided for the change Of grade,
MIR. BHyard did not know that he vas to
go To England, Mr.. Eustis did not know
that he was to got France, and Mr.. Theo-
dure RnnNon did not know that he was to
90 to GermaEy The time for discussing
the prOp'ety of the change has gone by.
The new grade is established and 1t cam
not be abolished without complications
that woiild be Notifying to the self.re-
spect oil ihiS nation, and Illuminating in
the extreme TO the pride of every patriotic
citizen But it carries with 1t increased ex-
pcnseS, properly chargeable to the nation-
not to the individual acting as the nations
representative: and these increased ex-
peuses must be paid either from the United
states treasury or from the private purse
OF the Ambassador
Take the case of Mr.. Bayard, If that
gentleman may DE used as an illustration
without the appearance of impertinence.
Mr.. Bayard is rich in the record of long
and honorable public service, and in the
esteem of all who know him; but he is not
supposed TO he a man Of large private for
tune. The fitness of his appointment
commended itself to every mind Repub-
Leans as well as Democrats, are glad that
this country is represented near The court
of st. James by man of Mr. Buyard's
character and PERSONAL bearing He would
be a digniiied and worthy representative
OF the United states were his salary twice
what it is now, or were it only one half as
Much The value to the country Of Mr..
Bayard's services in London is not to be
measured in dollars. When the silly
writer in Mr.. knapp's newspaper tells Mr..
Bayard that if he cannot support The
dignity Of Ambassador on $1,000 year
he ought to "retrcnch on dignity" that
writer is guilty Of tlippant injustice of
which he should be heartily ashamed.
It is not question Of retrenching dig
nifty. It is question of meeting the ex-
penses Of the social and spectacular side OF
diplomacy, absolutely necessary, according
to the worlds standard, as long as the
social and spectacular side of the diplo-
matte establishment is maintained. Mr..
Bayard is no snoh and no spendthrift and
YET, as Ambassador Of the United States at
London, he will be Obliged either TO look
to his government for larger pay than is
now allowed by law, or to impoverish
himself in the effort TO meet expenses in
CURED not on his own account, but for the
proper maintenance Of the nations pres
tige.
The matter comes back to this: Unless
the salary attached to the office of Ambas-
sador at London. Paris, or Berlin is
doubled by the next Diplomatic Appro-
priation bill, nobody but very rich man
can afford TO accept and hold the post. No
doubt, men who are rich and nothing
more can be found in plenty willing to go
nut as Ambassadors and maintain them
selves at their own expense. The question
is whether it is to be the policy OF this
| government TO represent itself abroad by
mere moneybags and to deprive itself
hereafter Of the services of men of Mr..
Bay stamp.