The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-04-13
OUR CONSULAR SERVICE,
ITS REQUIREMENTS FROM A
BUSINESS STANDPOINT.

HedSOuS WHY SOMc Men want POSI-
tiOns of This kind---What COnsti-
tutes Well Equipped Representa-
tive of the Government at Foreign
Ports.
Baltimore SUM-
There is story going the rounds,
which, at all events, is good enough to
be true-to the effect that President
Cleveland, being recently confronted
by a larger number than usual, of
applicants for consular appointments,
good dnaturedly remarked that he
hoped some of them might "fnd this
country good enough to stay in
Doubtless the President had in mind
the inevitable disappointment in store
for some of the anxious group before
him. But even more surprising than
the fact that so many American
citizens are SO solicitous to serve their
country abroad, (of course, at their
country's EXPENSE is the little impor-
tance attached, apparently, by so large
number of aspirants for consular
positions, to the necessity of possessing
any special qualifications to fit them
for consular duties.
One man wants to go to a particular
foreign city, because the climate and
society are good, and living is cheap.
Some consular positions are among the
st-paid offices in the gift of the
government, and are naturally sought
after for the pecuniary advantages
they possess. Another man wants to
20 abroad to educate his children, to
give his daughters perhaps, the benefit
of the musical instruction to be had at
some particular musical centre. An
other is in bad health, and has been
advised by his physician to seek a
warmer climate. He naturally
would like to be sent, with a good
salary, to recruit his health in the
south of Europe or in South America.
Few among them all, seem to con-
slider the requirements of the office or
the duties they will be expected to
perform.
Men wholly ignorant Of trade and
commerce in all its branches, wish to
go to commercial and manufacturing
towns, where their most important
functions will be to endeavor to extend
our commerce, promote the sale of our
own products, verify invoices of goods
exported to the United States, detect
attempted frauds upon the revenue
through undervaluation, and furnish
the government with special as we'll AS
state,! reports and information upon
matters of commercial and industrial
interest, manufactures, inventions and
the movements of trade generally. Or,
without the fain,est knowledge Of the
laws of this or any other country, he
will be fired with ambition to repre-
sent this country at some busy sea
port, where the settlement of disputes
between seamen and masters, or with
the local authorities, the protection OF
American citizens from unjust arrest
or from civil extortion under the forms
of law, will constitute an important
part of his duties.
knowledge Of the language, habits,
customs of the country in which he
desires to live, is one of the last things
usually thought to be necessary-by
the applicant for consulship. In
fact, it is said, that such positions are
sometimes sought by young men
ANXIOUS to teach or to practice pro-
fession, for the purpose OF learning
upon the spot and in intercourse with
the natives, some foreign language of
which they are ignorant, and the
acquisition of which they would find
useful. Such persons evidently regard
the consular service as in the nature
either of a postgraduate course or a
preparatory school.
1t mus; not be supposed that these
peculiarities of our consular system
for absolutely the United States seems
to be alone among commercial ma
tions, in its failure to appreciate the
advantages of a trained and expert
epce consular service-have escaped
the attention Of intelligent observers
at home or abroad. BY what seems 70
be happy coincidence at this partic-
ular juncture, there appear in the
April magazines two articles by
writers qualified to speak with
authority, and both exposing for
serious and patriotic consideration,
the glaring defects, the almost opera
boufe character of our consular
establishment.
In the April number of The Forum,
Mr.. WILLIAM Sladt. formerly consul
at BRUSSELS, writes interestingly and
understandingly Of the whole subject.
In the editors Study" of Ha,ber's
4NantAH for April, Mr.. Charles Dud
ley Warner forcibly illustrates the
proposition that in spite of our preten-
sions to be an eminently practical
people, we are, in some particulars,
the most impractical nation upon the
face of the globe, by a comparison
between our consular service, for
example, and that Of Great Britain or
Germany. With those nations, in fact
with every nation with which we are
compelled to compete commercially
in the markets of the world, the con-
sular service is career. recurring of
those who are admitted to it special
fitness and qualifications, and offering
in turn the encouragement of a per
manent tenure and promotion, as the
rewards of faithful and efficient service.
"With U.s." says Charles Dudley
Warner, "the consulate is sort Of
excursion, a picnic, for worker who
is tired, and thinks he would like to