The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-13
Thirty-five Thousand Dollars Salary
and an Omcinl Residence.

The Post-Erpreas Of Rochester. returning
to the subject OF Ambassadors and their
salaries. confesses its inability to under
stand why tho United States should pay for
the wine bills. the carriages. the house rent.
and the hospitalities OF q citizen in London
any more thar it should pay for those of a
citizen In New York"
The proposition would be unanswerable.
II the comparison were between the private
American citizen sojournlng in London. and
the private American citizen at home in
New York or Rochester. There is no rea-
son why the Government should pay house
rent or living expenses for such a citizen.
whether he Is at home or abroad.
But this misleading comparison is really
between the private citizen ut home and the
public functionary abroad. representing the
dignity and social credit and renown OF the
United States Government. By virtue OF
his office, and according to the established
standards Of intercourse between civilized
nations. the Ambassador Is a spectacular
parsonage, OF whom certain things are OK
pected. II he does not fulfil the recognized
functions Of Enthusiastically. II he Is shah
billy equipped and socially inadequate. he
might as well be styled Minister Resident,
or even Consular Agent. Congress has de-
liberately chosen to erect our first-class
foreign missions into embassies. The thing
is done, and cannot be undone without great
humiliation to us. We must live up to the
Ambassadorinl standard, cost what 1t may.
Tho Post Expresses argument would ap-
ply with equal force. II 1t were sound, to the
case Of the President Of the United States.
Why should the Government pay for the
house rent. and carriages. and wine bills OF
the Hon. BENJAMIN HARRISON. or the
Hon. GROVER CLEVELAND. in Washington.
any more than for the similar expenses Of
any private citizen in New York or Roches-
ter? Because the President represents the
nation and is expected not only to live in
suitable style. but also to DO prepared to
entertain in suitable fashion the represent
atives OF foreign powers and all other per-
sons entitled to enjoy this Governments
hospitality. That is why the President is
provided with n salary Of $500 0 a year, and
further fortified against personal bank
ruptcy by the provision Of a mansion free
OF rent and the very considerable appropri-
atoms for the contingent expenses OF the
White House. No reasonable taxpayer
grumbles at this. Now. precisely what the
President is in Washington. as the nations
proxy in matters of ln%ternational hospitali-
ty and politenesS. the Ambassador is ex-
pected to be near the court or the Govern
ment OF the country to which he is accredit-
cd. He is the prime social figure OF diplo-
macy. II he is not to be that. there Is no
earthly reason why he should be styled
Ambassador.
Plead. II you think best. for the total
abolition Of the diplomatic service OF the
United States. Advocate. II you choose.
the repeal OF the Law under which our
Government Is making its representatives
Ambassadors when they have hitherto been
Ministers only. and other Governments. at
the invitation OF our Government. are trans
forming their Ministers at Washington into
full Ambassadors. But now that
we have set up Ambassadors. in the
name OF national decency don't grudge
them the means on which to support
their new style according to cosmopolitan
requirements. The time for protest has
passed. The time has come to pay.