The herald., 1895-01-19
A THREATENED STRIKE.

1t is more than rumorsd that our en-
bsssadors to Berlin and St. Petersburg
threaten to resign unless their salaries
are raised. that our ambassador to
France complains that he spends twice
what the government allows, and that
our EN- AMBASSADOR to London on his recent
visit home, brought the matter before
the secretary OF state OF the insufficiency
OF his compensation. These missions
are of the first claes, and the allowance
to each is $l7 800.
The claim is that in some degree our
foreign representatives must live as do
the representatives of monarchical and
aristocraticai governments, who gener-
ally are counts. lords, dukes or the
scions of titled houses. The question
10 how far ia it necessary for republican
representatives to ape the manner o.!
living of royalty and nobility Ia the
first half century OF our existence our
ministers wore court forgery, not that
there was any law compelling it, but it
was done in delerence to royalty. All
was then monarchical in Europe except
little Switzerland. James Buchanan,
when minister to the court OF st. James,
broke from the custom aud set the ex
ample of appearing in a plain black
suit. and his simplicity was 80 approved
by the American people that the other
their tinsels and dressed with the sim
plicity dictated by republioansm. No
saying of Andrew Jackson received u
more hearty approval from the Ameri-
can people than this: 1T ia not in q
eplendid form OF government nor in
powerful aristocratic establishments
that our people will find happiness or
their liberty's protection, but in plain
system, devoid OF pomp."
Social eplenior is the product of in
situations which do not rest upon the
popular will. To an extent difference to
surroundings is essential to diplomatic
success, but representatives Of republi
can governments need go no farther
than respectsbiity demands. Living
in Europe lie not mora expensive than
in this country. Our most succeseful
representatives abroad have been un-
pretentious and simple in habits, and
abstRined from expensive living.
Display may coun. for something iu
aristocra;ic circles, but genuine Ameri-
canism, which teaches al implicitly OF life,
counts for more. Increase OF wealth,
and especially when wealth ia
possessed in great disparity, is
severe test OF the strength of
republican institutions. Impressions
favorable to such Institutions are not
made by Displays of splendor, nor by
adopting costly social customi. II our
foreign ministers live within the sums
allowed them by government they will
live we'll enough. II they expect to run
a race in expenditures with the repre-.
sentatives OF European monarches con
tlnusd increase of salaries will be as
endless as time.
Embassadoria and consular estab.
lishments are ain ing the most favored
ami expensive Branches OF the public
service in Europe, and if we begin in
crease oil salaries ana other compansa-
ton ours will grow TO be of the came
character without enhancing their use-
fulness. On the salaries allowed, our
foreign ministers certainly will not suf-
fer, and they seem TO be enough to
enable them to live respectfully. For
eign governments have not suggested
that our representatives would be more
acceptable if they were better provided
with means for holding up their ends in
social affairs. II our foreign REPRESENT
atives can not com pete in social displays
they can console themselves with the
fact that they represent country
whose political aud aocial institutions
are superior 10 those of the countries
TO which they are accredited.
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THERE 10 no reason why the Demo-
crats in the Legislature should not vote