The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-06-14
president

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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN COURT DRESS.
direct appointments do not exceed
1000. while there are more than 100000
appointments made by the members of
the cabinet of which the president
knows nothing. He has no time for
the consideration of such matters.
Nearly 10000 appointments of postmas-
tiers are made by the postmaster gener-
nj; and he has also the disposal of
many places of still less Importance
than postmasterships. In fact, the
great majority OF appointments in the
postal service are made by the assist
ant pOstmasters general, with the tacit
approval OF the head of the depart
nent. The secretary of the interior
and the secretary of the navy make
many thousands of appointments, and
the files of their appointment clerks
are overloaded with applications from
all parts of the country.
Nearly all of the positions in the de-
partment of state are filed by the presi-
dent; and the late Secretary Blaine was
annoyed and exaspcratcd because
President Harrison filed the majority
of the diplomatic and consular positions
without even consulting him. As 4
matter of fact this was the real cause of
the bitter feeling which existed between
Mr.. Blaine and President Harrison in
1S9l-2. Other presidents and secre-
taries of state have quarrclcd in similar
manner over the disposition of the
spoils OF Office. There is great deal
OF unwrittcn history on this subject.
For some unaccountablc reason ap-
poinrments TO positions in the diplo-
matte service seem 20 be most desired
bv our highclass otficc-seelie-s. They
want to 20 abroad as ministers or con-
suls to foreign governments. And yet
these positions scarcely pay enough for
decent frugal living to their incuEl-
bents. From the commencement of our
national life this country has pursued
q policy of starvation toward its diplo-
matte representatives. John Adams,
afterwards president of the United
States, was our minister 70 the court
OF Saint James. In 1877 the congress
cut down his salary by One-tifth and he
wrote to the department of state a
letter saying: I'VE are to dine to-mor-
row al table with $4,000 upon it and
the next day we return the civility by
inviting the same company to dine with
US upon earthenware. Depend upon
| it. that nation which places its own
ambassadors at the tail of the whole
creation cannot expect itself to be soon
at the head" And yet, the same penuri-
Gus policy is pursued until this day.
/ Our representatives at foreign courts
are not paid enough to enable them to
present proper appearance as ENJOYS
OF great republic.
We can thank Benjamin Franklin,
our minister to France, for making a
precedent in this direction. His
| gigantic tact told him that it would
never DO to try a contest in dudery
with the courtiers of Louis NVI., so he
appeared in the presence Of that
monarch in houely attire, which the
king evidently did not consider to his
disadvantage when he said that Frank
lin made him Louis the second man
in his own realm" Since that time
this country has become the richest II
the world, and plutocrats bursting
with dollars are eager in solicit
ing itu-tions from the govern
nent m foreign parts. 1t is said
row Zat no man who is not million
aire can afford to accept mission froI
this country, so enormous is the cx
pense of such an appointment. For
say what you will, an ambassador to
England or France feels the same
humiliation that afflicted John Adams
when he fonnd himself unable to keeI
his end up in behalf of the United
States with diplomats from other nc
tions. IN a small way the case is very
well illustrated by the situation of ar
American naval officer of rank. Suck
man, in the service of Great Britain
when exposed to a necessity for enter
tanning, is supplied by his government
with a fund for the purpose, or i:
authorized 70 send in bills to the ad
miralty. There are circumstance:
under which American naval officer
are rut to really great expense. in thi,
way. For instance, at the New 'Orlean:
exposition an admiral was sent in com
mand of a small fleet to do honors OF
the water for this country. There
were vessels present for complimentary
purposes from all other inportanr
powers, and necessarily courtesies haC
to be exchanged.
The officers of the American ship
were entertained on board those ofeacl
foreign government, and balls anC
! dinner parties had to be given in re
turn. This meant great cost, all o
which had to be betrayed out of the
private purses of the United States
officers, some of whom were compelled
on this account to mortgage thei
meager salaries for year or two in ad
vance to meet these international ob
legations. For the expenses of thi
sort incurred by the foreigners thet