The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-13
THE CONSULAR SERVICE

The president has at .ast so Ear Welded
to Ale Pressure for reborn i'm the con-
su.ar service as to order tnas henc1for. n
lao consuls of commercial agents of a GER
TAIN grade ehaA be appointed urleGs they
have served i'm some Other position under
uae department. OF state, or slalC have fur
nlshed lhe customary evidence of char
axe, letpOnslbiuty and capacity, and
have DEMONSTRATED 10y an exumiral ion
TAX Nley are qualified for The pest. The
last of ,hese provisions nui.lfles .he h.st.
Politicians who aSplre 10 be consuls can
a1ways furnish evidence of character, re-
sQohsJoll,y and capalcity, hnd can pass
an examination under the civil serlic
ru.os; tlus lthe new order will not supply
the service with u much bettter c.ass
of officials uAan those vito have brought
1t ipto disrepute
The American consular service has al
ways been The opprobrlun of the govern
ment. In lthe Bi'.tiSh and German service
VI Is a proies.on, Young men are pu. into
subordinate poslticGls in consuIatcs, and
are required no tearn languages, political
economy and the us,oms of Rsale AS
itaey progress In their studies they are
graduasly promoted, Wnen they are pro-
heierk Lhey mhy then eXpeCt to become
vlee-consulS, and then consuls. II in the
9jter capacity they show marked ability
they may pass ZION The consular to the
diplomatic service, and yhey may r.ce to
be ambasSodJrs hs Sir Harry Parkes did,
w'so entered khe British consulate at
canton as boy with the duties ~ a
rouSla5oue, and graGualy rose eh.ough
the grades Of interpreter and consular
e!erk UNITY ne came TO represent Great
Brlntn In EalGorn Asia. UrCess the in
cum6ent has grave fhu,ts he holds n, 5
post Tor clfe The effect olf this regime
ls 10 sEp9'y England with a body Of welt
trained, nighly-eXperlenced and tiorough-
ly deVSted otliciaIs, In comparison with
whom our cOnsus are children.
In rms country consu,Ites are the re-
ward OF pGIlcaG service during Presi-
uensA campaigns. When president has
hothlnS else 10 give he can always find
cohsulate for friend who has laid him
uhuer ohag9tion. Thus consuIates whose
uu'les are one of considerable moment TO
our foreign trade are bestowed upon law-
ye1's and editors and traders who have
no knoN.edge of l,the commere tAev are
expected Vo Foster, or OF the country 10
whleh they are accredited. Not one IN n
score knows tAe Language of NAe peonle
among whom ne Us lro five. Their foreign
eontre'Ss walk around them, and when a
question arises whelher u certain c,ass Of
goods saa2 be got from Great P-jtarn or
Germany, or The Unlsed States. they have
no influence 10 w,ec1, This fact is one
OF the oAef cluses why Great BrHnln
and G',mllny sell $40 worth OF roods
to China and Japan against 81 N,,rth
sold 10y ,ht country,
For e~eia,y years men OF business hovA
erirealaed the governmer, at Wacnlnoson
70 reform our coESuhr servle 50 gtns
cur consus should be able to mold their
own agnirci, the corous OF Euronson
coupr,ries. The appeal has fagen ON denf
cars IN consequence of the ursv.llnrneSs
Of ~, 9 deres TO pare with pa,aonaye. Ava
Ms. tfevlbnd shows in hss recent order
& ~ sie fol'o2a The example OF his nra.
decocsors wnlle Affecting to yieIi to p,ps;le
cal!or. II gAe president Gun appoint q
person Eil0 having furnished the eus-
toUary eNidslee ot charaEger. r,sponsg-
billy and capac2ty. Il found upon an
10 be quallfled for the posi-
tion." al hts appoin;ees may be of this