Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-30

81
piece Of Information to these critics to
learn that not only has the United States
government frequently conceded 10 it's min
listers abroad the right to wear a uniform
in Difference to local requirements, but that
some of the Sturdiest and most "Ameri-
can" of our Presidents, including the father
of that EurophobiSt principle embodied in
the Monroe doctrine, have actually them
selves designed such uniforms and urged
our ministers abroad to adopt them.
The first American diplomatic uniform
made its appearance early in thus century
in 1914 and was worn by the United States
commissioners who negotiated the famous
treaty of Client.
Before that date Franklin had set the
style for ENJOYS and ministers abroad,
with his simple black evening Dress and
it is now matter of record that the prece-
dent established by Franklin came about
through an accident. Franklin had never
Signified any aversion to court costumes
and gold lace, and probably would have
attired himself in all of the glory OF Il
French cOurtier when he appeared before
the French emperor had he had oppor-
tunity to EXERCISE his judgment and taste
Being summoned to court uneX pee teddy be
fore he had fitted himself with the court
costume, he set out his condition and
told TO come at once in anything he hap
pened to be wearing" That brought him
to court i'll Quaker fun dress, which, in
served 10 mark lis vaarar Inv rnn,r,st -.
the most conspjcLous personap. of an
1t is Il curious fact, in this connection
that Frankliu's dress was III one SENSE
court sarb, being precisely the dress worn
in the ourt of Charles II after m. ara,
ton.
First Diplomatic Inform.
Finding Franklin's bold departure we'll
i'te!'ed' some OF our pioihal!c agent" IN
other ceolrts followed his eNanple, ana
black was the rule IN their attire until
III, Tho, IN ~. fao, ,,r =, ,,.,,r.,,, ,sn.s-
sitv for some mark Of distinction in the
case of our commissioners who negotiated
the treaty of Chen, appeared the first
regular American .pionatIc inform sane
,io'.@n ny ',.sGsoi ni.t IL,
In,Iorn, v.as c..rt,inI,, in .sr,rt1iu,, can+ras,
with Frankljn's sober black. for if con-
sistaJ Of , lin. .c1t ,r;rnr,e, YIN goi1
lace. wh:te knee hrrcrhas white six stock
ings big gold buckles n the knee. ayi
also upon the low shoes and 4 sword with
the carefully dressed hair crowned by a
small !,.J IA. With a ueat nm S,I,.,,
ccckade. In these DAYS such a vari-coi-
or.d costume would appes!t to he over-ron-
spcuous but its wearing was not only thor
ouhls sanctioned by Mofrtt but he au, hor-
lied its further emhelis hmrnt on parIicrl-
larly grand occasions. and later on whom he
became President, through that man of
IurItdn STOCK. JOnn quincy Adams, n
Secretary of state al of our ministers
abroad We're urged to wear a ike uniform
Secretary Adams even went so far as In
send them engraved plates for the guidance
of their tailOrs. This uniform VAS general
~ worn for the six years from Is; to
$50 when jackson became President Pos
siblv he d!d not like the uniform principle
At any rate while he d.d not abolish the
Client uniform altogether he made K much
more sober'' IN tone and in the, interest OF
the ministers, who were then as now, con
Stantly complaining that Their salaries ,ltI
rot meet their expenses he prov:del a
cheaper style of garment
rI .s
"
rms. the second CT Jacksonian uniform.
is thus OFFICIALLY described in a dispatch
sent bv Mr. Van J,ur.n then Jackso,,s
coro.,r 90 CT. - ~
- 90 " '0''''' - 0'ie Va o"'
III Europe.
"A niack coat, with go!d star on each
side ot lnA coiar near It's termination; the
ui'aei'io'hes TO De biack oiut or white, al
ne optioh Oh the "eaEer thfee-corhered
chapedu 4e bras' black cockade ana
easie' ana SIec-mouhted sword with a
"Htt scapna'h
'h!h9oh aih not urge the wearing or TINS
UNIFORM as strongly as ana MS predeces-
SorS III the case OF the Ghent UNIFORM: Tor
secretary van furen wrote: 1t is to he
understood, however. that the use of this
particular dress Is not prescribed by the
IieSiaeht IL Is barely suggested by his
''''' a. an appropriate anu d cohNt-
hlent UNIFORM dress Tor the use of our
MINISTER'S ana other diplomatic agents OF
me 'hited states.
Two years later Secretary Van Buren,
was sun moving toward simplicity. and in
"iitiS again 10 MI. Van Ness, he took oc-
caSloA I" emphasize the fact that the Pres
ldeht recommended, but did not prescribe.
inns SIMPLE uniform. solely in the interest
vi .h!lofillty ana to meet the demand for
d uiStihctiNe dress.
during the ensuing twenty years. how
ever, in the absence of further instructions
our ministers ga,,a ~, r.in 70 - ,or
sonal taste in dress, ana the result was a
crop OF uniforms that. while almost gor-
f,uGrn a. Tue ,'htnt uhllorin' iacKed the
President pinrrn's ti' ~ ~ ~. 30 a,.a -,
Secretary Marcy laid down the ruIe thaf
all uniforms must he abandoned by Amer
lcan diplomatic agents, and a simple black
dress worn wherever this could he done
without injury to the objects of their mis-
SION. This order precipitated regular
panic in diplomatic circles and caused our
unfortunate ministers in Europe no end
OF trouble and humiliation. Minister Ma
Paris H., baf no