The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-28
THE coNsuL's STANDING.
A Necessary Functionary, But Not u
Distinguished One.
Ex-Attaehe in New York Tribune.

Ex-Attaehe in New York Tribune
Although many years have elapsed since
the late Lord Palmerston, speaking his
capacity as secretary of state for foreign
affairs. informed the British House of
Commons that consuls were mot gentle
men" it may be questioned whether either
the Official or social status Of these estim-
able and most useful functonaries has
been improved to any extent since that
date. They are still trea ted as a sort Of
poor relations of the members of the reg
ular diplomatic service. are desplsed as
such by the youngest of attaches, and are
usually referred to as ''those damned con-
suls." In some monarchlcal countries
their office is sufficient to debar them
from presentation at court 1t being held
that the acceptance of a consulship is
equivalent to an admission by a man that
he Is not "hoffoehig'' Chat Is 10 say, not
enough of a gentleman to consort with
princes and nobles), while 1t is rare to find
consul dining at the table even of his
own ambassador or envoy, save on state
occasions, and then only as an act of par
ticular condescension.
= is not the consular service of any par
ucular country that is meant, but the
consular corps as a whole 1t s a pro-
fession which, during the last fifty years
or so, has become of such vital importance
to the welfare and prosperity of the ma
tons by which It is employed that 1t has
frequently been argued of late that It
might be of political as well as economic
advantage to abolish the diplomatic mis-
sions and to devote the money thus saved
TO the development and extension of the
consular service. The usefulness of am
bassadors, Of their secretaries and OF
their attaches except for ornamental pur-
noses is n diaQncGiDa uyh
can be none as to the value Of the consuis
providing, Of course, they do their duty
FOR consuis are Indispensable factors
in the Intercourse between all countries
that are in commercial relations with one
another. The greatness, the prosperity
the power and the welfare OF nations de-
pend not so much upon the area of their
territory or on the number Of their cruis-
ers and soldiers as upon the extent of
their trade and industry. BY none can
these be more developed and fostered than
by their consuls, and 1t may be pointed
out that precisely those ambassadors have
been regarded as the most capable and
successful who. trespassing, SO to speak.
upon the consular sphere, have endeav-
ored to secure facilities and advantages
for the commerce of their native lands
Thus an envoy who induces the govern
ment to which he Is accredited 10 abol-
ish restrictions imposed UPON the fmpor-
tation of the produce of his country un-
quesuonably renders a more valuable
service to the latter than an ambassador
who, for instance, presents elcduently
worded notes to the sultan urging The in
PRODUCTION of reforms in the International
administration ofTurkey-notes which are
never acted upon, and which are merely
filed away among the archives of the sub
lime porte.
When Lord Palmerston made his sweep
were mot gentlemen" he did not, Of
course, mean to Imply that there were no
gentlemen among the consuls; for there
are many men of birth and of breeding
among them. But what he evidently did
mean to say was that It was not indis-
pensapie that a consul should be a gentle
man. as is the case with an officer of the
army or navy, with member of the bar
or of the diplomatic service. Moreover
IL cannot be denied that so little care is
taken in making the appointments to the
consular service that il has become en-
dowed, so far as social status is concern
ed, with an exceedingly bad name Prob
ably the best organized and most efficient
consular service in the world at the present
moment is that of Germany Yet even
there nobliary element is conspicuous by
the paucity of its members, the vast ma
pority of the members of the corps being,
unlike the diplomatic profession, of bour-
geois birth, and recruited from the mid
die classes. Certain Of the latest offices
of consul general are held by important
and titled dignitaries of the foreign Office
at Berlin, whom it is desired to give
brief spell of service abroad for the sake
of broadening their minds. But the ord
mary consulships are filled by men who
bear names that are plebian and unknown
save in commercial circles. The few
aristocrats among the number are ex-
officers of the army who, having run
through their money to such an extent as
to render the retention Of their commits
sions impossible, have made use of what
influence they possessed to secure govern
ment employment, and above all liveli-
hood, abroad.
Yet no matter how the German consular
service Is composed, It Is sngularly eff
Client, and is kept with its nose to the
grindstone by the constant demands that
are being made upon II from Berlin. It's
officials are expected to have their eyes
open and TO be on the watch fof every
new opportunity Of pushing German
trade. They are required to keep the
merchants and manufacturers at home
fully posted as 10 the changes In the
economic condition Of the country ard
districts in which they are stationed, and
wherever possible TO induce local traders
and manufacturers 10 pen up cOmmunica-
AlDnN WIFI lllt 'fFilldM NldIhtlbs IHeN
advise their countrymen as to the best
way of presenting their wares; they Sc
cur. contracts for them whenever possible
and furnish them with all the points thar
they can need. In one word, they consti-
tute themselves the mentors, the guides
and the friends Of the German trader and
of the German producers; that too. In
O thoroughly disinterested manner, with
out looking for any other reward than
promotion. or perhaps decoration from
the emperor. II Is thanks to them thar
German trade has developed TO such an
extent that II has now become the prlnci-
pal competitor OF that Of Great Britain
all the world over, oustlng the English
from many OF Inc markets. Indeed, Cor
man trade would probably be victorious
all along the line were the quality OF the
produce and manufacture offered equal 10
that Of the British article or more worthy
Of the exertion made In lts behalf by the
Woodworking, energetic Teuton consuis.
The English consular service presents a
good deal Of analogy 10 that OF the United
States. with this difference: that. whore.
as American cOnsuls bold their Office
merely for a term Of years, ana are then
sent about their business Just when thoy
have begun 20 get acquainted with their
duties their English colleague retains his