Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-20
Merits
Pharmacy, l1th & r SITS.
iy2O-AOd
THE CONSULAR SERVICE.


an English Journalist.
To the Editor OF The Evening Star;
DESMOND, Newcastle-on-Tyne.J July q. 81
Permit an English journalist. proud Of
The reputation of the American democracy
and Jealous of its honor. to frankly speak.
through the medium of your columns. a
sentence or two of friendly remons;rance
Were l to interpose my mere foreign
opinion on any matter exclusively Amer
lean, the action would undoubtedly SAVIOR
OF presumption. From my point OF view
eraitude rather than criticism is due to
your great self-governed nation Yet 1
snal willingly run the hazard of beinp mis-
understood rather than shrink from sneak
ing, to those I love and respect. the truth
L needs must think.
Between the ambassadorial and tho oo,
suiar services of the United States 4 take
IL, there is this broad distinction obsery-
able and Acknowledged by all The former
represents the government of the republic
dt gwen court, or the seat of government
OF given foreign state. The latter trans
fuses a knowledge of the city or district
OF ms appointment. and in which he. re-
sues ana OF the cities and districts of the
United States bearing less or more affinity
thereto; multiplies their possible nonts or
contact; blends their elements of mutual
interest; helps to remove out of the way
an possible causes of misunderstanding
ana all this the clever consul contrives 10
erect with the enlightened judgment of an
expert ana the unfailing courtesy of a
mutual friend.
For the ambassador Identification with
me government TO whom he owes the honor
OF having been selected appears TO be no,h
ing less than a necessity. For the success
OF the consul, extended experience, init
mate knowledge, a commercial and social
framing, having regard to kindred inter
ests, are the pre-essentials of efficiency. I
olten near 1t said that common sense dc
tates that the election of a new President
aru , De 1oliowed by a revision of the
embassies NO theoretical justification of
equal Validity can be advanced for casting
70 the WINDS every four years. here and
,here All over the civilized world, the vast
ai hsui OF insight, experience and good will
winch your skillfully directed consular in
tercourse has been accommodating
IL would be invidious to adduce instances
In support of this contention I could nojn,
!ou 10 cases IN which sudden and unan-
ucipateu cnange of consul has been felt to
DE sore encouragement to growing m
'macies, serious check to ENTERPRISES of
common advantage to American and Brit
i lsh citlzens, positive loss of moral in
nuence TO the American consulate and-and
therefore-a kind of humiliation to those Of
US IN the old country who have aforerime
committed the objectionable sin in others
Eyes OF Americanizing British institutions
but there Is no need to quote instances Ii
Is self-eN.dent truth, that the sysfem ia
woefully wasteful. You cannot pick I'M ex
perience and accumulated special knowl-
NNSS Neig hdy III the streets. Nor - ha
special ability, information and personal
adaptability acquired by consuls of so little
account that the possessor of such gifts
should be cast aside without a fault al "A
moments notice, 1900 miles from home,
without conSequences-consequ giving
rise to very unpleasant remarks on The
part OF those who are ever too ready to find
fault with the working of republican in
situations.
Most reasonable men will be prepared to
grant that the legitimate patronage of party
influence should be exercised I'm respect of
appointments which touch the higher
sphere of international relationships. In
connection with these no such CONSEQUENCES
as | have deprecated follow
But, under the world-renowned stars and
stripes. IL ought to be utterly Impossible
even Tor the profane TO urge with any APP
pearance OF truth. that consuls are changed
without any regard for the progress of
peace or the prosperity of commerce.
know 1t to be true that Englishmen land
English colonial mem in various parts of
the world are predisposed to submit to
American consuls, by preference over all
others, questions of the greatest delicacy
and moment. That is because they regard
the position OF your average official as that
OF one who cannot fail to derive some de-
gree of character from the free and indie
pendent constitution of the states. But
how shall this enviable reputation be sus-
tanned if the very official who represents
the honor of the republic is subject to be
cashiered and supplanted without fault
within sight of the representatives of in
ferior nations?
So recently as last April, / read a cir
cular of information of the Association of
Manufacturers of the United States of
America" 1t contained an appeal to his
excelency, the President, William McKin-
ley. That appeal recommended the incom-
ing President to observe certain simple
rules:
(a) That the changes in your consular
service should be few possible; Obj va
cancies to be filled up by transfers and
promotions; (c) appointments to be made
solely upon the basis of proper qualifica-
ton; and (d) only American citizens APP
pointed.
These recommendations may be assumed
to have had their origin in regard for
the external trade of the states. They can,
1 assure you, be very heartily Endorsed, on
quite other grounds. by the external we'll
wishers Of your glorious republic.
l. HYSLOP BELL.