Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-23

on
WASHINGTON, ID. c., December e.
.-Ex-Secretary of State John w. Fos-
ter, one OF the ablest diplomats ever in
the government service, has recently
made some sensible remarks upon the
error committed by Congress in confer
ring the rank of ambassador upon GER
tain Of our representatives to foreign
courts His views are of interest as
showing to what imperialistic notions
are leading us and how foolish it is to
substitute foreign ideals for our Amer
Jean traditions. Mr.. Foster advises the
repeal of the act creating the rank OF
ambassador for the following reasons:
First, because it is an aping of royal
ty not becoming in a republic; second,
because it introduces into our demo-
cratic society a foreign privileged
class which tends to engender un-
necessary and invidious rank distinc-
ton; and third, because it makes our
highest diplomatic posts the prize Of
wealth and not of merit" In these
few words Mr.. Foster really describes
some OF the more obvious tendencies of
the day in American society, not only
in Washington, but elsewhere; and the
ambassadorial business is merely
symptomatic of the plutocratic disorder
in the body social and polite.
1.-THE true remedy" Mr.. Foster OBJ
serves, ssfor the embarrassment which
American diplomats suffer in the great
European capitals because Of rank is
not In servilely following monarchial
customs by the creation of new grade
in our service, but in our government
taking the iniative in a movement for
the adjustment of all rank in the dip
lomatic body" This would be in ac-
cord with
The Democratic Principle
of equality, which we have thrown
overheard for the aristocratic bauble of
rank and title. But we now have am
basSadorS abroad and ambassadors here
in Washington, and of what use are
they in either place? AS to the value
of the rank to our representatives in
foreign lands, Mr.. Foster says that he
doubts very much whether the absence
of rank has ever prevented any really
able minister of the United States from
rendering his country a needed service.
Mr.. Bayard, when Secretary of State.
said that he could not find that the
benefits attending higher grade Of
social treatment outweighed the social
Inconvenience attending the reception
In this country Of a foreign privileged
class. AS to these inconvenience, Mr..
Foster points out that we had scan
dalous demonstration during the last
Inauguration ceremonies, when in the
zeal Of the subordinate officials to show
special honor to the foreign ambas-
sailors all the other members of the
diplomatic body were neglected. More
over, the maintenance OF the rank OF
ambassador abroad entails the expendi-
ture of large sums for houses or pal
aces and entertainment, so that no one
but a very wealthy man may aspire to
these high posts Mr.. Foster well says
that ut Is sad day for a republic
when it's highest offices cease to be re-
wards OF merit and fitness and when
they can only be filed by rich men"
This same remark might now be APP
piled to the place of Secretary Of State,
which, owing in great part to the ele-
walton of the rank Of the diplomatic
corps. can only be filled acceptably, ac-
cording to present ideals,
BY a Man of Great Wealth.
It is well known that it was his pow
erty which caused Judge Day to resign
this Office to Mr.. Hay, whose chief
qualification for the position was his
wealth and social proclivities.
The singular thing about the ambas-
sadorial business is the wide accept
ance of it by press and people as the
proper thing, whereas, as Mr.. Foster
has SO abundantly shown, it was not
only contrary to American ideals, but
also to a high conception of the nature