The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-06
Foreign Praise of American Consuls

It Ia not uncommon for American travel
lers OF certain type to lament what they
are pleased to term the unntness OF our
consuls for the posts they occupy, on the
ground that they lack the elegance Of
department which is popularity supposed
to distinguish European aristocrats. These
critics seem not to comprehend that our
consular representatives are selected, not
on the score Of their drawing-room accom-
plishments, but for the purpose OF pro-
noting their country's commercial inter-
ests. That they discharge efficiently and
often admirably the specific function to
which they are deputed Is generally recog-
nized abroad. Some striking evidence on
this point is presented in the latest number
OF the North American Reriew by FRANCIS
b. LOOMS, our Minister to Venezuela
Similar testimony is offered in a recent
number Of the London trade journal, In
dustries and IRON. To those Americans who
are disposed to deplore the imaginary
shortcomings Of our consuls we commend
these proofs Of the respect expressed by
competent foreign observers for an ill-paid,
Woodworking and much-decried class of
our public servants.
III. loomlo pOlhbs OuU UudJ U0e HlRH
character of the commercial reports fur
nished by our consular officers was lately
made conspicuous subject of discussion
by a member of the House OF Commons.
Attention Is also directed to a leading
article in recent number Of the Consular
journal of Great Britain, wherein the Brit
ish and American consular systems were
compared. After stating that "a consular
officer of the United States Is not so we'll
paid as ours" the British writer admits
that 1.-THE work achieved by him is GER
tainly superior to that done by our con-
sular officers abroad" Referring to our
method OF rewarding political service
by an appointment to consulship, he
recognizes the Legitimate presumption
that a man who has distinguished himself
in politics must be man of the world, and
possessed OF tact and common sense" He
adds that, II we should depart from the
present "spoils system" there would be
more than probability Of social sue
cesses, tea-and-tennis men, finding their
way to the ranks of consuls, to the certain
prejudice Of the service"
Mr.. LOOMS quotes also from La Revue
Diplomdtiqte, the organ Of the French
Diplomatic and Consular Service, which has
this to say about our consuls: "The Ameri-
cans are practical men, and their instinct
for business is marvellous. Nothing is
more characteristic in this respect than
the organization Of their consular CORPS"
1t is acknowledged that French consular
reports ARE OF an historic rather than a
business character" On the other hand.
''the American consul knows that his notes
will go without delay Immediately to the
public, and he gives in them, like a good
reporter, information down to the latest
hour" Then follows this testimony to the
scope and nature of the services rendered
by our consular representatives: THE
American consul does not assume that he
has simply n commercial situation to main
tain, but always that he has a commercial
situation to conquer. His ingenuity Is
exercised to invent and find new markets,
and in his study Of ways and means he
descends to the most minute details"
Once more: Enterprising and ingenious
in the new countries, it is above all in
Europe that the American consuls are ac-
tive and aggressive" The French journal
finally quotes an admission from Birming-
ham newspaper that 1.-THE Americans have
the art of putting life and initiative into a
career where other people rest upon routine
and immobiity."
OF the same tenor is the evidence brought
forward by Mr.. LOOMS from a German
paper, the Central ZeitunO fir Optik und
Mechdnik, which comedies that "all the
other countries Of the world are left far
behind in respect to consular enterprise by
the United States" 1t records that Amer-
can consuls are striving to substitute the
goods of their native country for German
and Swiss merchandise in Turin, Rome and
Messina, and, it adds. their knowledge is
more general than that Of our consuls, and
our Government would do we'll to choose
its consuls, as the United States do theirs
widely Informed men, ever awake to the
commercial interests OF their nation"
The article in IndustTie8 and Iron, to
which we have referred, was called forth
by the announcement OF the British Foreign
Onice's intention to appoint three or four
commercial attaches in countries Of indus
trial Importance, who should specially
watch the chances of British trade. 1t is
well known that one Of these commercial
attache has been deputed to the United