Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-04-10
A ROUSELESS AMBASSADOR,

a HOOCELECO AMbA9CADOhs
The American people are not yet
prepared to agree with the London
correspondent of the New York Sun,
who says; ''If Mr.. Joseph Ell. Choate
should express him self indiscreetly or
even unpatriotically about affairs in
his country to Englishmen he will be
in no wise blameworthy. He arrived
in London more than fortnight ago
as the Ambassador of a great and
prosperous republic and he is still
wandering about the streets of the
metropolis seeking a habitatlon
wherein to establish himself as BELTS
his position, instead Of lodging as an
ordinary guest in public hotel" Mr..
Choate must have had at least a dim
foreshadowing of the annoyances to
which he would be subjected from
this weakness in our system, and in
pardonable sin Moreover, while the
annoyance is largely personal to him,
the absurdity of the situation reflects
not upon him, but on his country. He
has doubtless tried faithfully to secure
a place befitting the dignity of his
high representative character, within
the limits of what the Government al
lows, plus the sum that q fairly rich
man can afford TO sacrifice for the
privilege of serving his country and
wearing the honors that go with the
position.
When we were poor and strug-
Cling nation, entering upon an expe-
riment that all others in the govern
ing business declared foredoomed to
failure, it might have been consis-
tent with our character to conduct
our diplomatic relations and arrange
our diplomatic equipment on scale
of somewhat severe simplicity and
economy. But as the years have roll
ed on circumstances have changed.
We now hold a commanding place in
the family of nations. We are the
greatest commercial country on earth,
and, while we have no money to
throw away or expend in foolish en-
which is the same thing, we
can raise enough to defray all legiti-
mate expenses belonging to proper
domestic and foreign relations. 1t
does not reflect credit upon the Unit
ed States that it's minister should be
compelled to put up at public house
and, when a card is sent to the Amer
lean ambassador, have the clerk call:
Front! Take this card up to 493."
Why does not the United States
have an embassy house at every court |
in Europe where an ambassador is |
sent, and fitting quarters for its min
isters and even inferior diplomatic /
agents at every foreign capital? 1t |
does not answer this question to say |
that it would cost too much, for it |
would be worth all it would cost and |
considerable more. We cheaper our |
diplomacy when we conduct it on |
such cheap plan. We have been |
ready enough to raise money for an |
army End a navy. Our motto seems |
to be: "Millions for offence, but short |
commons for diplomacy" And yet |
our diplomatic service ought to be
our most important service in main |
tanning our rights and keeping peace
with the rest Of the world. Even if it |
were not desirable for the sake Of APP |
pearance to have an ambassad orial |
residence always ready, it would be |
worth what it cost in convenience and |
in adding to the attractions of the pc |
sition, so that wealth need not be a |
sine qua non if man had the other |
necessary qualities. There are more |
rich men than good diplomatists in |
our country, by a large majority.