The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-22

Daily average Sunday. 10 1ss. excepted. ss.'s,
Our Ambassadors and Ministers
AbrOnd.
Is it not wonderful thing that we can.
not keep an Ambassador or Minister al
any one of the European capitals longer
than two years? In the short space OF the
Mckinley Administration we have had two
Ministers to Spain, two to Belgium. two
to Austria; two Ambassadors to England
two to Italy, and t.o to Russia. Now it is
announced that both the Ambassador al
St. Petersburg and the Minister at Vienna
intend to resign and make third appoint
ment necessary at each court.
1t seems to us that this sort OF shut
fling is hardly worthy of the Imperial Re-
public of the West. In fact, We are con-
WINGED that it is below the level of states
manship which might be looked for in
Uruguay or Costa RIGA. The world has
long since ceased trying to understand the
kind of government they have in South
America, but at least the little oligarchies
TO the south of us do not make themselves
ridiculous abroad.
We are fortunate in having three capa-
BILE representatives at Paris, Berlin. and
London. but with the exception of DR..
White it is not likely that any of them
will continue through the second Mckin-
ley Administration. At the other capitals
our diplomatic concerns are generally in
the hands of the Secretary of Legation
while Ministers are changing about or
taking long leaves at home. Mr.. Tower,
for instance who is returning from Rus
STA, went there from Vienna after two
years stay in the Austrian capital. The
value of his experience and influence at
either place could be correctly et-down
as nil.
The system is as wrong as the remedy is
simple. Danish ward politics and the re-
form would be complete. General Porter
was sent to Paris because it was known
that he would make an ideal Ambassador
there; but was this considered in sending
Mr. Harris to Vienna, Messrs. Hitchcock
and Tower to st. Petersburg, or General
Draper to Rome? There was a reason for
DR.. Whites appointment to Germany
which would probably have caused his re-
tention by Mr. Bryan. but outside OF po-
litical obligations can anyone explain the
besiowal OF diplomatic honors on Mr..
Charles p Bryan Of Chicago, Mr.. Godfrey
Hunter of Kentucky. Mr.. Powell Clayton
of Arkansas, or Mr.. Bellamy Storer Of
Ohio? In most of the instances cited the
wives of the appointees wished to make
some sort of an appearance at some Eu-
ropean court. and as their husbands
checkbooks had been very much at Mr..
Hanna disposal in 1896 their wishes were
complied with. firing of court eti-
Quette as soon as or before their self
made husbands did, they naturally de-
manded to be taken home
That American ENJOYS appointed and
SO replaced have any sort OF influence or
standing with the Governments to which
they are accredited no one believes. Prob
ably neither the Car nor the Emperor of
Austria could remember the names of
three of the last dozen American Minis
tiers to whom he has given audience. II
Franz-Josef keeps a diary it must con-
tain entries like these:
March Il. lsa.-said bon voyage to the
American Minister
April Is. lss7.-Nsw American Minister to-
day. Name Chariemaehe.''
January u. lsae-Anotl,er American Min,
lister. Name Harris
November Is. lo0O-American Minister called
to say adieu. Forgotten his name
The European Governments pursue an
entirely different plan. They select men
for foreign missions who have been
trained in the diplomatic service and who
know how to speak not only the language
OF diplomacy. but the language of the peo
pie with whom they are to live. Once sta
toned at an important post they remain
to their experience. England has had but
three representatives at Washington dur
ing the last forty years. Baron Fava has
represented Italy for nearly generation.
France, Russia, and Germany change their
Ambassadors here more frequently but
the men they send are skilled in their
profession. They are never strauses or
Woodruffs.
Mr. Mckinley has an opportunity TO
change ali this IL he will but seize upon il.
He is under no obligation to his party for
a second term in the White House. how
ever grateful he may feel toward the
American people. Why not, then. consider
the latter little in selecting the men by
whom they are Judged abroad?