The National tribune., 1900-03-15
u. s. CONSULAR SERVICE.
Travelling Correspondents Observations Of the Service
Not Appreciated by the American People.

airy period in our progressive history tha
the Consular service.
1t may be claimed that our foreign servic
is as good as that of other countries, eve
to those adhering to what we call Civ
Service" with its attendant system c
promotions for merit; but however that may
| be, our service is not as good as it should be
and not as good as it could be, and it lack!
enormously in the efficiency necessary TO
our present requirements. As we arr
pushing our goods into every diStan
market with newly aroused vigor
we need, 10 aid our people in this unpar
aleiled competition, more alert, able .anC
enterpriSing Consular service.
Very few persons even among our
merchants i'll the foreign trade really
understand the value OF an cflicien! Consular
Osicer, and very few OF those have been
able TO make comparisons sufficient TO show
thcm the difference between a Consul ;.nd
the Consul who is i'll all ways equal 10 his
opportunities.
Occasionally has the Consular Office
been placed in proper hands. and in each
of such cases has the value of the Consular
service TO our couutry's foreign commerce
been demonstrated. There is plenty OF
material in our country for the Consular
service, and with business principles
applied to the selection. no foreign post
need be diSgraccd by an official nobody.
While business sense may be regarded
as the first essential to ihe successful Consul
without many other essential qualities,
the wiSeSt man might prove q conspicuous
failure. A Consul should be many-Sded
man.
First, a man TO be successful Consul
III an important post should be cultured
gentleman, SO that early impressions
might be agreeable. Then, he should
have gOo1 busineiS sense. u fair Knowledge
of the world, and wide experience with
men and affairs. He should be well cd.I-
Gated, with some literary tastes, if not at
tdinmentS: he should have polished man
ners, good temper, courageous sense of
fellows rights. He should be a diplomat,
and somewhat of a courticr as well, but he
should retain Il sturdy patriotism, and
win respect for himself and his countrymen,
by maintaining q true and dignified Ameri-
canism. He should be well informed
regarding the resources and of the indus
trial situation of the United States, as well
as possessing a pretty general knowledge
of the laws and customs of the several
States. All this he frequently needs.
Then he should be as patient as an OK
and as tirclcss as a windmill.
Many ConSulates are at considerable
distance from the capital Of the country
in which they are situated, and in all such
cases the Consul must play the diplomat
of his countrymcn, and few would even
dream of the diversified demands and
delicate responsibilities of such an officer
or of the versatile qualities necessary for
the successful performance OF his manifold
duties.
Chatting recently with the Secretary. at
one of our important Consulates in one OF
the Australian colonies, this efficient staff
official was giving me some glimpses of
Consular life, and by way of illustration
brought from his chiefs desk the weekly
upon which the daily appoint
ments are noted. The following may give
a faint idea of the history of the Consular
labOrs, aside, remember, from the eXamin-
alton, approval and signing of great
number and variety OF important docu-
ments and advising all sorts Of men on all
sorts Of questions on variety OF schemes
that would puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer "
Monday.-Call on the Cardinal re the
release OF -. u. Same matter, Minister
of Justice. Evening, Chamber of Com
merce, s.
tuesday,. J. s. Bank re Stapleton
Estate, 11:30. Go 10 American ship-iiear
of sailors, 3 p. IN. Evening,
Observation-Disclosures Consulate re
piano-American firm, II. Speech at
SCOTS College, 3. Lecture, Church re-
lief fund. Government House ball $50.
Observation-Disclosures. see American
prisoner. 10. Court, give evidence . Meet
Marine Board. 3:30. Party Of Americans
Parliament House, 7:30.