The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-06-25
MISS MAUDE ADAMS.
CONSULAR SYSTEM, NOT THE
CONSULS, IS AT FAULT.

Since my open letter to Bishop Potter
In the News of June 21st. have been
asked by numerous people for my general
personal views upon the consular service
OF the United States I trust that these
| few views may reach the eye and ear of
our good Bishop Potter and trust also
that he may possibly gain some knowl-
| edge OF the system, as he II evidently
very much In the dark regarding II.
| Being no longer In the service, / can
| speak freely, candidly and honestly. The
| reverend bishop I'm his address at Roch-
ester saw MT Ito use a rather common but
effective expression), TO "rake over the
Goals the men who make up the person
mel ofour consular service and endeavored
To create the impression land which no
doubt was taken for granted by some,
coming from Bishop Potter, that our rep
resentatives In that branch were and are
absolutely unit to represent the United
States.
The fact that our consular system, as
have had the opportunity to make com
parisons, as far as men are concerned is
quite on the level, II not above, that OF
any other country and / am convinced
they are not lacking I'm intelligence
broadmindedness or even compliance with |
necessary customs of the country to !
which they are accredited. Upon the con- |
suls devolve the commercial. rather than /
diplomatic interests OF the United States, |
and as proof OF their efficiency, broad |
mindedness and intelligence just COM |
pare the United States, commercially, I
with any other power.
Are we not at the very front and are |
not the eyes of the commercial world |
upon us-yes, even envious of our great |
progress
Investigate this, you who are inclined TO |
Ia I'LL.
our consular officers upon whose should |
ers the commercial interests of our coun- |
try abroad rests TO a great extent. and |
see IL our men are TO be compared TO "a |
bull In a china shop as far as intelligence |
and observation-disclosures are concerned. 1t |
certainly Is our consular officers who |
guard, investigate and keep tho United |
States I'm touch with whatever commercial
possibilities that may exist In the coun- /
try TO which they are accredited
our consular officers may not be par
lor idols" or even drawing room attrac-
tion. except as the occasion demands, but
they are men-men who. were they not
flt. would not be appointed. They are not
sent abroad TO give tea parties to Cooks
or save cancelled stamps for the
American public, as many apparently
imagine. but are sent out to represent the
United States In a commercial way. gen
orally speaking, and this they do credit
ably. as have said before and which
proves itself
Bishop Potter asks: When we go
abroad, Isn't II well 10 learn and conform
With the customs and usages of the coun- |
Try where we are" meaning, l presume.
TO infer that our consuls do not 20 so |
Someone has said: When in Rome do !
~ the Romans do" which may be all
tight as applied to Rome. but when a rep
is I'm a country where II Is the
10 eat with the hat on. to
smoke n "hubble-bubble," or to take OF
mes shoes before entering a house or |
'hurch, In It necessary. let me ask you.
q do such things I'm order TO represent, |
With dignity. our country?
Some people travelling abroad consider, |
,r seem TO, the consul as an "errand bay''
or the American public-to be able TO tell
where TO get a nights lodging for two
rancs. or some lady where she can get
he best lace. cheap never thinking for
moment but that they are there for
ust this purpose
In fact once had an enterprisinr IN
lvidual from western state write me
o send him at once. four thousand can
elled stamps" ana n my invoice was
satisfactory he would appoint me his
gent. II was fair example OF what |
ome people consider the duties OF a con-
al.
Another lady wanted 10 know ~ 7 could
OF 20 out and get her n few thousand |
ea shells. evidently laboring under the
IMPRESSION that some consuis spent con-
Iderable time romancing by the sea and
altering ses-shells
Truly the shortcomings OF our consular
nrvice do not lie with the men who COM
ose II hut rather with the system itself |
'hich every one comedies II not what N |
hould he. and IL only I'm the Infancy OF
= perfection True. We have had and |
re- having great success commercially |
ne 10 the efficiency of our representa-
yes. but nevertheless ~ would be n far
etter service were " permanent one
ke Great Britain. for example We are
aturaly n commercial nation-our men
r. men Of commerce and when thev are
'lled upon 10 fli the position of consul
re found naturally adapted 20 the duties
such. Time perfects them as In any