New-York tribune., 1903-07-28
OUR CONSULAR SERVICE.
Ho1g 1t Should and Could Be Made
a Credit to the Country.
the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In reading your editorial on our Consular
Service I am delighted to know that new sys-
tenn is proposed. We are much in need of
system that will make US less Of a laughing
stock to foreign friends.
In some twelve years my business carried me
TO foreign countries all over the world so from
time TO time came in contact with our consuls
! found that a rule. the resident Ameri-
cans had to make all kinds of excuses for our
consuls, and in many places stories were told
me of their behavior. At place. our consul,
just arrived. had his household goods delivered
in the hall Of the consulate. He didn't know
that cents day would hire cody TO un-
pacI his cases. so he started il himself. While
deep in the work the government embassy ar
rived TO pay their respects to the United States
representative He opened the door and took
them right into his Office. sitting in his shFt
sleeves throughout the formal call This may
seem real American hospitality TO the reader
but TO the government there it was thought
sepli-insult, and he classed with the coolies
In selecting man TO fill the high office Of
representing this great country, no matter TO
how small consulate. a gentleman In every
sense of the word should be picked out. gen
tleman is a gentleman the world over, but we
usually send out good hearted. unpublished
farmers who have had some political expert
ence I was once dining on a man-of-war When
our consul was the guest of honor. He asked
the captain several questions that any one who
had ever been in polite society at all should
know. Next day l met the captain on shore'
and he said he fully expected 10 see the consul
eat with his knife but I am pleased to say he
didn't do that, though he had a tooth which
was evidently very hollow. This consul re-
ceived good salary, and one that enabled him
to live well there. though he could not keep
pace with the representatives Of other countries.
he was a good fellow for the post in many
ways, and had he been polished little would
have graced the Office to such an extent that
resident Americans and foreign friends would
have been proud of him. The old proverb'
Manners maketh the man." is not taken into
consideration in appointing consul
I could tell story after story of happenings
that came under my personal observation which
would illustrate my point, but few quotations
from residents will suffice:
Many a time a foreign friend has said to me;
Does your government consider this such an
insignificant place that il sends out such
cheap man to represent it?" or I'VE under
stand that gentlemen in America are not in
terested in politics. it certainly seems so from
some of the representatives that come out mere.
To such an American must humbly reply; Inc
Office is only for four years and the pay very
small: so one can't expect good man to take
have heard American residents say; How long
have we got to stand the class of man that
comes out here We must associate with MN
some but local society VIII not adhlll mn Ca
cept when the office and not the man Is III
vited" ~
can we ever expect anything good from
man who gets about half Cor less) enouSh
to live on? one consul I talked with told me ne
had written to the government asking Tor mere
nav and explaining why he couldn't do the once
Justice on his salary. Our government repuSu
that there were a hundred men ANXIOUS IoI Ille
post and why should it pay more?
We will never get our Consular Service up 10 a
dignffed position until esta blish a permanent
service with advancements on merit system
and send out a Secret Service man to make
report on all consulates with reference 10 stiary
needed. etc. 1t should be post OF honor
and not one for politicians to send undeslraole
relatives TO. as heard an American say once
We may not like to copy other countries
but we could well send a commission to look
into the way some of our foreign friends handle
this most important question. Our navy IS
credit to US; why can't we make our consular
service equally so? " lLSON u bAOIS'
Glen Ridge n j. July %, 1903.