Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-02-23

tive, a suitable embassy or legation
building or apartment, owned or leased
for a term Of years by the American
government. Every other great power,
and many of the smaller nations, have
provided such quarters for their rep
resentatives. n some years ago Pres
ident Cleveland recommended TO con-
gress a similar policy. Under h pres
ent system the head of an American
embassy or mission abroad Ia at a
wretched disadvantage. In many capt.
tails he finds it at times impossible TO
secure a proper furnished apartment;
and. in some, very difficult to find any
suitable apartment at all, whether fur
nished or unfurnished. Even If he finds
proper rooms, they are frequently In
an unfit quarter of the town, remote
from the residences Of his colleagues.
from the public offices, from everybody
and everything related TO his work. His
term of Office being generally short, he
is usually considered a rather undeslr-
able tenant, and is charged according
ly. Besides this. the fitting and fur
nishing of such an apartment is q very
great burden, both as regards trouble
and expense. l have twice thus fitted
and furnished a large apartment in
Berlin, and in each case this repre-
sented an expenditure of more than the
salary for the first year. Within my
own knowledge, two American minis
ters abroad have impoverished their
families by expenditures of this kind.
Evils Of Existing System.
But this is not the worst. The most
serious result of the existing system
concerns our country.
/ have elsewhere shown how, in one
very important international question
at st. Petersburg, u mistaken policy
In this respect once cost the United
States a sum which would a forever
put that embassy, and, indeed, many
others besides. on the very best foot
Ing. II an American ambassador is
to exercise a really strong influence for
the United States as against other ma
tons, he must be properly provided for
as regards his residence and support
not provided for, indeed, SC largely as
some representatives OF other nations:
for / neither propose nor desire that
the American representative shall imi-
tate the pomp OF certain ambassadors
OF the greater European powers. But
he ought to be enabled to live respect
ably, and to discharge his duties efic-
iently. There should be, in this respect,
what Thomas Jefferson acknowledged
In the declaration of independence as
a duty-"a decent regard for the opin-
ions Of mankind" The present con-
dition of things Is frequently humiliat-
ing. In the great capitals OF Europe
the general public know the British,
French, Austrian, Italian and all other
important embassies or legations, eX-
cept that OF our country. The Ameri-
can embassy or legation has no settled
home. is sometimes in one quarter of
the town, sometimes in another, some
times almost in an attic, sometimes al
most in a cellar. generally inadequate in
its accommodations, and frequently
unfortunate in it's surroundings. Both
my official terms at st. Petersburg
showed me that one secret Of the great
success Of British diplomacy, in all
parts OF the world, is that especial
pains are taken regarding his point.
and that, consequently, every British
embassy Is the center Of a widespread
social influence which counts for very
much indeed in her political influence.
Present Crying Needs,
The United States. as perhaps the
wealthiest nation In EXISTENCE na-
ton far-reaching In the exercise of its
foreign policy. with vast and increasing
commercial n other interests through
out the world-should, in all substantial
matters, be equally well provided for.
Take our recent relations with Turkey.
We have insisted On the payment OF an
indemnity for the destruction OF Amer
lean property, n We have constantly
a vast number of Americans OF the
very best sort. and especially our mis-
~sionaries, who have to be protected
throughout the whole of that vast en-
pire. "a OF the other great power
provides it's representative at Constan-
tinople with a residence honorable,
suitable and within q proper Enclosure
for It's protection: but the American
minister lives anywhere and every
wherein such premises, over shops
n warehouses;, ds can be secured
and he Is liable, in case of trouble be-
4 uyaap tho fun nations 70 suffer npr-
sonal violence and to have his house
lacked by a Turkish mob. No foreign
people, and least OF all an oriental peo-
pie, can highly respect a diplomatic
representative who. by his
ings, seems not fo be respected by his
own people. The American government
can easily afford the expenditure
needed TO provide proper houses or
apartments for it's entire diplomatic
corps, but IL can hardly AFFORD MOI 10
provide these. u provision for them
would not urd any American cfti-
zen TO the amount OF the half OF a
Boston biscuit. Leaving matters III
their present condition lis. In the long
run. far more costly. I once had oc-
casion to consider this matter In the
light OF economy. n found that tne
cost of the whole diplomatic service OF
the United States during an entire year
was only equal to the expenditure In
one OF our recent wars during four
hours: so that IL any member Of the
Diplomatic service should delay a dec
laration of war merely for the space OF
a day. III would defray the cost OF the
service for about six years.
Charles rancf Adams. by his ad-
mirabie diplomatic dealing with the
British foreign office at the crisis OF
civil war. prevented the coming out OF
the later confederate cruisers to- prey
upon our commerce.. and, In all prob
ability. thus averted a quarrel with
Great Britain which would have length
ened our civil war by man. years, and
doubtless have cost US hundreds OF mil
lions.
General woodford. o. recent minister
at Madrid, undoubtedly delayed our war
with Spain for several months. and skilful
diplomatic intervention brought that war
10 a speedy close just as soon as our mill
tary and naval successes made Il possible.
The cases are also many wheer our
diplomatic representatives have auieted III
harm to our These facts show
that the diplomatic service may well be
called The Cheap Defense OF Nations.
When In addition to this, an American
recalls such priceless services to ciyiliza-
ton, and 10 the commerce. Of our country
and CT the world. as those rendered by Mr.
Townsend Harris while American minister
In Japan. the undoubted saving through a
long series of years OF many lives and
much property by our ministers In such
outlying parts of the world as Turkey and
China fha nrnrnotIo. ~