Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24


service abroad. with the result
that the Department of State
now requires aspiring consuis
and assistants to pass rigid examinations
TO determine their fitness for the posi-
lions sought. 1t is understood that these
consulates pay the incumbents handsome
ly. Formerly the representatives OF the
United States were expected to recoup
themselves from private enterprises. NOT
withstanding this lack of inducement In
early days many fine Americans settieo
in foreign ports and no5ly upheld the
honor Of their government. In this con-
nection it is pleasing to recall the Drill
liant example of Maj. Samuel Shaw, the
first consul appointed to Canton by the
United States.
Mai. Samuel Shaw was of family al
ways prominent in Massachusetts which
has produced many distinguished men,
among them Gen. Robert Shaw oliver.
the present assistant secretary OF war,
And Cot Robert Gould Shaw, whose brav-
cry during the civil war has Deen SO
Beautifully commemorated by Saint eau
dens in the monument on Boston COM
mon.
Independence the Americans found they
had serious problems of trade and hnance
to solve. The British navigation acts
against which they had revolted had been
n protection to colonial commerce, the full
value of which was realized when they
found Canadian and West Indian ports
closed to them and every British vessel
at liberty TO overhaul any American sail
In search for eontraband merchandise anu
able-bodied seamen. t-r
The. thirteen states were maritime; their
very existence depended upon open mar
kets. and the freedom of the sea In rec
ognition of this condition the hfst serious
Iegislationa Of 1.-THE First Congress under
the Constitution was the enactment OF
a slipping hill for the protection and en-
couragement of American merchant ma
rine which proved TO be the corner stone
of the prosperity of the young nation.
AS colonists the Americans had been
PROSPEROUS and well-to-do; as citizens of
the new republic, they were impoverish-
ed. with few resources. Most of the cap
ital in the country had been taken abroad
by the loyalists, whom a rash, IMPROVE
dent policy had furiously banished. Inc
most prominent patriot of wealth was
Robert Morris OF Philadelphia. man of
optimistic ideas who saved his country
and wrecked himself During the con-
tinuance of the war his merchant ships
had preyed upon the commerce of the
sea, and had not proved Improbable;
with the return of peace they were dock
ed. 1t would doubtless pay to open
direct trade with China for the tea which
was again in demand but as obtained
through the Dutch East India Company
prohfbitively expensive. ASsociating GOu-
veneur Morris and Mr. Daniel Parker with
him for the venture. he fitted out stanch
vessel of $50 tons at New York and chris
tened her the Empress of China" in
compliment to that august parsonage. She
carried good armament OF guns. light
arms and ammunition. as the exisancies
of the time required. and was manned by
forty-three experienced and daring sea-
men; who knew as we'll how to fight as
20 sail. under the command of Capt John
Green. successful privateersman. In
the hold was stored a cargo of ginseng,
fine ship timber and rum. with other
articles likely to please the Celestials;
$4,000 was provided for expenses.
For SO important a m ssion u man of
discretion and address was necessary for
supe cargo. The choice, fell to Mai. sam
Uel Shaw, member of a prominent Ros-
ton family. highly educated versad in
the usages of polite society and of un-
blsmished character. He had served
throughout the war on the staff of Gen
Knox and enjoyed his persouaI friendship