Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-05
MR.. HENRY OF TEXAS
HARD ON DIPLOMATS
Condemns American Repre-
SentativeS for Lavish and
Vulgar" Display of Wealth.

Skin 'em alive cried IN iutafprd
democratic member Of the House ~
Representative Henry Of Texas. chair
man of the rules committee. arose ID
his feet, just after the body met TO-DAY.
clEtching in his left hand II printed all
vance cony OF his speech entitled In
ternational Marriages and the Glitter
of Modern American Diplomacy"
Nj. Henry followed instructions. liz
took down tho line. To tho tune Of demo
cratic laughter and applause. those rich
| representatives OF the United States gov
eminent. who. in amhassadoria and min
isterial capacities. spend each year IN tie
foreign capitals 10 which they are re-
srectivey accredited ten and twenty
times the amount they receive IN offcia!
salary. But first Mr.. Henry called IN.
10 f;ive official status TO his dcngnciatiou,
the resolution requesting tho Secretary OF
STATE TO explain what steps he has taken
to comply with the act OF last February
authorizing the requirement Of embassy
sites abroad
Mr.. Henry reviewed the brilliant history
of United States diplomacy in the DAYS
OF long ago. i'm order he said TO
point moral and adorn a tale" Then
he started In to throw n few brickbats
Rush Headlong to Feet of Royalty.
I'VE may congratulate ourselves he
said, that az very recently two proud
and overopulent ambassadors entered
into the ancient capital OF England amid
veritahle riot OF vulgar display and
extravaganza of wealth, rushing head
long to tho feet of royalty. no serious
casualties occurred.
we should feicitate ourselves because
| IN other DAYS. in the terrific struggle for
precedence between ambassadors on great
occasions OF public splendor. armed con
! fiicts frequently occurred At least as
! Americans. we should be content that no
fatalities resulted TO our representatives
In their wild scramble for k!ngly favors
Permit me TO congratulate our amhas-
sadors at the recent historic occasion in
/ London that no serious bodily harm re
suited TO either. In their ambitious desire
/ 70 touch the throne. and 10 lament tie
tact that perhaps some permanent wound
| was lett by reason of some other repre-
i sentative outlying them in gorgeous and
overlavish display in vulgar wealth. Jew
els peacock feathers and personal raj
| fnent SO essential to such an occa sion
Inc Iexas statesman read from a Lon
don olsDatch at the time of the corona
non, telling of the American women who
having married foreign noblenlen occu-
pied places of honor at the coronation,
ana also those who, wearing titles, were
excluded from the festivities.
Should Pity Them.
Our hearts and tears said Mr.. Henry.
should go out to these heiresses in their
hour Of trial. as their last hopes fade
INTO the realm OF cruel mockeries But
the designs OF our over-ambitious pluto
Gratis do not end there They now de-
mand the great diplomatic posts I'm the
great European capitals
! Should not the blush of shame and
/, anger come to the face of every true
| American when he realizes the dignity OF
this great republic thus compromised and
abased in foreign courts by envoys who
maintain from their private purses a stsle
OF living characterizing the government
sending them as mere mendicants The
| time mas come when this humiliatinS
spectacle should he brought to n close
| by a decree coming from the hearts and
minds of the true American citizen
| Mr.. Henry declared that IF we are TO
continue as republic and republican
ideals are to be perpetuated a part Of
our institutions, existing conditions in
our diplomatic service must be changed
at once and forever"
lie urged that the Secretary Of State
promptly proceed to acquire sites for EN-
bassy buildings at London, Berlin and
Paris.
Let him there he said. 'recreate con
| ditions OF republican dignity and thus
| revive memories of the days when our
diplomacy was adorned by such names
| and simple characters as Franklin. John
Adams. jefferson. Jay. the Pinckneys
Monroe. Livingston, Dana, Washington
| Irving, Bancroft, Motley, Buchanan.
| Phelps. Robert Lincoln and Thomas Fran
| els Bayard. Throughout our entire his
tory of diplomacy no more perfect type
can be found of what the life OF an
American diplomatst should be than that
| exhibited in the person of the dignified
Thomas Francis Bayard.'