The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-12-28
EMBAssApoRrAL EXPENSES.

| The death of ambassador Whitelav
keId during his incumbency Of Tn,
mission TO Great Britain, in connection
with the reports of the lavish display.
he made and the great entertainment &
ho provided, has raised anew thc
question of the exclusive appointment
or rich men TO embassadorial positions
because poor men cannot shine in them
Tho great sympathy shown by tho Brit
ish court, and the imposing ceremonies
attended by the King and Queen, upor
the obscquies Of Embassador Reid show
that ne stood very high in .he Govern
mental regard of Great Britain; and
his lavish expenditures made him pop
ular with the general public
But there is criticism directed against
lavish expenditures, by our cnvovs
especially as these expenditures tend
IN fact TO keep out of embassadorial
positions all but those who arc very
wealthy. IL is claimed. that these
| large expenditures arc by no means
necessary for Minister to keep up
the high grade Of his representative
character, and that great many emil
nent Americans not wealthy havo made
themselves very popular and very use
tul at foreign courts. All of which is
true, and instances Of this are not
wanting, beginning with Benjamin
Franklin at the French court, and
Showing a goodly line of eminent diplo-
mats who have been highly successful
without the spending Of very much
money.
At the same time. il is true that
there is of late a. marked difference in
some of the European courts with re-
spect 10 the treatment accorded 20
ambassadors who can srend much
money and those who cannot. 1t is
fresh In the public mind that our En-.
bassador Bacon was practically ignored
by the Kaiser because he was not able
TO indulge in the lavish expenditures
that the Kaiser liked to see to make
his Berlin court brilliant. The situa
tion was made so uucom Portable for
Mr., Bacon that he was forced to re-
sign. IL is quite in accord with the
ideas of monarchical courts that there
should be lavish display, great expen-
diture and little or no regard for
money. This is quite usual accom-.
Paniment of courts and court senti.
ment- Wherever monarch s taste
leads TO that sort of thing, and mon
archs generally are fond of it and do
not like to have any idea of parsimony
into their court atmosphere
q poor man is apt to be neglected, and
it is certain that those ambassadors
who are able to spend the most money
are likely to receive the most court
favor
But should Americans yield to that
court atmosphere? Stern republicans
will say no. And yet, if the embassa-
doris do not yield TO it they are of but
little service to their, country. They
IRE not in tho ''swim" and are apt
10 find themselves ont in the cold
It is a practical question rather than
2ne OF sentiment, and it seems to be
Z clear case that if We are going to
these diplomatic establish
nents at all we should maintain them
n the style OF grandeur and magnifi.
,ence that will impress the European
courts with the Importance OF the Re
public. To be shabby among the gay
and elegant 10 TO court a certain sort |
II attention. that is By no means desir-
able, and Americans do not want to
oe put in shadow.
The remedy, therefore, is not 10 al, |
ow things to remain in such position |
hat none but rich mon can afford to !
axe embassadorial positions. It is in
generous provision from the public |
,urse for these embassies; or, if the
,ublic mind does not consider this de.
irable or worth while, then let Us dis
continue these embassies altogether,
md let such International communica"
ions as are necessary. be direct by our
Of State 10 the foreign Of
ices Of other countries. This would
,e far preferable to the present situa-
ion; for it is not fair in tho republic
o ostracize ability IN diplomatic .po-
itions merely because it is poor; and
leither is it befitting the dignity Of
he republic to have its representatives
lighted because of their poverty Tire
Nation should provide generously for
ur foreign embassies so that any man
9ho is considered the best TO send to
my diplomatic post should not have oc-
asion to think Of his finances in con-
icction with the acceptance Of the
,ost
THE BLEASITE MOBBERS.
Vba, fba Enya-pnr of u c+ata oop,o. |