Evening star., 1934-06-03
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The inadequacy of the salaries of
American diplomatic representatives
n.-1. in foreign countries
diplomatic has long been a mat
Salaries. ter Of public discus
sion. and fifty years
ago the subject was again brought
forward by an incident of local in
tereSt, as thus noted in The Star Of
June 3, 1884:
The United States is not the only
republic that is cutting down the SAL
aries of her representatives abroad.
Switzerland is pursuing the same pol
icy and in consequence thereof the
Swiss Minister to this country-a
most capable official. by the way
has resigned from the service, giving
as the reason the inadequacy of SAL
airy. None of our representatives
abroad have as yet resigned from this
cause, but it is becoming more and
more difficult to get poor men to ac-
cept diplomatic trusts. If it is the
plan of the Democratic economists in
Congress to reserve the agreeable and
llOIlOI dO4C pOSJS III Tie
service as luxuries which only wealthy
Americans with a taste for life abroad
can indulge. they are succeeding ad-
mirably in their designs. This policy
is often adopted in ariStocratic regi-
mentS in foreign countries, where the
honors are kept among the select
wealthy few by the adoption of such
expensive uniforms and mess bills that
a poor man is shut out from prefer
ment. Is this the Democratic plan
for the diplomatic service? OF course,
there will never be difficulty in getting
wealthy amateurs TO live at European
courts, for such persons would be
only too glad to purchase social stand
ing and influence with tithe Of their
incomes; but it will not occur to most
people as exactly in the line of Demo-
cratic doctrine to thus cater to pride,
wealth and fashion"
i K
On the 9Th of June, 1884, the Re-
publican National Convention at Chi
prorbs+;o cago nominated James
TIopHeIlc G. Blaine for Presi-
Comment dent on the fourth
ballot and John A.
Logan of Illinois for Vice President on
the first ballot. On the following day
The Star, commenting on the selec-
tions, said:
The hope of the democracy lies in
carrying New York and Indiana. It
is probable that they will have once
more solid South for any candidate
that is put up. The fight therefore
will again center in the Empire State.
If the Republicans, at this, the weak
est point in their lines, rally unitedly
and zealously to the support of Blaine
and Logan, they will be elected; if,
on the other hand, they openly revolt
or secretly knife the ticket, 1t will
put Republican success in serious
peril. 1t has been urged indeed in
Blaine's behalf, and with some color
of truth, that he Is the one Repub-
lican who can be elected without the
aid of New York. but, If so, it will be
only by the skin of his teeth and
after an extraordinary effort. Much
now depends on the Democratic NOM
ination, and the leaders of that party
would do well to put on their think
ing caps and pick out their really
strongest man."
This observation proved prophetic,
for Blaine lost the electoral vote Of
New York and the presidency by the
narrow margin of 1,149 votes in that
State, chiefly through the knitting"
of the ticket by the Republican "stsl.
warts" under the leadership Of Roscoe
Conkling.