Dr. Angell On The Consular Service

Tikje Ci'iUury for Jujae has a symposium of eleven ex-ministers of tin, l'nitiMl States on the proposition imiv being UMitated 10 reform the consular s+Tvice by taking it out of the spoils systein, and so placing it on a footing eon-espomdiug to that of other na tions. Ten out of these eleven min islers express themselves as heartily in favor of a reform. Ex-Minister to Spain, T. W. I'almer, of Detroit, detencls the present system, however. If men wcre secure in their places they voiild lose iji'antains whatt hey might gain wi knowliedge. Besides t.his, efficieait service Rhould not be the only aiin oí tibe goveninient, he says. Individua-lity Rhould be encouraged in every reaeoaable way, and to thiw eiiid it eliould le the privilege of every Ainericam to aspire witli some liopes of success to ainy place within the gift of liis couaitry. President James B. Angelí writes omly of wlmt carne nader liis personal experience in China. He says, in part : The duties of consuls may be described as, first, notarial- certifying to the genninene..s oí pepere, espeelally _pf invoices oï goods to be sliipped to ÜÚB country ; second, judicial- settling conti'oversieij between officers and crews of our vossels in forei.ua parts, and trying Civil and criminal cases in Oriental lands ; third, jnotcctive- Ing for our dest u ui i' seamen, and Bem'ding titean lióme; nu.! fourth, colleettng and reporting Information of : to our mriTlianis and manufacturera, li needs no argument to shuw i i a l niicii wlui are to discharge Mir.h duties should have Borne natural aptitud for tJiem, and sbould have .-min' special preparatl-on for them. ■ii:'.v .liould luive a faomiliarity with our business anctliuiis in manufactures aul conmieice. öome knowledge oí law, n eoinmaud of the language of the country in which they serve, and tlte faculty of making themselves ag'reeable and welcoane in the society in tliftt country, are obviously desirable. Th&t these qualiiicatioais are best secured by having a permanent body of traJned men in conclusión to which most nations have been bróught by long experlence. Tliat the conelusion Ls sound I liavè no doubt. I am equally comvinced that our secretarles of legatioin sliutild be men p repared by speciaJ training for their duti.es. We iuk1u nlsoto provide ïor a body of Lnterpreters ior our consulaten and legattans in China and Japan. Yeare ago a bilí was íramcd providing for consular clerks, '.ho were to be p aid arüaU salarieis wfillé preparing theinaélves in Cliina for the dutles oí interpreters. Bjit the appropTxations wcre not continued. Our consuls, Wiho (are sent t o ('li.iua wlth no knowledge of tlie CMnese Language, liave sometlmes jLad to depend on Chinese Wiho had Jearned a Little "pigeon Engi lish," or on niissionaries, ior interpret ors. 1'he formier have often iroved to be dLslioaiest. There are serious practical objections to einploj'ing tlie latter. Tlie Bi-itish jiiaintain a special establLshmiieait at reking Cor training youing Dnglislumen íor the work oí interpreting. These yomng men gradually rise to the positions fo vice-consul and consul. One oï the reasons tlie success of Brltish trade in the j:,isc is the thoroii'gh equipaneiit oï thedx consular service.