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according to common report； his early return home was caused by
his desire to escape the consequences。 These were the worst； but
there were others utterly unfit；men who not only spoke no other
language used in diplomatic intercourse； but could not even speak
with fairly grammatical decency their own。 As to the early days
of Mr。 Lincoln's administration； there is a well…authenticated
story that； a gentleman having expostulated with the Secretary of
State； Mr。 Seward； for sending to a very important diplomatic
post a man whose conduct was the reverse of exemplary； Mr。 Seward
replied； 〃Sir； some persons are sent abroad because they are
needed abroad； and some are sent because they are NOT wanted at
home。〃
It is a great pleasure to note that since the war both of the
political parties have greatly improved in this respect； and that
the standard of diplomatic appointments has become much higher。
It is a duty as well as a pleasure to acknowledge here that no
President of the United States has ever taken more pains to make
the diplomatic and consular services what they should be than a
representative of the party to which I have always been
opposedPresident Cleveland。 Especially encouraging is the fact
that public opinion has become sensitive on this subject； and
that the only recent case of gross misconduct by an American
minister in foreign parts was immediately followed by his recall。
And it ought also to be said； even regarding our diplomatic
system in the past； that sundry sneers of the pessimists do our
country wrong。 It is certain that no other country has been
steadily represented in Great Britain by a series of more
distinguished citizens than has our own；beginning with John
Adams； and including the gentleman who at present holds the
position of ambassador to the Court of St。 James。 Much may also
be said to the credit of our embassies and legations generally at
the leading capitals of Europe。 As to unfortunate exceptions；
those who are acquainted with diplomatists in different parts of
the world know that； whatever may have been the failings of the
United States in this respect； she has not been the only nation
which has made mistakes in selecting foreign representatives。
Our service at the present day is； in some respects； excellent；
but it is badly organized； insufficiently provided for； and； as a
rule； has not the standing which every patriotic American should
wish for it。
I have frequently received letters from bright； active…minded
young men stating that they were desirous of fitting themselves
for a diplomatic career； and asking advice regarding the best way
of doing so； but I have felt obliged to warn every one of them
that； strictly speaking； there is no American diplomatic service；
that there is no guarantee of employment to them； even if they
fit themselves admirably； no security in their tenure of office；
even if they were appointed； and little； if any； probability of
their promotion； however excellent their record。 Moreover； I have
felt obliged to tell them that the service； such as it is；
especially as regards ambassadors and ministers； is a service
with a property qualification； that it is not a democratic
service resting upon merit； but an aristocratic service resting
largely upon wealth；a very importantindeed；
essentialqualification for it being that any American who
serves as ambassador must； as a rule； be able to expend； in
addition to his salary； at least from twelve to twenty thousand
dollars a year； and that the demands upon ministers
plenipotentiary are but little less。
And yet； if Congress would seriously give attention to the
matter； calling before a proper committee those of its own
members； and others； who are well acquainted with the necessities
of the service； and would take common…sense advice； it could
easily be made one of the best； and quite possibly the best； in
the world。 The most essential and desirable improvements which I
would present are as follows：
I。 As regards the first and highest grade in the diplomatic
service； that of ambassadors； I would have at least one half
their whole number appointed from those who have distinguished
themselves as ministers plenipotentiary； and the remaining posts
filled； as at present； from those who； in public life or in other
important fields； have won recognition at home as men fit to
maintain the character and represent the interests of their
country abroad。
II。 As regards the second grade in the service；namely； that of
ministers plenipotentiary；I would observe the same rule as in
appointing ambassadors； having at least a majority of these at
the leading capitals appointed from such as shall have especially
distinguished themselves at the less important capitals； and a
majority of the ministers plenipotentiary at these less important
capitals appointed from those who shall have distinguished
themselves as ministers resident； or as secretaries of embassy or
of legation。
III。 As to the third grade in our service； that of ministers
resident； I would observe the general rule above suggested for
the appointment of ambassadors and ministers plenipotentiary；
that is； I would appoint a majority of them from among those who
shall have rendered most distinguished service as first
secretaries of embassy or of legation。 When once appointed I
would have them advanced； for distinguished service； from the
less to the more important capitals； and； so far as possible；
from the ranks of ministers resident to those of ministers
plenipotentiary。
IV。 As to the lower or special or temporary grades； whether that
of diplomatic agent or special charge d'affaires or commissioner；
I would have appointments made from the diplomatic or consular
service； or from public life in general； or from fitting men in
private life； as the President or the Secretary of State might
think the most conducive to the public interest。
V。 I would have two grades of secretaries of legation； and three
grades of secretaries of embassy。 I would have the lowest grade
of secretaries appointed on the recommendation of the Secretary
of State from those who have shown themselves； on due
examination； best qualified in certain leading subjects； such as
international law； the common law； the civil law； the history of
treaties； and general modern history； political economy； a
speaking knowledge of French； and a reading knowledge of at least
one other foreign language。 I would make the examination in all
the above subjects strict； and would oblige the Secretary of
State to make his selection of secretaries of legation from the
men thus presented。 But； in view of the importance of various
personal qualifications which fit men to influence their
fellow…men； and which cannot be ascertained wholly by
examination； I would leave the Secretary of State full liberty of
choice among those who have honorably passed the examinations
above required。 The men thus selected and approved I would have
appointed as secretaries of lower grades；that is； third
secretaries of embassy and second secretaries of legation；and
these； when once appointed； should be promoted； for good service；
to the higher secretaryships of embassy and legation； and from
the less to the more important capitals； under such rules as the
State Department might find most conducive to the efficiency of
the service。 No secretaries of any grade should thereafter be
appointed who had not passed the examinations required for the
lowest grade of secretaries as above provided； but all who had
already been in the service during two years should be eligible
for promotion； without any further examination； from whatever
post they might be occupying。
VI。 I would attach to every embassy three secretaries； to every
legation two； and to every post of minister resident at least
one。
One of the thoroughly wise arrangements of every British embassy
or legationan arrangement which has gone for much in Great
Britain's remarkable series of diplomatic successes throughout
the worldis to be seen in her maintaining at every capital a
full number of secretaries and attaches； who serve not only in
keeping the current office work in the highest efficiency； but
who become； as it were； the ANTENNAE of the ambassador or
ministeradditional eyes and ears to