364 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE -XXV 



promotion, and no probability of any. I feel that, as a 

 rule, my present colleagues, as well as most officials with 

 whom I have to do, seeing that I have not been advanced, 

 look upon me as a failure. They cannot be made to 

 understand how a man who has served so long as secre 

 tary has been denied promotion for any reason save in 

 efficiency. I can no longer submit to be thus looked down 

 upon, and I must resign. 



While thus having a system of promotion based upon 

 efficiency, I would retain during good behavior, up to a 

 certain age, the men who have done thoroughly well in the 

 service. Clearly, when we secure an admirable man, 

 recognized as such in all parts of the world, like Mr. 

 Wheaton, Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Charles Francis Adams, Mr. 

 Marsh, Mr. Townsend Harris, Mr. Washburne, Mr. Low 

 ell, Mr. Bayard, Mr. Phelps, and others who have now 

 passed away, not to speak of many now living, we should 

 keep him at his post as long as he is efficient, without 

 regard to his politics. This is the course taken very 

 generally by other great nations, and especially by our 

 sister republic of Great Britain (for Great Britain is 

 simply a republic with a monarchical figurehead linger 

 ing along on good behavior) : she retains her representa 

 tives in these positions, and promotes them without any 

 regard to their party relations. During my first official 

 residence at Berlin, although the home government at 

 London was of the Conservative party, it retained at the 

 German capital, as ambassador, Lord Ampthill, a Lib 

 eral ; and, as first secretary, Sir John Walsham, a Tory. 

 From every point of view, the long continuance in dip 

 lomatic positions of the most capable men would be of 

 great advantage to our country. 



But, as the very first thing to be done, whether our 

 diplomatic service remains as at present or be improved, 

 I would urge, as a condition precedent to any thoroughly 

 good service, that there be in each of the greater capitals 

 of the world at which we have a representative, a suitable 

 embassy or legation building or apartment, owned or 



