370 IN THE DIPLOMATIC SEEVICE-XXV 



reference to such a service courses which were estab 

 lished long since in Germany, but which have arrived 

 nearest perfection in two of our sister republics at the 

 University of Zurich in Switzerland, and in the ]cole 

 Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris. 



It seems certain that a diplomatic service established 

 and maintained in the manner here indicated would not 

 only vastly increase the prestige and influence of the 

 United States among her sister nations, but, purely from 

 a commercial point of view, would amply repay us. To 

 have in diplomatic positions at the yarious capitals men 

 thoroughly well fitted not only as regards character and 

 intellect, but also as regards experience and acquaintance, 

 and to have them so provided for as to become the social 

 equals of their colleagues, would be, from every point 

 of view, of the greatest advantage to our country mate 

 rially and politically, and would give strength to our 

 policy throughout the world. 



And, finally, to a matter worth mentioning only because 

 it has at sundry times and in divers manners been comi 

 cally argued and curiously misrepresented the question 

 as to a diplomatic uniform. 



As regards any principle involved, I have never been 

 able to see any reason, a priori, why, if we have a uniform 

 for our military service and another for our naval ser 

 vice, we may not have one for our diplomatic service. 

 It has, indeed, been asserted by sundry orators dear 

 to the galleries, as well as by various funny-column &quot; 

 men, that such a uniform is that of a lackey ; but this as 

 sertion loses force when one reflects on the solemn fact 

 that &quot; plain evening dress,&quot; which these partizans of 

 Jeffersonian simplicity laud and magnify, and which is 

 the only alternative to a uniform, is worn by table-waiters 

 the world over. 



Yet, having conceded so much, truth compels me to add 

 that, having myself never worn anything save &quot; plain 

 evening dress&quot; at any court to which I have been ac 

 credited, or at any function which I have attended, I 



