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the system of arbitration now presented； the court can be brought
into session at short noticeeasily； as regards most nations；
within a few weeks； at the farthest。 When to these advantages are
added the provisions for delaying war and for improving the laws
of war； the calm judgment of mankind will； I fully believe；
decide that the conference has done a work of value to the world。
There is also another gainincidental； but of real and permanent
value； and this is the inevitable development of the Law of
Nations by the decisions of such a court of arbitration composed
of the most eminent jurists from all countries。 Thus far it has
been evolved from the writings of scholars often conflicting；
from the decisions of national courts biased by local patriotism；
from the practices of various powers； on land and sea； more in
obedience to their interests than to their sense of justice； but
now we may hope for the growth of a great body of international
law under the best conditions possible； and ever more and more in
obedience to the great impulse given by Grotius in the direction
of right reason and mercy。
CHAPTER L
HINTS FOR REFORMS IN THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE
In view of a connection with the diplomatic service of the United
States begun nearly fifty years ago and resumed at various posts
and periods since； I have frequently been asked for my opinion of
it； as compared with that of other nations； and also what
measures I would suggest for its improvement。 Hitherto this
question has somewhat embarrassed me： answering it fully might
have seemed to involve a plea for my own interests； so that；
while I have pointed out； in public lectures and in letters to
men of influence； sundry improvements； I have not hitherto
thought it best to go fully into the subject。
But what I now say will not see the light until my diplomatic
career is finished forever； and I may claim to speak now for what
seems to me the good of the service and of the country。 I shall
make neither personal complaint of the past nor personal plea for
the future。 As to the past； my experience showed me years ago
what I had to expect if I continued in the serviceinsufficient
salary； unfit quarters； inadequate means of discharging my
duties； and many other difficulties which ought not to have
existed； but which I knew to exist when I took office； and of
which I have therefore no right to complain。 As to the future； I
can speak all the more clearly and earnestly because even my
enemies； if I have any； must confess that nothing which is now to
be done can inure to my personal benefit。
As to the present condition； then； of our diplomatic service； it
seems to me a mixture of good and evil。 It is by no means so bad
as it once was； and by no means so good as it ought to be and as
it could very easily be made。 There has been great improvement in
it since the days of the Civil War。 The diplomatic service of no
other country； probably； was so disfigured by eminently unworthy
members as was our own during the quarter of a century preceding
the inauguration of President Lincoln； and； indeed； during a part
of the Lincoln administration itself。
During one presidential term previous to that time our ministers
at three of the most important centers of Europe were making
unedifying spectacles of themselves； whenever it was possible for
them to do so； before the courts to which they were accredited。
On one occasion of court festivity； one of them； in a gorgeous
uniform such as American ministers formerly wore； ran howling
through the mud in the streets of St。 Petersburg； the high
personages of the empire looking out upon him from the windows of
the Winter Palace。 Sundry other performances of his； to which I
have referred in the account of my Russian mission； were quite as
discreditable。
Another American representative； stationed at Berlin during that
same period； disgraced his country by notorious drunkenness； and
though some of our countrymen at that capital sought to keep him
sober for his first presentation to the King； they were
unsuccessful。 Happily； his wild conduct did not culminate abroad；
for a murder which he committed in a drunken fit did not occur
until after his return to our country。 A third American
representative at that period published regularly； in his home
newspaper； such scurrilous letters regarding the authorities of
the country to which he was accredited； his colleagues in the
diplomatic service； and； indeed； the country itself； that；
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 off