ter. Then the two vessels lay broadside to broadside, engaged in deadly conflict yard-arm to yard-arm. Very soon the Java's mizzen-mast was shot away. The fire of the Java now ceased, and Bainbridge was under the impression that she had struck her colors. He had fought about two hours, and occupied an hour in repairing damages, when he saw an ensign fluttering over the Java. Bainbridge was preparing to renew the conflict, when the Java's colors were hauled down and she was surrendered. She was bearing as passenger to the East Indies Lieutenant General Hyslop (just appointed governor-general of Bombay) and his staff, and more than 100 English officers and men destined for service in the East Indies. The Java was a wreck, and the Constitution's sails were very much riddled. The commander of the Java was mortally wounded. Her officers and crew numbered about 446. GOLD BOX PRESENTED TO BAINBRIDGE BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK. When Bainbridge relinquished the command of the Constitution, in 1813, she was thoroughly repaired and placed in charge of Capt. Charles Stewart. She left Boston Harbor, for a cruise, on Dec. 30, 1813, and for seventeen days did not see a sail. At the beginning of February, 1814, Some of the she was on the coast of Surinam, and, above described passengers assisted in on the 14th, captured the British warthe contest. How many of the British schooner Picton, sixteen guns, together were lost was never revealed. It was be- with a letter-of-marque which was under lieved their loss was nearly 100 killed her convoy. On her way homeward she and 200 wounded. The Constitution lost chased the British frigate La Pique, nine killed and twenty-five wounded. thirty-six guns, off Porto Rico, but Bainbridge, also, was wounded. After she escaped under cover of the night. every living being had been transferred Early on Sunday morning, April 3, when from the Java to the Constitution, the off Cape Ann, she fell in with two former was fired and blown up (Dec. heavy British frigates (the Junon and 31, 1812). The prisoners were paroled La Nymphe); and she was compelled at San Salvador. The news of the victory created great joy in the United States. Bainbridge received honors of the most conspicuous kind-a banquet at Boston (March 2, 1813); thanks of legislatures; the freedom of the city of New York, in a gold box, by its authorities; the same by the authorities of the city of Albany; an elegant service of silver-plate by the citizens of Philadelphia; and the thanks of Congress, with a gold medal for himself and silver ones for his officers, besides $50,000 in money to Bainbridge and his companions-in-arms as compensation for their loss of prize-money. The conflict between the Constitution and the Java was the closing naval engagement of the first six months of the war. From this time the Constitution was ranked among the seamen as a "lucky ship," and she was called "Old Ironsides." to seek safety in the harbor of Marblehead. She was in great peril there from her pursuers. These were kept at bay by a quickly gathered force of militia, infantry, and artillery, and she was soon afterwards safely anchored in Salem Harbor. Thence she went to Boston, year. where she remained until the close of the art now sought her consort, which had been At the end of December (1814) the Constitution, still under the command of Stewart, put to sea. Crossing the Atlantic, she put into the Bay of Biscay, and STEWART'S MEDAL. then cruised off the harbor of Lisbon. her. Each delivered a broadside, and, for Stewart sailed southward towards Cape a while, there was a brisk running fight, St. Vincent, and, on Feb. 20, 1815, he dis- the Constitution chasing, and her bow covered two strange sails, which, towards guns sending shot that ripped up the evening, flung out the British flag. Then planks of her antagonist. The latter Stewart displayed the American flag. By was soon compelled to surrender, and skilful management he obtained an ad- proved to be the Levant, eighteen guns, vantageous position, when he began an Captain Douglass. The Constitution was action with both of them; and, after a se- then equipped with fifty-two guns, and her vere fight of about fifteen minutes in the complement of men and boys was about moonlight, both vessels became silent, 470. The loss of the Constitution in and, as the cloud of smoke cleared away, this action was three killed and twelve Stewart perceived that the leading ship wounded; of the two captured vessels, of his assailants was under the lee-beam seventy-seven. The Constitution was so of his own vessel, while the sternmost was luffing up as with the intention of tacking and crossing the stem of the Constitution. The latter delivered a broadside into the ship abreast of her, Placing Lieutenant Ballard in command and then, by skilful management of the of the Levant, and Lieutenant Hoffsails, backed swiftly astern, compelling man of the Cyane, Stewart proceeded the foe to fill again to avoid being raked. with his prizes to one of the Cape Verd For some time both vessels manoeuvred Islands, where he arrived on March 10, admirably, pouring heavy shot into each 1815. The next day the Constitution other whenever opportunity offered, when, and her prizes were in imminent peril at a quarter before seven o'clock, the by the appearance of English vessels British struck her flag. She was the frig- of war coming portward in a thick ate Cyane, thirty-six guns, Captain Fal- fog. He knew they would have no recoln, manned by a crew of 180 men. Stew- spect for the neutrality of the port little damaged that three hours after the action she was again ready for conflict. That battle on a moonlit sea lasted only forty-five minutes. CONSTITUTION-CONSTITUTIONAL UNION PARTY (Porto Praya), and so he cut the cables Stewart crossed the Atlantic, "Ay, tear her tattered ensign down! Snall sweep the clouds no more. "Her deck once red with heroes' blood, "Oh! better that her shattered hulk Set every threadbare sail, THE CONSTITUTION IN 1876. "Old Ironsides" was saved and converted into a school-ship. Constitutional Union Party, THE, a political party organized in 1860 by the The famous frigate is yet afloat. Many Southern remnant of the old Whig party. years ago the Navy Department conclud- In its convention, held at Baltimore, on ed to break her up and sell her timbers, as May 9, 1860, there were delegates presshe was thought to be a decided "in- ent from twenty States, who nominated valid." The order had gone forth, when JOHN BELL (q. v.) for President and EDthe execution of it was arrested by the WARD EVERETT (q. v.) for Vice-President. opposition of public sentiment created and The platform consisted of a preamble called forth largely by the following antagonizing all platforms in general as geographical and secpoetic protest by Dr. Oliver Wendell tending to foster tional parties," and a resolution, a porHolmes: 66 party, which favored, slavery, and unite in promoting a programme entirely ignoring slavery as a political issue. In the election of 1860 it carried Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, and had a total popular vote of 589,581, and a total electoral vote of 39. The party was sub tion of which read: "That it is both the part of patriotism and of duty to recognize no political principle other than the Constitution of the country, the union of the States, and the enforcement of the laws." This party invited all patriotic voters to forsake the Republican party, which opposed, and the Democratic merged in the first waves of the Civil War. CONSULAR SERVICE, THE Consular Service, THE. It is beyond a doubt that the movement in favor of reform in the consular service has of late made noticeable strides in this country. People are beginning to realize that the present system of appointments and removals for political reasons is very prej udical to our commercial interests, especially when those of other countries are in the hands of consuls whose careful training and long experience give them every advantage over ours, and at a time when competition is so keen for trade in all parts of the world. and Michigan, there have been established either schools of commerce or lectureships. on commercial practice, in several instances, as in Columbia and Chicago, under the direct inspiration and support of local commercial bodies. There is no guarantee, however, that the national government will seek among the graduate bodies candidates for even its minor consular and commercial offices. Two views of the condition of the American consular service and of the great business need for reform therein are here presented, both by officials of large experience and of reputation commanding serious attention. I. HENRY WHITE, SECRETARY OF EMBASSY In Great Britain, Germany, France, and Austria, in particular, systematic efforts have been in progress for several years for the making of competent consular and commercial agents. A feature of this movement is the establishment of commercial schools usually supported (1) We send out consuls, many of whom by the national government, (2) by munic- are not only ignorant of foreign ipal authorities, and (3) by large com- languages, but often of everything which mercial organizations, such as chambers such officials should know; and in order of commerce and boards of trade. Gradu- to do this we remove others just as they ates are given the preference of employ- are beginning to acquire the knowledge ment over other applicants by the firms and experience indispensable to the posirepresented in the commercial bodies, and tion. The result is that the consular seralso constitute a body of young and vice of the United States is a very costly specially trained men from which the training-school, from which the country national government makes selections for derives little or no benefit. the minor commercial offices. Admitted I refer to the system and not to indito the consular and commercial bureaus, viduals-certainly not to the efficient conthe future of the graduate becomes a suls whom I have known, especially in matter of personal assiduity and business development. The student in these schools is reasonably sure on gradua tion of receiving an appointment to a first-class business house or to the consular or commercial service of the country. Great Britain. We usually send, however, men of ability and good standing to that country, where in any case their efficiency cannot be impaired by ignorance of the language. The urgency for consular reform has of late been frequently brought to the attenIn the United States a beginning has tion of the public by a series of interestbeen made on similar lines. In several ing magazine articles, each of which was universities, notably Columbia, Chicago, extensively, and with very few exceptions favorably, commented upon by newspapers a few suggestions as to the system, of both parties throughout the country. which should be adopted in the United A forcible address was also delivered on States. the subject to the National Board of Trade by Hon. Theodore Roosevelt; and more recently Admiral Erben, whose opportunities nave been frequent of observing the sorry figure often cut by our consuls in comparison with those of other countries, has expressed himself as strongly in favor of this reform, which is advocated by the National Board of Trade and other commercial bodies. Between March 4 and Dec. 31, 1893, thirty out of thirty five consuls-general and 133 out of 183 first-class consuls and commercial agents were changed, the numbers in the British Empire alone being seven consuls-general (the entire number), and sixty-two out of eighty-eight consuls and commercial agents. In Great Britain and Ireland the consul-general and eighteen consuls and commercial agents out of a total of twenty-four were changed, Manchester being the only first-class consulate omitted from this clean sweep. It is impossible to suppose that such an upheaval was intended to benefit the consular service, or that it could have been otherwise than exceedingly detrimental to its efficiency. Nor is it a matter for surprise, when the numerous removals which have taken place afterwards are added to the above figures, that most people should agree with Mr. Theodore Roosevelt in the opinion that the present system is undoubtedly directly responsible for immense damages to our trade and commercial relations, and costs our mercantile classes hundreds of thousands -- in all probability, many millions of dollars every year." It is not my intention, however, to make out a 66 case" against the administration. The numerous duties of a consul have been so fully set forth of late by others that it would be superfluous for me to repeat them. Suffice it to say that the most important of them all are: (1) the increase of our national revenue by detecting frauds in invoices on which articles to be imported to the United States are entered at less than their value; and (2) the promotion of our foreign trade by obtaining and sending home such information as is likely to be of assistance to our merchants in its maintenance and development. There is, unfortunately, no means of estimating accurately the immense annual loss incurred through failure on the part of consuls to keep our merchants promptly and accurately informed as to the condition of trade. Such information is obtainable by a consul not only from printed statistics, but more particularly by mixing freely with the leading mer chants and inhabitants of his district, and becoming thereby imbued with the local current of commercial thought. But the following quotation from Mr. Washburn will give an idea of the extent to which the national revenue may suffer: "The aggregate amount lost to the gov ernment in this way is almost incalculable; but some idea of it may be gathered when it is remembered that an increase of only 22 per cent. in invoice valuations at the little industrial centre of Crefeld alone would result in an annual accession to the customs receipts of $150,000. It is beyond mere conjecture that an addition of at least 5 per cent. could be brought about and maintained at many posts by competent and trained officers." My object is (1) to show that the sysA consul cannot attain a thorough tem under which it is possible for the familiarity with the value of every artiPresident to dismiss consuls by the hun- cle exported from his district, nor be able dred, and to appoint in their stead men to detect frauds in invoice valuations, nor cf whom no proof of fitness is required, acquire a thorough knowledge of the peois not only prejudicial to our commercial ple among whom he lives and of their interests, but derogatory to our dignity methods of business, unless he be able to as a nation; (2) to give a brief account speak the language of the country and of the manner in which the efficient con- live there a number of years. Neverthesular services of Great Britain and less, in Mexico, Central and South AmerFrance are recruited; and (3) to make ica, where we are supposed, and certainly |