Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-07-16
NV No. $40.
Gold Spoon Democracy.


house. and have asserted that the Story Of
tie Gold Spoons and Plato was Whig tie.
| We give below sonys description OF the
interior OF the White House let the Tories
sec how much thoy gain in the controversy
aud how much better their story appears NJ
It's now garb.
II We dare them 10 denythe truth Of iohot -
! piptn JeLOic, and we ask every man who II
toilng from morning I'LL night, or even teN
+ hours, TO get his DAILY BREAD, and Is told
/ hat This Is too much for htm and that his Ia.
! Dor must come do,Vn,--we ask him 10 read
tLis account oi his Democratic " Pros'dcnt'
The Hon. T.. e. Chittenden, Of New York,
and the Hon. l.. w. Andrews, Of Kentucky,
/ examined the spoons, knives and forks, al
/ Mr.. Van Busen's Dinner party, with Part,c-
| ular cafe, and they still beliete these articles
to DO GOLD. The dishes, urns, and other
| parts Of the dinner service ure executed 10
! styl TO correspond with the spoons. mh
II Andrews took an inventory Of the gold plaicf
| and a sketch Of the foreign ornsnicnts on
| the table, which it was said he intended tJ
have printed by lhhographcr. The "Py,s.
mid of fantastic fnery," in the centre of the
liable is a French ornament called Ptdfsdu.
llIt was purchased in France, ot an ss-
lpensc of $4,000 Of tlie Peoples money
lNo other President ever had such Nh article
in the White House. II consists oil Sif fnf'
iuensc ciiGed tray, or plattor, containing
tF65yyran,id of golden ilagree work,on the sums
nit of which there were several golden Cu.
bids sustaining golden candlosiicks. The
tubIe is ulso orDoniented with other hncry of
1.-The same description, and with vases Of artI-
|, icial flowers, one bunch OF which, ~ slfal!
show presently, cost the sum Of one hundred
IldoNns. The ceremonies Of these democra.
IItic dinner parties ure conducted on the m"st
lIcourtly system. Every thing is forced, for
lImal, and far removed ffsm that republican
! lsia,plicity which should distinguish the resi-
ldenco of republican President. Visitors are
! fret shown into an ante room, where they are
| prepared to appear in the august presence
Of the Chief Magistrate. They are there
ushcrcd into the reception room. announced
and introduced to his Majesty. Nearly un
iibour is then spent in solemn aud oppressive
silence. A confidential friend or two obtain
| la sea, near the throne; and occupy the ear
lof the President until the dinner hour ar
rives. Similar fornaIity is observed 10 pas
| sing from the reception room to the dinner
! hall, and the guests finally find themselves
/ seated at the Presidents table The brit
IIliancy of the chandeliers-the slitcr'ng 81
J the foreign gew- gaws-the multitude oi
! strppne dishes. and the colo.ed gla'scs, ut
Iterly confounds ind bewlldcrs all plain, hon.
es, repub,icans-and it 10 q long time bel"rs
lthey begin TO learn the use Of these extra
} ordinary nrrung gements. A number OF Dutch
and French dishes are then brought in, and
the guest is supplied with q dozen different
specimens Of outlandish cookery, not one OF
which u sagreeable TO his taste, and the plates,
are often changed before he can find any thing
to suit his taste, and he sighs for :he solid
comforts Of Log Cabin fare. lie hnds his
Plate surrounded with wine glasses OF vari-
llous sorts and sizes-wins bottles, and VINE
. coolers-but nothing equal TO the good old
beverage, hard cider. lie washes his hhgers
in Fanny Kemble glasses. and wipes tllem
> on a damssk napkin aud after exchanging
parting sslutation with his Democratic Ma
. ies,y, he bids farewell 10 the folly aud ex.
/. trayapancs of the White House. aud lhanks
his fortune when he 6nds himself once more
= breathing the pure air Of heaven.
Mr.. Charles Ogle, OF Pennsylvahi", an
original Jackson man, and at present a mem
Der of the Wing party in Congress. dinrd
with tho President not long since, and was
forcibly struck with the air Of exlravagancs
which pervadod tho Presidential mansion ;
and knowing the arguments which were
',urged against John Quincy Adams, when he
occupied that house, he was led 10 examine
this subject, and gave the result OF his inqoi.
! ries in speech which he delivered obont
1.-TWO W ecks since. The fncts which he pre-
scented, showed that Mr.. Van Buren, had ex-
ceeded all former incumbcnis Of the White
d LIouse in expenditures. and in his oplng of
foreign courts and foreign manners.
He found, umonng other ncns, SiOC0
charged for French comfortobles. and French
chairs, and Ottomans, purchased during Mr..
Van Buren's administration. Then there
iwere some "inbsrcis," or taJby. COTS" he
could Mt tell understanding Of foreign
manufacture. Then there were Fanny
Kcmbe finger-glasses, in which to wash the
delicate fingers OF this Democratic President,
after dinner aud 800 for a bunch Of arti-
fetal flowers, TO place on the table before
him. lie objected to buying these articles,
aud many more Of similar description, With
, the peoples money and he believed that
every good Wing would object 10 such ex.
'pendi,ures.
1t had been said that il would lei down
the Presidents dignity to mention thcsd
things. Dignity iorsooih! Instead of The
jiguity Of vitue, Of wisdom, OF valor, you
throw around the President the frippcry 0f
courtiers, und then call him dignifed. And
what is dignity-true digni,y7 There 10
: the dignity of rank, and the dignity Of the
a mind. Now however high the rank, il the
diruity Of the mind be wanting, there is no
real dignity. II the mind of Mr.. Van Buren,
is mean, you may place him in the White
House, and sorround him with French fur
Di,ure and foreign gswgaws, but you cannot
give him true dignity. The circular room
Mr.. Oglc said, was well furnished when Mr.
Van Buren took up his residence at thv'
> White fiouse but he had not been there
more than eight months wben, az appeared
by the account, he laid out one hoSsosd Mves
hundred and @r,n dollars 10 .fr three w'"do'c
curtains The window curtains were goou
enough before, ior any republican 10 ,bs
Hand. These things had been denrid ~ tho
official organ Of tho Administrst'on-thc
Globe-bui he held the facts IN his band',
and he should send tbon abroad To The pe0.
" pie. A. ~
n In August, 1897. six months after NJ. Van
:, Buren took possession OF the Wbito House
said Mr.. Ogle. we find the Un,t.d States
y charged with The sum of tro hsusand dollars
q for gold leaf oDd gliding materials ivr the
circular room
II = On tie 9Th of July, 1897, We find that M
Van Buten charged the United States with
b. \ upwards oi four thousand dcilars iof Ioregn
e I. .csrpctipg, impurlcd expressly tor MS nse.
n n Domestic American csrpetIDg wss Dot Ros's