The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-16
Reception OF tlae fsresident-Presidcnti thai Re i.
sepaions.


The last few days will have taught Mr.
Pierce il he did not know it before, that the
tolls Of Office are among the lightest Of the
duties which devolve upon the chief magistrate
of a republic High station in every country
involves heavy penalties, and is dearly pur-
chased but in none does the old French pro-
verb-moblesse 06hge-receive SO practical AN
Illustration as in ours. Human nature faints
beneath the weight of the burden Rest is a
stranger to the man high in Office. To be wor
ried from mornings dawn till midnight's gloom
by hungry Office seekers, to meet on every side
the scowl Of those whose thirst for prey can
not be satiated to turn in despair from secre
tary in a pique to counsellor in high dudgcon.
and to seek in vain either the solace OF SYM
patty OF the quiet of solitude such is the lot
of Pre- sident at Washington. He ia invited to
a celebration in distant city. Duty forbids
him to decline. He departs in hot haste. and
has scarcely travelled an hour when a noisy
crowd imperiously demand to see him. He
yields to their wish, ard stump speaker
levels at his head an Grafton an hour long, to
which he must listen attentively and on his
legs. He must then reply. Fatigue, pre-
occupation official care domestic aflction
are no excuses. Speak he must on the
spur of the moment, and in harmony with
the opinions of his motley audience. Then
comes the severest task OF all. His
hand must be shaken by every one.
A relief Of few minutes then follows. Another
city is reached, and the whole performance
from the stump speech to the wrist-wrenching
operation is repeated. And so on to the end OF
the journey. Who shall say it is out of
place? Are not Presidents the property of the
people-fesh, blood and muscle? What were
they elected for but to be dragged out before
crowds, and talked at, and shouted to- and
shaken to pieces?
A melancholy sight it was, in. truth to see
Mr.. Pierce, bowed down by fatigue, dragged
through the crowd, ON Thursday, and thrust
helplessly on the platform prepared for his re-
ception! A sad spectacle to behold him on his
return. standing in his carriage, hsre-headed.
and forced to respond to every shout Many
ly lander, educated as most men are, in the
hope that they may one day be called to preside
over the destinies Of this republic, fondled his
own olscurity as lie watched the torture to
which Presidents are heirs. Many an ardent
politician fell into brown study as he weighed
the worth Of ratided ambition against the
visible drawlac a eniineuce.
And well be might. For severe as the tolls Of
the last few days may have been to the Presi-
cent their occurrence Is a matter of congratu-
lation to the people. All the Incidents Of Pres-
dental receptions which excite the surprise of
foreigners are evidences Of the sincerity of our
repullicanism. The man Is sacrificed to the
system. We never suffer a fellow-ciGzen, what
ever he his rank, TO raise himself 80 far above
~ that we may not crowd around him, and adj
drcss him, and shake his hand az we please
We hold IL 20 be wise and prudent to keep up
familiar intercourse between the chief magis-
trate and the people who elected him. The
feelings. bodily and mental, Of the former
may suffer; but he knew its cost when he as
sumcd the Office, and has no one to blame but
himself Before his nomination and election
General Pierce was far lees known In the coun
~ .l.an hundreds Cf ssaatofs who have never
reached to the frst post Of honor; he arrived 10