The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-17
American Lions I'm Europe-The Secret of
Bi Itish Hospitality.


| and Miscellaneous news &c.
American Lions In Europe-The Secret of
b itish Hospitality.
Mrs. Uncle Tom Stowe is not the only Ame-
rican lion now in England. Another distin-
guished countryman of ours is sharing with her
the hospitality of the British aristocracy We
need hardly add that we allude to ex-President
Van Buren,. His name has not been so promi-
nently brought before the public as that of his
female rival, but we have the best reasons for
knowing that his private success has been fully
equal to hers. Circumstances, to which it is
quite unnecessary to allude in detail have pre-
vented his receiving the honor which was be-
slowed on his son some years ago he has not
yet led the Queen Of England through quad
rifle. But this is obviously the work of acct
dent and not of design. If any faith can be re-
posed in receptions. and dinners, and balls, and
presentations and the other outward and visible
signs of aristocratic favor. Mr.. Van Buren, is at
present most popular man among the titled
few of England. 1t is true that we do not hear
of any movement among the sturdy middle
classes-the thew and sinew OF the land-to do
a public ovation nor has he descended to the
meanness of penny subscription list So far
as the bulk of the British people are concerned
be might at this moment be quietly reposing in
the shade of Lindenwald. But what the people
lack in enthusiasm, the mobiles supply in po-
lished civilities and to man of aristocratic
aste the latter are perhaps the more acceptable
nd 10 80
the same fact is quite as manifest in the recep-
tion OF 6 Uncle Toms Cabin and in the well
come bestowed on its writer in Europe Ire
mendous efforts have been made by the aristo-
cracy to organise public demonstrations in her
favor. Money has been freely expended by the
Staford-house committee, and complimentary
tickets to festivals where she was to perform
have been showered among the people. But if
we make proper allowance for the natural
proneness of the English to follow the example
Of their nobility-if we concede due influence
to the active agitation of Lords Carlisle.
Shaftesbury and others-if we calculate how
many of the crowd which rose to applaud Mrs.
Stowe at Exeter Hall went to see her as curl
osity. just as they would 60 to see Tom
Thumb. or a calf with six legs we shall be
forced to the conclusion that Mrs. Stoves re.
ception has not been popular one, and that
the bulk of her admirers are confined to the
aristocracy. Her penny subscriptions
gross amount Of which did not exceed three or
four hundred dollars-show what little pro-
gress the Stowe-negro-maniah has made among
the people. On the continent again the same
fact is apparent Her book was received with I'M
bounded rapture by the aristocracy. Newspa-
pers which arc believed to speak the sentiments
of the ruling powers in France and elsewhere
republished it. Courts, all over Europe pa
tronsed Il: and to thosc who know how the
French. Germans and Italians take their tone
from the palace, it viii appear quite natural that
regal patronage should have been followed by all
the outward symbols of popular favor. A careful
scrutiny viii, however. lead to grave doubts Of
their genuineness. The eulogium of the .Noai-
tear has not elected anything like enthusiasm
from the people Of France; and oil the reviews
which have appeared in Independent continental
garding it as a mere clever novel. From no
source can any proof be obtained that its abo-
litionist principles had met with sympathy
among the masses: while, on the other hand.
abundant testimony is there to show that royal
and aristocratic sponsorship had not little
to do with its extensive sale,
Here. then. we have a tangible fact. Mrs
Stowe woman Of some talent and an Amer
can. writes book which tends to bring the in
sttutons Of her country into contempt, and to
a:-sever the Union. Martin Van Buren,, an ex-
President Of the United States. places himself at
The head of the same party. and by consenting TO
become the abolition candidate in 1915, deals an
equally formidable blow at the harmony and
stability Of his native land. Both 20 to Europe.
Both are there received and feted by the arts
tocracy Neither receives what can be properly
called popular reception five set aside those
who have been actuated by curiosity desire to
initiate the mobiles and a wish to stand we'll At
court. The sincere admirers Of both would De
reduced to few titled pcrsonages. Are We
then to infer that Americans are not appro
cated beyond the pale OF arlstocratic soci
ETY. in Europe BY no means. Had Clay
or Calhoun visited England, their reception
would have been Of very different stamp. They
might not. perhaps. have been suffered TO bask
in the sunshine Of the Duchess OF Sutherland
smiles and they would possibly have failed to
secure the friendship Of the amiabe Lord
! Shaftesbury. But we should certainly have
| beard Of monster dinners and banqueis