The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-11-19
AMERICAN FLUNKYISM.

Under this head our contemporary Of the
South Side Democrat, after referring to
the obsequious and servile spirit which is
displayed in England, in publishing to the
world the minutest acts of great personages,
says;
0This may be necessary evil of monarchies,
but assuredy, there is neither reason nor decency
in TRANSFORMING the nauseating exotic to this soil
still it is done, and prying letter writers in Wash
ington, make it their business by means which we
conceive to be neither honorable honest to &C.
quaint themselves with the domestic concerns of
public servants, that they may inform the world
where Mrs Pierce took tea last night, how long she
prayed yesterday morning, and how often she
yawned at preaching last Sunday. Following, too,
transatlantic brethren, the privacy of the tea
party and ball room is invaded, TO inform outsiders
who the accomplished Mrs. B. danced with, and
who was the cavalier of Madame c. These things
are we conceive, unpardonably disgusting mex
cusahly impairment We do not exalt our officers
to go immense an altitude that a nation sneezes
when president takes snuff, and the calm obser-
yer who sees the buttons of mans coat made sub.
jects for national consideration TODAY while his
profoundest arguments will be Kissed tomorrow,
may pity, but can scarcely avoid despisng likewise
the vulgar toadyisnl, which creates the contrast
The evil is beginning to be one whose magnitude
forces itself upon our attention, and we suppose
that all thinking persons must be utterly disguised
with it."
We fully coincide with the views of the
Democrat. This habit of retailing the acts
and sayings Of eminent official personages is
q fungus of recent growth in American soci
ETY. We recollect that Polk and Taylor
were victimized considerably in this manner.
1t has become more recently the fashion to
give position and publicity to Mrs Presi-
dent, who has come to be regarded by funky
correspondents as sort of semi official per
sonage, of great dignity and consequence
1t would be well for those servIe scribblers
to comprehend that we have no Victoria, Ell
ther in name or fact, in this Republic, and
that we look upon Presidents wife in the
United States with no more reverence and in
ferest than we accord to every other well be-
hayed woman in the humblest station of life.
Mrs. Polly Hopkins may drink green or
black tea she may dress in silks or calicoes;
she may say long or short prayers she may
on tn whatever church or favor whatever
marty in politics she chooses, and providing
Mrs. Polly Hopkins conducts herself in
manner, all Republican men viii
raise their hats to Mrs Poly with as muchre-
,pect as to any other woman, be she wife OF
King or President. We know that funkeys
viii do no such thing, and that aristocrats,
uch as we have in America, viii scout the
bought with scorn and indignation. But,
here is no greater annoyance that can befall
Ielicate and modest ladies, like the wives
# all our Presidents, than to have their
eclusion invaded by funkeys, and their
nost triAing actions made the subject Of
rave speculation. And as for our arts
Dcrats, Of what account Is their lofty