New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-10
A WORD OF EXPLANATION.

The account of tie attack made the President Of
tie United States On Saturday by drunken man is
signal example of the republican equality existing be-
tween the most important civil officer of this republic
and the private citizen. The President at the close
of the session having affixed his signature to the bills
passed at the Capitol, making them the law OF the
land, and being about to enter his carriage, was
cOsed by an acquaintance old crsny probably and
invited to take q drink This person Mr.. J. II. JEFF
fards Of Charleston. South Carolina, was in company
with two Others who had also been drinking. The
President not being in bibuloas mood at the mo.
Eent, declined the Offer and he turned to enter bis
carriage his hat knocked off by hard. boiled egg
thrown by drunken Mr.. Jefards, and he learned also
from the same eminent authority that he was damned
fool Another account nultiplies toe number of eggs
and deprecises their quality 1t the same time SO that
the point is thus left in much doubt as who struck
Billy Patterson. But VII we look at the circum-
stance reminded of the huge contrast it pre-
ents to the sham Civilizations hicb attend powerin Eu.
rope where divinity doth hedge in king and sny po
ltcal head servant is encircled with ceremonias at
every turn. Here, however power is leveled to the
rance of common and the politician s subject
TO the occasional abuses of familiarity he ought to
be in common with the rest OF his fellow citizens
The President is becoming more and more an uaim-
portant person; and the time will be when his office
will be ouItsed of weight that be will be suffered
10 secept or decline the compliment of drinks to
come and 60, TO travel almost unnoticed and unknown
except by a few beggarly Office seeking fellows who
would dog the steps of any one with bone 70 throw
10 them.
This absolute equality is thing new to history
save in our own national case WaFhir gton as Pres-
dent exhibited a eertain state; Jefferson broke it
down. and since his time, notwithstanding the dis
pensatioDs within the gift of the President and the
miserable swarm Of vernin seeking 70 live az the
public cost have increased, while the amount of
money he controls is equal to all belonging to all the
soyereigns of Europe few years since yet the i'm
pOrtance of his stalks has dwindled 20 that ii is
deemed no breach of decorum to accost him in every
way like the simplest citizen; and voey of eggs 8.
his head-tke dire ruhfanism Of personal assault
can call forth no further expressions Of remark or
regret than would attend the same violation of de-
cency practieed toward any other well.bred and
respectable person. Such an attack made on the
sovereign in England would excite whole columns Of
holy horror; leaders on leaders in the editorial col
umns snd voluninous reports in the Court Circula,
department ofthe Journals here it is scarcely noticed
save in 'eegraphic dispatch or passing paragraph
We may rejoice that lot is so cast that we car
look down upon administrative men as the servants
and not up to them as the masters, of the people
and that each year adds to the ngnfcance of station
and the growth Of individual action and influence il
the affairs of this Republic.
When the President vas about to insuguraie tn
Crystal Palace in this City he was caught during tn
procession going from the Battery thither in heav
shower, and was not presentabs. Accordingly, b.
stopped at an ice-creau shop opposite and borrows