The daily union., 1854-03-03

and we do not intimate 10 the eonirarylo signify strong
y and clearly to our ministers the views OF our govern.
ment bu, 10 withdraw from them discretion, 10 be
exercised according TO the circumstances Mr. Buchanan
has received the mened applause of his own country
men for his rigid adherence the known views of his
government and is gratifying to see from the leading
English papers that his course meets with their decided
approval We have not deemed proper TO allude TO
The course OF Mr. Mason except 10 copy from the Rich
mohd Enquirer an article IN his defence Our own APP
proval OF The circular OF the Secretary OF State was so
well known, that we did not deem il necessary 10 epea,
IL IN connexion with the publication OF that article In
fac we supposed that one would be so eager to
mlsinerpre our position to infer that our opinions
were at all modified from The simple circumstance of
copying, without comment the article OF the Enquirer
commending or at least excusing the course of Mr. Ma
son. ~ will be observed that Mr. Mason conforms 10
the instructions as to his dress in his official intercourse
with The French government The point Of objection
s that In his social intercourse he has yielded to the
fashion OF Paris, and has conormed bis costume "on
occasions of social estiyity," TO the known usaees
OF the French court. Although we regretted TO
see Mr.. Mason thus yield to considerations which
seemed TO us not to require IL had disposition to in
duge IN censue, but was willing to give publicity to
the grounds on which the Enquirer vindcaied him with
out engaging in the discussion ourself Bur since the
negsncer has chosen to give another instance OF its
view OF fairness by treating insertion OF the Enoui
rers article as an " endorsement Of its contents we
hnk proper to reterale our hearty approval Of the
hments OF Secretary Marcys circular and to express
our regret that Mr. Mason did conform to these sug
gesons as well in his social in his Official intercourse
AT the same time, il would be unjust in us to censue Mr.
Mason Tor the exercise of his discretion when be must
DC presumed to be the best Judge OF the circumstances
under which he was called on to make his decision He
eVinced his appreciation OF his instructions in conform
ing to them iD his official intercourse and the French
government showed its good sense in recognising him in
his official capacity in " the plain black dress of an
American citizen" II would have accorded with onr
notions of popriety if he had carried out the same de-
clsion con occasions of social fesvliy" but as we can
not be presumed to know the considerations which in
fuenced him il his determinations we are not disposed to
indulge in censorious structures The Winchester vir.
g!nan, in an article OF much good sense expresses our
views on this general subject with much force when if
says:
"This whole matter may seem trivial and many win
that should ourselves more about the po,a.
than the coats OF our dplomaiists But il has its weipb
Externals generally influence essentials and nowhere more
hah among toe rulers OF Europe Their whole system of
legitimacy and arstocacy is gigantic sham and or
nament and illusion constitute necessarily one of its main
props steady but unobusve protest against that p,op
cannot be contemplate in its influence upon the system
AL many OF the courts OF the continent among them
those oil countries which send thousands of emefans
yearly already, the representatives OF the United States
have little 10 do or bring them before the public bevopd
hsuring at lees, ceremonies aud The like There teked
oil IKE the rest 10 herd with vulgar kings and parasites
they sacrifice their identity and that of their country and
lose all the influence which attends uapes emblemotc NJ
the principles of country where the people are sover
egn."
We have no fears that Mr.. Buchanan will miscon.
strue our views on this subject or ha, he will be in
duced IN the least 10 waver in the manly, American
course he has adopted We should much sooner indulge
the hope that Mr. Mason may reconsider his determine
ton, and take the commcndable view of the true
policy OF an American minister for which Mr. Buchanan
is SO warmly applauded by his countrymen.