The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-15
The Firsmsn's Parade and the Prince a
Wales.

MOUNTAINEERING the disappointment of somn
three hundred thousand persons who could not
see the Prince Of Wales on Thursday, out a
one million of population, besides the null
titude of strangers, the srdor on Saturday
night was undated, and the numbers that
thropged to see him and the parade
were greater than ever. All around the
FIFTH Avenue Hotel and Union square was
one dense mass of human beings, whilst from
Fourteenth street through Fourth avenue and
the Bowery to the City Hall, and back themes
through Broadway to Union square, the side
walks, more than half the streets, and the win-
dows, doors and stoops of every house, were
filled with human beings, independently of the
five thousand who marched in procession.
Thousands were brought together from the de-
sire to see that procession in which each had
some friend, as well as from curiosity to SEQ
live prince. Il was grand carnival of the
citizens; and what was SO gratifying, not an 40
cident occurred, nor any approach to riot
Where else could such an exhibition take place
without both Where else, indeed, would their
| rulers permit the people to assemble in such
vast masses as they did in New York during the
last week?
The parade Of the firemen on Saturday night
was one Of the most brilliant spectacles ever
witnessed in this country or any other.
Whether we regard the variety of the decora-
tons of the various engines and carriages, the
splendor of the iluminations and the profusion
of fireworks, or the numbers and character Of
the men forming the procession, and the steady
discipline and order which they exhibited, II
was sight of which the Empire City has q
right to feel proud, and which must have been
highly instructive to the statesmen who accom-
panied the Prince of Wales in bis tour, If not to
the Prince himself. In the chief city of no
| other country in the world is such spectacle
possible.
These citizen fremen and the citizen soldiery
who passed the Prince in review on Thursday
are organizations peculiar to our free demo-
cratic government. With such defenders the
American people have no need of standing
| armies, and have no fear of any hostile combi-
| nations against them. Their courteous recep-
ton, therefore, Of the prineely representative
ofa friendly Power cannot be construed into
timid servity, but must be regarded as the
generous greeting Of q nation confident
in its own invincible strength We're the
United States less powerful, New York
might well hesitate before it so la
wishes its inequalities. But II can afford TO be
liberal without the imputation of meanness in
its motive. Nor can any one suppose that the
reception which the Prince of Wales met with
in New York is a tribute to royalty, for it is so
cordially rendered by the whole community
that II forbids any idea of that kind. II is sim
ply the expression Of friendship and courtesy
from one nation to another without regard to
the form Of governments recognition of the
ties Of kindred and commercial relations. And,
in addition to this, 1t partakes Of the nature Of
those frolics In which New Workers love now
and then 10 indulge. We are earnest and grave
and careworn In the pursuit Of wealth. but We
must occasionally have our pleasure, aud when
we do relax we do il not by halves, but in
burst Of enjoyment which astonishes not only
Europeans, but the inhabitants OF other Ameri-
can cities.
But whatever may be the motives which A.
sembled such multitudes in New York, the
Prince Of Wales cannot fail to derive instruction
"a well as pleasure from what he has witnessed
He has never seen in any other city, and
never will again, so many well dressed people.
If any rags met bis eye they were those Of late
ly arrived foreigners The impression made
upon his youthful mind must be favorable to
this country and towards democratic institu.
tons, and may bear good fruit at q future day.
He has seen that an intelligent and educated
people may safely be entrusted with self govern
ment, and that there Is no government 50
strong a. that in which every citizen has direct
interest and legitimate control. We trust the
visit of the Prince Of Wales to the United States
will not be without effect in enlarsing the free.
dom of the British people and expanding the
democratic element In English institutions.
OPERATE and Dra m q tie Matters.