The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-19
THE GATHERING OF KINGS.

The Exposition unquestionably ID great
success, and if it bring not as many people to
Paris as the landlords and shop-keepers an
ticipated (three millions Of strangers, we be-
lieve, they counted upon, the Emperor, in his
most sanguine wishes, could scarcely have ex-
pected more full realization of all his dreams
of grandeur and Of glory, Of brilliant pomp
and regal splendor, than have since came to
pass for his own aggrandizement, and to the
delight and profit of the viVacious, but at the
same time also thrifty people Of Paris And
when it is further remembered that on thevery
eve of this great international fete Europe was
on the brink of gigantic war, and the
field of Mars, upon which the arts OF peace
are now being exhibited, might have become
the camping ground for hostile bands OF Prus-
sian grenadiers, there is all the more reason
for congratulation at the happy turn affairs
have taken within the last two months. All
rumors of war are hushed. NAPOLEON pre-
sides at the contest of the industrial arts for
the mastery, and to this joust he has invited
all the princes and potentates Of the earth.
The Queen Of England sent her sons to pay
their respects to NAPOLEON; the King and
Queen of the Belgians came, the guests of His
Imperial Majesty. The Car and one of his
sons did not disdain to partake Of the Emper-
or's hospitality. The Crown Prince of Prussia
came, and returned to Berlin, delighted with
the regal reception accorded him. His
august father, King WILLIAM, in company with
Count BISMARCK came next, and has returned
again to the City by the Spree. Victor EMAN-
uEL will arrive there this week, so also the
Sultan of Turkey; and most wonderful to
tell, about the first of July, the Emperor of
China is expected in Paris, the guest of Louis
NAPOLEON.
This last is unquestionably theme remarka-
BILE event in modern history. The Tycoon of
Japan is also represented in Paris by his
brother 1t is reasonable, we think, to infer
from this event, that the Great Wall, that
hitherto kept outside barbarians both from
China and Japan, will soon be levelled, never
again to obstruct the onward march of civiliza-
tion and christianity.
We have not named many of the European
sovereigns and Princes, who have visited, or
are yet to visit Paris, during the present sum-
mer. NAPOLEON was the first monarch who
ever conceived the brilliant project of assem-
bling the crowned heads Of the world around
an exhibition of the triumphs of the worlds
industry. This is an excellent preliminary
step to his other scheme Of bringing about
European Congress for the adjudication of
various questions of continental interest-one
them general disarmament.
Why the President of t. T-ted States was
not invited TO the Tuileries We cannot imagine.
True, he could not have gone, but he might
have sent some suitable representatiye-Gen.
BUTLER, for instance, or Detective General
BAKER, or some other of our distinguished
men. We hope LOUIS has not become so much
infected with aristocracy as to consider demo-
cratic-we beg pardon, Republican Presi-
dent beneath his notice.
Certainly, NAPOLEON has much reason to feel
proud at what he has himself achieved; fifteen
years ago not one of all this long list of SOW
ereigns and princes would have passed the
threshold of his red republican door, for they
knew him only as the embodiment of the revo-
lutionary idea.
Now, there is not monarch under the sun,
who, whatever his private opinion and feelings
may be toward the "upstart in the Tuileries," j"
does not find it polite and even necessary to
profess the utmost respect, not to say affection,
for his Imperial Majesty. Greater success no
man ever enjoyed. LOUIS the Fourteenth was
Aattered when Doge Of Venice consented to
tread the polished floors of his newly built Yer
sailles; the rencontre of single monarchs on
some Field of Cloth of Gold is a perpetual
topic of history; for sovereigns have been apt
to visit each other only as conquerors and e1-
lies But here we have n very Vanity Fair of
monarchs; rendezvous of all the Lords
Anonted in the modern Babylon.