New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-03-29
AMERICAN MANNERS CRITTCISED.

THE FRIENDS OF AMERICA.
rFRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l
BERLIN, March 12.-It appears that about
the honr al which Prince Bismarck standing by MI
Banoros hOsptable table 70 propose the health OF the
President of the United States the President OF the
United States himself standing 10 the presence Of
the German Envoy and sneerng the form Of govern
ment which that gentleman represents. In this con-
trast is shown the different notions Of propnety
which pre- sa respectively with our republican fresl-
dent aud with the corrupt mOnarchists Of Germany.
I shall doubtless be accused of want OF patriotism
inquire what 20 be made when TINS contrast ls
drawn Il is drawn-and drawn very ehectively-in
almost every Journal that pick up Even the Peters
burger ZehDig which reflects the German sentiment IN
the Russian capital read tins morning the calm Observ
alton that kings have not that high legitimacy when
Gen Grant assigns 70 the republic alone, they have at
least better idea Of what is exaced by good manners
This is the line OF treatment adopted by most Of the
journals The retort is obviously deserved
The traditions OF politics Germany, even more than
IN other European States attach great sOlemmty 10
official uterances. I DO not speak Of the sovereign
alone who is Of course mere creature OF etiquette
but OF ministers and Parliamentary leaders, VINO Keep
silence occasion for speaking and who
when they speak, weigh their words with the most
scrupulous care. Crown speech which should contain
expressions equivalent those attributed 20 the PTes
dents inaugural address would be a moral impos-
sibIity. No minister would take a portfolio after
SO gross a breach Of propriety. But very shsht
importance ~ attached 10 what Gen. Grant
or any other American politician says a
general agreement seems 10 be reached 10 treat
American official uterances Just as they are treated by
the irreverent qaHiiJS OF the sixth Ward. We are
fougt only with sneers irony aud ridcue. have yet
10 learn how the Presidents received at
home; bur what 1 have written reflects exactly the
disgust of Americans domced here whose sensiDitles
are puncured every day by the cold sarcasm provoked
by the irresponsible language Of your politicians In
tins country 10 which President Grant would extend
the blessings Of freedom under republican institutions,
he ought 10 proceed differently The cause OF free
speech for instance VIII he helped by chief maEis
trte who seems Illustrate the theory thai The boon IN
question is Incompatible with belief IN the response
Ollity Of words.
The Krsu. zeituno. alone OF the German press took
the manifesto seriously. The Kret- ZeitHg NAV re-
mark is not so well acquainted with American politics as
some Of s contemporaries. Il thought therefore, and
said that President Grants observations on the com
narrative merits Of different forms OF governmenteven
they did honor the authors philosophical studies
we're imperuuent and insulting 70 al mon4rchichal
Powers who have representatives al Washington II
inquired whether such powers ought longer 70 keep NJ
diplomatic relations with such a Government. The
F0lHisch Zeh,ng came nearer 70 the public view. IL
had column on IL calls Ulysses Grants IDEALS
mas and in strain OF gentle irony 70 AMPLY
the Presidents ideas It pictured TO itself the corrupt
cIvi
republican virtue OF Tweed and Murphy, and
Oakes Ames with his Credit Mobilier installed in the
palace Of the Hohenzolerns II figured brighter future.
when the annexation OF santo Domingo and the sand
wieh Islands shall have undone the work OF the Tower
~ Babel and the choice English OF your carpetbaggers
shall have driven away the language OF Racine ana
Goethe. / give you the spirit and substance Of the
article winch was long and, for German Journal
funny The Norddeutsohe AAgemeiHe Zcih'Hg the
se1ni-offciaI organ Of Bismarck, more re-
served The report Of the Sew-Oreans outbreak
came the same day that TINS journal made its comments
and II simply quoted the dispatch and duly questioned
the expediency Of adopting that sort Of thing IN order to
reap the blessings OF republican Freedom SIN another
journal the name Of which have forgotten. was deeply
affected By the Presidents efforts 10 assist the Great
Maker in the spread Of the English language In short,
the inaugural address is attracting rather wide no
toretv in the Fdtherand could cite other journals,
hut Those 10 which have referred will give YOU no
ton of the reflections stirred IN The German mind by the
Presidents IdealiSmHS
There are IN Germany three C-eat classes which are
favoraply inclined toward the United States The Bis
marck interest courts America for purely political
reasons literary and professional classes envy our
intellectual freshness and freedom the lower people
have many domestic and personal motives for looking up
- rs II therefore unfortunate that the recent course
O: affairs in America should be calculated IN distinct
WAYS 20 offend ali three How can we claim the sym
mail
sent no better spectacle than that OF forty million people
chasing Almighty Dollar al the price oil honor rulh
and most of the other yirtuesi
Let me however, justice 10 the President, devote
paragraph 10 journal by which he If better treated
Even AS write, the AlgeHeiae Augsburgl ZeitaHg
reaches my table with Berlin letter the very sub
ect Of the Presidents inaugural address The writer II
shocked at the unness OF the occasion which The Fre
dent chose for sounding the praises Of the Universal Re
,hlic and amused by his augmentation about SlntO
Dom,ngo and the Great Makers plans for the union OF
tongues; but he makes some observations ~ srayer
strain He thinks that there il going ON IN
Europe movement which points unmistak-
ably 10 the republic. II Is not the reVoln-
tionary movement, such introduces the republic
IN spain and France II is rather slow and peaceful
urogress through reforms parliamentary government
local independence extension OF the suffrage ana IL -
simultaneous in England Italy. Austria, and Germany.
Prince Bismarck gores IN the fact that when he formed
the North German Confederation he Switzerland
~ America for pode,s still later constructing the
German Parliament he substituted single chamber,
d mn of representatives chosen by the people Tor me
nId Diets he speaks OF the large and growing
Gemocratic spirit in Germany; but THIS will NOT DC
,ras,stood without a word Of explanation. You Oiien
~ daunfless statements about the large democratic
populatOu this country II does exist ahu = p5
ably majority ~ The ana ps, il h's. We bss
unique signncItlOn OsruiAh Delnoerat
man who is opposed 20 Ansouse NON. a. .a' ~ The
ord. Ihat Is 20 cay, believes IN liberal instiulons
nndef fundamentally forms, ana VIII the Wiz VI rno
Peop,o, me more radical OF the The Democrat
,.Ivocates liberal monarchy with d popular pAfnans,
~ iu England the Republican calls Ior ne
~ and complete change IN the form OF govern
,nsnf The Republican, are comparatively rev Ahu' 70
far as out ward denOustraLlons go are eohnea W VIC
Ihi ~ ,sorkiuguIen. The DemOcrats however art
nav tne dominant party IN nearly every ,'orlIan -
a. no keeps their true character IN hnd VIII hot on
g ~ their uutnpers be led 10 believe that Germany
y ready " merge herself IN The Universal hevaDn0'