New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-18

the festive Cabinet officers and military ana
naval officers, arrayed in purple ana me
linen and as much spangle and glitter as con-
sists with Republican simplicity, were 10
receive and entertain the Imperial Guest. THIS
was to be select party and very dignliled
and impressive ceremony. The solicitation OF
the earnest and imprisoned reporter to DO ad-
mitted to the august ceremonial was met
only by the silent bayonet OF the boid
and not credulous marine, and the pencli
and notebook - symbols of an unmuz-
zled press-were compelled to fall back
incontinently before tho muzzle at the gang
way. Greater precaution could not have been
exercised at an Executive session of the Senate.
1t was not easy to keep back the reporters
from the ouarter-deck of the Alert. But the
mind that punctuated the Centennial period
with a new uniform for the Marine Band, the
intellect that conceived the project OF dlstlh-
gushing his administration OF the Navy De-
partment by bursting more guns and at larger
expense than any predecessor, was fully equai
to it. 1t was but short siege. The reporters
fed. and the Alert was left to dignity and de-
Law. The calm satisfaction with which the
Government saw itself alone on the quarter
deck of the Abort, prepared to receive the
Emperor in a proper and becoming manner,
NAV be imagined. No wonder that the Gov
eminent spent so large a portion of the day
cayorting around the harbor contemplating It's
triumph over the Press.
But the Press, the ribald and licentious and
unbrided Press-what did the Press with its
pencils and notebooks do Did 1t fall back
in good order and wait for the Alert to bring
I'D the Emperor and stow him away IN the
Fifth Avenue Hotel, as it should have done, to
show proper respect TO the Government Not
a bit of it, The Press did very ridiculous,
but very enterprising thing. If we may be
allowed a bucoc figure for marine tranSac-
ton, the Press just " scOOtcd across lots" and
while the Government was pranclng around
the harbor arranging its department and
brushing its back hair, stole tho Emperor
Absolutely stole him from the Govern
ment So that when the Alert steamed grace
fully round the IIevelius, and in scattered
and uncertain way manned her yards and the
Government went on board the lleyellus,
whom should the Government find in posses
sion of tho Emperor but the Press There
were the Press and the Emperor hobnobbing
together like old acluaint0nces all in their
everyday clothes and as jolly and sociable as
could be- The Government, as before re-
marked, was pompously attlred, and, as was
natural. was rather set back by the spectacle.
But the Press, harboring 40 malice against the
Government on account of the latters ac-
zion in the morning, did the hand
some thing, and assisted at the cere-
mony of reception, kindly annotating
the official presentations and introductions
with brief biographical sketches. If the Press
was guilty Of indecOrous behavior in stealing
the Emperor it must at least have the credit
of giving the Government a chance ut him
after he had been surrounded and captured.
Doubtless it was surprise To TIN Govern
mcnt attrcd as il was, end accompanied by
the Marine Band. to fud this stlte OF things
on the deck of tho IIoyelius. Possibly too the
Emperor was astonishcd nj the abrupt ap-
pearance of the Government and the Marine
Band Whatever may have been their emo
tions they did not disclose them. The Gov
eminent finding itself beaten by the Press, re-
turned to the Alert and consOed itself with
the Marine Band and various salutes while
the Emperor kept on with the reporters.
The story is not to be credited that the En-
pcror had read tho reports OF some of the
declined TO trust himself OH the Alert. 1t is
not improbable that he was acquainted with
the fact that Richard II. Dana. jr.. who has
been pronounced by the United States Senate
a Literary pirate" served his 1.-Two Years
Before the Mast" in the ship Alert, Capt.
Nat Middleton of NowLondon, but he il too
Intelligent person TO have so confused litera-
tIrc aud politics, or become so mixed in his
chronology as to have mistaken the u. >. ).
Alert in the harbor of NowYork for an actual
pirate. If any such impression has got abroad
we arc certain it is erroneous.