The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-20
Republican pnccants.


1t is the natural privilege of intelligent
men to leave, in some way or other, the
impression OF their individuality on every
thing and everybody they come in contact
with. Always anxious to learn, they at
the same time invariably teach
Tho Emperor of Brazil for example,
though visiting this country for the avowed
purpose of study, has already taught us
more than he could possibly have learned
from us during his two days stay in New
York. He gave us, first OF all, lesson in
public inodesty and discretion, by refusing
TO be made an object of vulgar curiosity
and impertinent shoddyism. Having thus
been compelled to leave one crowned WIS.,
itor unmolcsted, we shall find il au easier
task to behave with the same dec0rum to-
ward those who may come to our country
hereafter. Another valuable lesson which
he has taught us is that we had better give
up all idea of getting up royal pageahts.
Forgetful of the clumsy mess we made of
il in the official receptions OF the Prince Of
WALES and the Grand Duke ALEXIS, we
were ready TO embark in similar ven
ture on this occasion. Our people do not
seem TO comprehend that neither the
spirit of a republic nor it's form OF society
admits of any state pageant like those We
sec displayed in monarchies. We have
neither the material to make them from,
nor the proper men to organic them.
large standing army, gorgeously clad lm-
peria or Royal guards, hosts of gilded
and embroidered court dignitaries, are in
dispeusable elements of such pageantry;
and then come the grand masters of cere-
monies, the grand chamberlains, the head
stewards of the Imperial OF Royal house
holds to manipulate the affair. They
know how TO regulate the details, how to
render the ceremony brilliant and inn
prcssiyc. 1t is n speciality with them; they
have been all their lives nj ii, and would
probably be utterly unfit for any other
occupation. We haven't anything of the
kind, aud don't need 1t either.
The only practicable form OF public pa
| geant in n republic is, therefore, a popular
demonstration. Decorated houses, women
and children throwing flowers out of the
windows, deputation headed by some
deccnt-lookiug municipal officer, scre-
made and possibly guard OF honor at the
| door, Is about all we can reasonably under
take to give the most llustrious visitor. To
mix up Government officials with such pro-
ccedngs is absurd. for these officials are too
often neither ornamental nor useful They
| have 10 morH experience in conducting
! such ceremonies than any grocer or dry
! goods merchant elected to Il Mayoralty (;
nor have they tho prestige of shining uni
forms and high standing at court. They are
executive officers bound to mind their own
IfH.itfaea ia pf al a
mouwealth to express their feelings as they
like. II the mass of the people do any
thing stupid or clumsy, there is at all events
no official stamp put 20 that clumsincss or
stupidity; ana refined princes kings or
emperors are always sure gracefully to
overlook q want Of tact or etiquette on the
part of the people, while the same thing is
sure to appear shocking when coming
from Government officials.
Following the advice of the Herald, the
Administration at Washington sent to meet
Dom PEDRO several Cabinet officers, II
man-of-war, and Geographic despatch
from the President. These Cabinet Minis
tiers were such that the Emperor would
hardly speak TO them; the man-of-war
caused the forts to fire of the salute at the
wrong time; and the telegram was rs ull-
grammatical rs any whsAey-loaded fellow
could possibly compose. Even Gen. GRANT
ought to have known that the character
Of his Cabinet officers is well understood
throughout the world, and that a thorough
gentleman and philosopher like Dom
PEDRO would not show much regard for
persons like SEcoR robson or HAMILroN
FISH. They ought accordingly to have
been kept in the background, at least
until the Emperor should come to Wash
ington and ask TO be shown the more dis.
tlnguished illustrations of Grantism. But
apart from these peculiar considerations
Dom PEDRO must have been greatly sur
prised at seeing Cabinet Ministers aban-
doning their posts and assuming the func
ton OF courtiers. The Emperor of Ger
! mary or Russia, u he had 10 reaaiye {