The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-30
REPUBLICAN, P4GE4NTS.
IN. Y. Sun =

| N. Y. Sun
| 1t is the natural privilege of intelligent
men to leave, in some way or other, the
impression of heir individuality on every
thing and every body they come in contact
| with. Always anxious to learn, they at
the same time invariably teach.
| The 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 frat of all, lesson in
| public modesty and discretion, by refusing
| to be made an object of vul gar curiosity
| and impertiuen- shUddyism. Having thus
! been compelled to leave one crowned Wis
itor unmolested, shall find it an easier
task to behave with the same decorum
| toward those who may come to our coun-
try hereafter. Another valuable lesson
which be has taught us is that we had bet
ter give up all idea of getting up royal pa
geants.
Forgetful of the clumsy mess we made of
it in the official receptions of the Prince OF
Wales and the Grand Duke Alexis, we
ture on this occasion. Our people do not
seem to comprehend that neither the
spirit of a republic nor it's form of society
ad mts of any state pageant, like those we
see displayed ia monarchies. We have
neither the material to make them from,
large standing army, gorgeousIy clad I'm
perlni or Roy al guards, hosts OF guided
and embroidered court diguitaries, are in
dispenstbte elements of such pageantry
and then ccme the graud masters of cere-
mouies, the grand cnamberlains, the head
stewards of the Imperial or Royal hoase
holds to manipulate the affair. They
know bow to regulate the details, how to
render the ceremony Brilliant and i'm
pressive. 1t Ia a speciality with them they
have been all their lives at it, and would
probably be utterly unfit for any other
occupation. We haven't anything Of the
kind, and don't need it either.
The only practicable form of public pa
geant in a republic is, therefore, popular
demonstration. Decorated houses, women
and children throwing flowers out of the
windows, deputation headed by some
decent-looking municipal officer, sere-
made and possibly guard of honor at the
door, Ia about all we can reasonably under
take to give the most iiiustrious visitor. To
mix up Government officials with such pro-
ceedings IS absurd, for these ctf cials are too
often neither ornamental nor useful. They
have no more experience in conducting
sdch ceremonies tnnn any grocer or dry
goods merchant elected to IA Mayoralty
nor have they the prestige OF shining uni
forms and high standing at court. They are
executive officers, bound to mind their own
business and leave the citizens of the Com
monweath to express their fee ings rs they
like. If the mass of the people do any
thing stupid or clumsy, there is at oil
events no official stamp put to that clumsi-
ness or stupidity; and rctined princes,
kiDge, or emperOIs are always sure grace
fully to overlook want of tact or etiquette
on the part of the people, while the same
thing is sure to appear shocking when COM
ing from Government oficiafs.
Following the advice of the Herdtd, the
Administration at Washington seat to meet
Dom Pedro several Cabinet officers, a
man of war, and telegraphic 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 off the salute at the
wrong time and the telegram was as I'M
grammatical as any whiskey-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 thorough
gentleman and a philosopher like Dom
Pedro would not show much regard for
persons like Secor Robson or Hamilton
Fish. They ought accordingly to have
been kept in the background, at least
until the Emperor should come to Wash
ngtOn and ask to be shown the more dis
tinguished illustrations of Grantism. But
apart from these peculiar considerations,
Dom Pedro must have been greatly eur
prised at seeing Cabinet Ministers aban-
doning their posts aud assuming the tunc
ton of conrtiers. The Emperor of Ger.
many or Russia, if he had to receive
brother sovereign, would either go to
meet him in person or send an aide
camp ; but he certainly would not take
Bismarck or Gortschakoff from their
offices, and despatch them several hundred
miles away to perform duties of mere
courtesy.
Altogether, the visit of Dom Pedro here
has been an event of extraordinary intec.
est and utility.