The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-11-09

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to him. assuring us at the same time thai
such was the established rule with re-
spect to the presentation of addresses
from foreign peoples. Without ventur.
ing to express any opinion as to the
wisdom of this rule, we concurred in
your declared resolution to act in the
circumstances strictly in accordance
with your sense Of duty.
From the terms of your letter we infer
that Sir Edward Thornton has not raised
objection to the language Of the address,
and that it is equally acceptable to you !;
and as we cannot gather that there is
any rule requiring that he should take
part in its presentation, we do not see
that the circumstance of his not having
received instruction in regard to it from
Her Maiesty's government constitutes
any difficulty calculated to prevent its
presentation by US to the President.
Moreover, since Sir Edward Thornton
has declared his inability to act in the
absence constructions, we fail to per-
ceive the ground of your'anxiety to pro-
cure his assistance, or how the reception
of the address without the aid which he
is absolutely unable to render should
appear discourteous to him.
We are deeply sensible of your kind
ness, and of Sir Edward Thornton's, in
offering to make arrangements with the
object Of personally presenting us to the
President. For this we tender you our
warmest thanks; but we may not accept
your Offices in this respect, because we
have already had the honor OF being re-
ceived by the President at New York,
and would not now venture to occupy
his attention upon merely personal
grounds.
We may mention that Immediately
upon our arrival in the United States we
addressed a note to the President stating
the nature of our mission and requesting
that he would say when it would suit his
convenience to receive the congratula-
tons we are authorized to present to him.
That note having remained unanswered
for more than week. we concluded, and
correctly, as the President himself after
ward informed US. that it had not been
brought under his notice. On the 18th
inst, therefore, we availed ourselves of
the opportunity afforded us by his press
ence in New York, where we also were
staying, to solicit the favor of an inter-
view with him for the purpose OF ex>
planning the object of our visit to this
country and hearing his pleasure with
regard to it. He received US with great
cordially, declared that it would give
him pleasure to receive the address, and
appointed Tuesday, the 18th inst, at
twelve o'clock noon, as the time for its
reception. Accordingly we came to
Washington and presented ourselves at
the Executive Mansion on the appoints
ed day, when, for the first time, we were
made acquainted with the forms to be
complied with prior to the presentation
of the address.
We shall be glad if, on further cousid>
GRAFTON, you deem it consistent with
your duty to take steps for the recep.
ton of the address. At present. we have
only to express our extreme regret and
disappointment that we have not yet
been enabled to complete our mission
by its former presentation. Your frank
acceptance OF the good wishes of the
Irish people, however, is most agreeable
70 US. and the hearty recognition of the
friendly nature of our visit by the lead>
ing organs of the American press, war
rants us in believing that our humble
efforts have not been unproductive of
good results. Ireland entertains towards
America, sentiment of profound graft
she has ever been on the side of human
ity and freedom, and sympathies in an
especial manner with the great princi-
plies of civil government that constitute
the strength and glory OF the American
Republican.
CHAS. STEWART PARNELL. NJ. P.
JOHN O'CONNOR POWER, Nj. P.
Another note from the State Departs
mcnt then informed them that Sir +.
1hornton's objections were passed on
the contents OF the Address. and that, in
the face OF his protest. the State depart
ment could not violate international
courtesy by making arrangements for
the presentation. Thus the case stands
at present. but we have not heard the
end Of it by any means. The British
minister has merely helped to concent
trate public attention on documen.
which would have otherwise sunk quitelv
away among the archives OF the Execu-
tive Mansion. on account of the pending
political contest.
Itmav be added that our State De-
partment could afford to lop away some
OF its absurd rules based on mechan-
ical models. without thereby FORGETTING
the respect or confidence of the American
people. irish World.