New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-19
GENERAL GRANT IN FRANCE


-, VISIT not HELPFUL TO FRENCH REPUBI-
CANS.
ITRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THf TRlbUNI~l
I0NpON. Nov. ST appears that the Minister oil
the United States NJ Paris surpasses Mr. Pierre
mont himself m matters of etiquette. You cannot
have forgotten the great questions which agiiated
Iondon-what do | say s-EnGland-Europe, per
haps. the United States certainly. aud, for aurht
know. all the rest of mankind only few short
months ago. Tho question whether General Grant
should 90 cut 10 dinner before after Duke, The
oucstion who should take Mrs. Grant in-thc
whole vast mystery IN short, of prece-
dence aud social punctilio. recounted
at the time MFR. Pierrcponi's triumphs-recounted
them with PRIDE did not { mourned like good
American over that dinner at Marlborough House.
where General Grant was the Prince of Waless
guest and where he had. alas, 10 content himself
with a rear view Of the other guests when The long
procession moved from drawiug-room 10 dining
ROOM This was the one occasion where Mr. Pierre
points strategy failed But It is just such an occa-
sion on which General Moves has succeeded. have
before me n French paper with a minute and partc-
ular account of the dinner given Thursday evening
nj the Elys6o 10y Marshal MacMahon TO General
Grant. The arrangements were such rs must satisfy
the most cXacting patriot, though lear they might
FL Mr. Pierropont's bosom with envy. were not his
a nature superior 10 such a sentiment. Not for
nothing did General Moves tell the Marshal Ito
whom IT certainly was news that France and the
United States were united by an historical friend
shin. He might with safety have told him that
Christopher Columbus "a native of Paris and the
frst three Presidents Of the United States chosen
by lot from the Marshals Of France. All
the soft ciylhties which passed between the Mar
shall aud our Minister have borne fruit. Carefully
drilled by young fHarcourt the Marshal has fin
ished by comprchcnding the policy of treating Cen
eral Grant with distinction. lie has rcpreSsed ms
natural surprise at finding the General appear with
ont his war-paiut AMI blanket. NJ. d'HaTcourt has
explained that the American chief only wears these
at home. lie has been told that it might annoy the
French Republicans 70 the ex-Prcsidcnt of the
American Republic throw himself into the arms of
tie President who is striving destroy the French
Republic. and he has opened them WIDE.
The dinner given TO General Grant was-ior these
or other equally good reasous-the most distinct Of
fetal recognition Of his Presidential rank which ne
has received in Europe. If he had been President
in fact instead of President in the past, 90 not see
what more could have been done. All the Cabinet
were there; the Mafshal's staff, and chief officers
Of his military households "Nollard introductcur
des ambassadous = the Projects of the Seine and Of
Police; Grant Jesse. fills du general" General
Moves Mr. Vienaud Secretary Of Legations Cen
eral Torbert Consul-Genera Of the Uiiited;otates;
the wives Of three Ministers Madame Ia Duchcssc
Dscazes. Madame des Touches Madame Berthaut;
Mrs. Grant Mrs. Moves. Mrs. Sickles WheTe her
husband was this report saith mott, Miss Lincoln.
Miss Stevens. MIR. Pieuepout must soTowiul|y
confess that no list of guests at any London dinner
given to General Grant was so brilliant rs tins. SUI
moro SORROW u must he bee as he reads what follows
Lest commit some awful error. translate word for
word:
The Duchess Of Magenta had on her right General
Grant aud ON her lci, che Duc d. BrogIe.
The Maeua-prtsidelt mad on his right Madame
Grant 9ud ou iis LETT the Duchess Dcclz's
Madame Moves WIS placed between thc Due d.
lirorfe who took her in to dinner and Admiral
General Move, had ON lis right Madame Togbert
AMI on i's icll Mad9We >ickies.
The dinner. which began o. 1880 lasted about an
hour and half st o'clock the GU. SIS ref urEe1
o. tie drawug-rooIn the Marshal Offering his arm
Tho Nas-l.ai and General Grant withdrew to tie
snoNiug-Toom. 80 here they bad pretty long tal6.
hr AIen1ud. Seer tary oi Legation OF the United
Siat,,, acting %, interpreter 80
The Marshal invited General Grant and bis family
e. come t0 breakfast ceremony Versailles.
and to bc present at some OF Che -,ons OF ile SEN
az and Chamber; placing the Presidential tribune
a. their disposal.
General Grant acc pied.
ihc parts broke mp at quarter 20 TO-
General Grant and ,iaIIl, were enchanted with
tieir reception by Che MARSHALL aud Madame de Mac-
Nahou.
Nothing could be more perfect than that; nothing
could give more pleasure to the people OF France
and America than 10 know that Mr. Grant Jesse ex
pressed Dis satisfaction with his dinner and general
treatment. That young man. we know, has had the
reputation of being little diMriic.
Meantime the Republicans of France, seeing that
General Grant has chosen 10 visit Paris at the mo
iu.ut when Dis presence might bc Of some political
use 10 the enemies Of the Republic, and that he has
definitely and publicly east in his lot with them, DO
not intrudc upon him. They have an idea
in Paris that man belongs to ono set
or another: and this idea governs social relations
10 a great extent, as well as political life. General
Grantafter having stayed away from Paris last SUM
mcr lest he might embaUass rcactionary govern
mcpt chooses for his visit the moment when the
Government is still in the hands of the cOnspirators
OF the 10Th of May. when crisis is at its height.
when tine nation has scuifod its wish to De md OF
the Ministry. if not Of the Marshal and when the in
flnence OF General Grants renOwn, even Of his Re
publicanism is all thrown on their SIDE and against
the Republic This influence may not be much but
it is something The public appearance of General
Grant next week i'm the Marshas box at the Senate,
and the Chamber Of Deputies, will make the appar-
ent sympathy between thon still more ostcntatious
l admit. as / said in a recent letter, that it
was difficult for General Grant to decline these
offered civilities. But ii would not have been diff
cult TO keep away from Paris during the
few DAYS this Ministry has yet % live, and until
the Marshal had either resigned or publicly broken
with the advisers who have brought hlm into this
disastrous position. Mr.. Washbumc Is said TO have
advised General Grant not to come last summer. If
General Noyes had been longer in Paris he might
have seen his way TO recommending a fur
ther postponement Of the journey. | mean
no criticism on General Noyes still less
s.N.f In Of tfu