The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-08
REPUBLICAN ETIQUETTE
SOME OF THE GRAVE PROBLEWs o.
rRECEDENCE THAT PERPLEx
OUR BAwGIvERs.
Washington P0st.l

The President and his wife will receive al
calls and return none. During the session o
Congress stated receptions are given, which
~ may attend. morning reception should
y be attended in the usual morning reception
costume, but 1t Ia not considered respectful t
appear In less than evening toilet at an even
i ing reception. and for an evening cal
merely demi-tOilette is preferable. When en-
tprng, your name Is announced by the usher
whereupon the Marshal Of the District intro
duces you to the President and afterwards tt
other members OF the family who may be
present.
II Ia vexed question as TO whom properly
belongs the second place In the social grade
the Chief Justice or the Vice President. Much
NAV be said on both sides. The Significance
Of our social etiquette is not personal, but
political, and 1t simply resolves itself to the
question, which is Of more political import
ance, the Chief Justice or the Vice PRESIDENT
The first named Is certainly, In some respects,
much more responsible and dgnified. He
holds the ultimate power 81 appeal, he can,
at times, control the executive, and holding
his office for life, he Is fixed star In the ma
tional armament. The Vice President, sim
ply MS Vice President, has no special political
Significance. His greatness Is anticipatory
rather than actual, consisting In the remote
the dignity OF his position arises from his be-
ing President of the United States Senate. A
social congress should be called to settle
these weighty matters of the law. and until
that is done the dilemma may be met as dis
tinguished Washington lady meets 1t by not
Inviting these two dignitaries to her table at
the same time.
The fourth planet in our social system Is
the Speaker of the House, who is three re-
moves from the Presidency, and Is often q
political power of the first Importance. All
these dignitaries are entitled to the first visit.
In regard TO the Cabinet, great confusion OF
opinion prevails rs to the question Of social
Y. precedence. and though 1t Is a question which
4 nxsf1c hn at ind nn1p aGin nj lint n
dinners or official receptions. the Post would
= not be fulfilling the whole duty OF man unless
i IL stated the case fully. The order to be OBJ
served Is the priority in which the offices
the War. the Navy, the General Post-ofIice,
the Interior and the Department of Justice.
The difference Of opinion as to who should
receive the first visit, the Cabinet officer or
the Senator, is gradually being decided in
favor of the Senator.
The "first visit" seems to have been an ap-
pie OF discord at very early date It is Of
this that Mr.. Adams letter, before referred
70, chiefly treats, and he quotes voluminously
from rs Adams" what she did and did not
do. After all it Is the women who watch the
social boundaries. and carry on In Washington
parlors the wars Of the political arena. For
this senatorial claim to precedence Is based
on the argument that the Senator represents
State sovereignty, while the Cabinet officer is
simply appointed and depends on the confirm
alton OF the Senate Still, the Senator is also
subject to the State Legislature. and so-of
course and yet, such Is the dignity and re-
eponsibilty OF a Cabinet officer that-well.
the massive brain Of the Post reels under such
a weight OF argument and can only feebly
suggest that official dining tables be made
\ like that celebrated table In John OGroat's
house, where eight jealous brothers OF the
house of O'Groat sat down, each one at the
head of the octagon table.
The ladies of the Cabinet probably work
harder through the season than any one else
In Washington. The demands upon their
time and strength are enormous. and 1t must
require good deal of muscular Christianity
to 20 through the crush OF a card reception
In the height of the season.