The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-05-25
For The Cecil Wing
BROADBRIM'S LETTER FROM PARIS.

THE OPENING OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION.
Never since the day when the red star of
the Commune entrenched on the historic
heights of Belleville went down in darkness
and blood, has France had such splendid
opportunity for military display as at the
opening of the Universal Exposition.
Crushed beneath the ruthless hoofs of in
vading armies, rent and torn with intestine
discord to-day she rises in her might and
proclaims to the world that the Republic is
supreme over the ashes of the Commune
and the crumbling ruins of the Empire.
Whatever may be our governmental sym
pathies, whether kindly or republican, he
would be less than Christian and unworthy
the name of man, who would deny to
these people the praise and the glory of
having rescued their country from such
dire disaster and ruin rs has scarcely been
experienced by any other nation in ancient
or modern times. Seven years ago to-day
the invadr Numbered at her gates; seven
years ago this very month, the torch of the
incendiary left her palace and her halls of
i
and to-day, from every land, from the rising
to the setting of the sun, millions of pill
grims come to her with tribute to assist at
the opening of her Great Exposition and to
strengthen the bond of peace, whose doc.
trine is enunciated in the universal brother
hood of man, and the Universal Father
hood of God.
For weeks past thousands upon thous
ands of distinguished strangers have been
pouring into Paris. Princes, whose blue
blood went back to Pepin the Little and
Charlemagne, were fanked by Pachas,
Bashaws and Shahs, whose pedigree anti
dated Noah and the roots of whose family
tree were to be found in the Garden of Eden
For many days it has been evident that
grand military display was Intended
Strange uniforms appeared more frequently
upon the streets, fierce looking Turcos with
baggy breaches and vagabond hats took
the whole of the sidewalk in squads and
without as much as by your leave, or if
you please elbowed you into the gutter.
Cuirassiers in glittering helmet and cuiras
rasse; imposing looking officers in ponderous
cooked hats and gorgeous with orders of
merit, lined the highways and guarded the
corners of the streets. Dragons armed
cap en- pied mounted on horses gaily com
parisoned, dashed hither and thither as If
on important business, and woe betide the
unucky foot passenger who happened to
stand in their way.
For weeks and weeks the high diplomatist
Mons. de Bort, who has charge of the man
agement of the opening ceremonies, has
been driven almost crazy with the question
of precedence. Many princes of the blood
were invited to be present, and none of
them could be expected to take back seat.
H., NfW nj oil 1xrh nr md
chief of the British high commission;
Austria and Prussia, Russia and Belgium,
and also the Kingdom of Italy, were each
and all to be represented. Powerful poten
tates from India and Bashaws with more
tail than have time to count, each claimed
priority of right which would listen to no
terms of compromise and disdained every
overture of settlement. kilograms flew
thick and fast; messengers dashed between
the different departments with notes of
heavy diplomatic import, the great princi-
pals seeming to forget the homly adage,
"That when two men ride the same horse,
one must ride behind" Uncle Sam, whose
able representative was compelled to uphold
the dignity Of his country, could not afford
to have his claims overlooked by taking
prospective view of the coat tails of any
Prince or potentate, however magnificent
and powerful, things were getting 10
be very much mixed, when the private
Secretary of the Prime Minister cut the
gordian knot with the brilliant suggestion
that they all 60 first. This met the uni
versal appreciation of the different foreign
embassies, and it is whispered that the
lucky suggestion of the plan may expect a
red ribbon and the order of st. Louis, not
to mention prospective official advancement
and pension.
On Tuesday, by the kindness of the
American Commissioner, the Hon. Rich
ard Mccormick, to whom | take this OPP
portunity to return my grateful thanks,
received formidable card barred with
imperial purple, with compliments of the
"Marechal President de la Republique,"