The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-21
A Frenchman on American Politics.


A Frenchman on American Politics.
It must be owned that since the publica-
ton Of De TocouEv1LLE's studies, we have
not been very much enlightened by the
efforts OF French observers to interpret the
United States. Their remarks are often suf-
ficiently amusing, but for the most part we
incline to laugh ut the writer rather than
with him. In some respects, however, an ex-
ception should be made in favor OF the notes
Of travel In the United States which
NJ. OTHENN D'HAUssoNv1LLE is publish
ing in the Revue des Deur Mondes. His
impressions Of American society are rela-
lively correct and interesting, because
he saw phases Of social life here to which
most OF his compatriots who record their ex-
perience in print are manifestly strangers.
So long as he discourses Of manners and ed
ucation we may listen with some Difference
and profit to the son of a distinguished states
man end philanthropist to writer whose
mother was daughter OF the Due DE BRoG-
LIE and granddaughter Of Nine. DE STAEL.
When NJ. D HAUsSoNv1LLE, however, un-
dertakes to instruct his countrymen touch
ing the American Democracy and its fu-
ture," he goes beyond his depth, and perpe-
trates blunders hardly less ludicrous than
those for which less respectable French
tourists are notorious. Entertaining, for
instance, is his struggle to elucidate the
schism in the ranks Of the Republican party
between the Stalwarts and those whom he is
pleased to designate as the Half-breds"
He informs US that these factions and
thntv
to the Presidential campaign Of 1876,
and that in the Republican Convention at
Cincinnati Gen GRANTS claims to the NOM
nation for President were thrust aside in
avor of ian obscure but honorable man,
Mr. HAYES" We were not aware that Gen.
GRANT had been a candidate before that
Convention and have always supposed that
1t was Mr.. BLANE's ambition which was
frustrated by the person from Ohio, who is
now generally believed to merit only one of
the epithets bestowed by the French travel
Ter. NJ. D'HAUssoNv1LLE goes on to say
that at the ensuing election Mr.. HAYES
beat Mr.. TILDEN "by few votes, If, in
deed. he really obtained q majority at
all" and that during the disputes
which eliminated in the establishment of
the Electoral Commission, there was reason
to fear the country was on the eve of new
civil war, the more because for some months
precious there had been, so to speak, no erecu-
tire poaeer in the United States" We enter
tain feelings of compassion for the French
student of our contemporary history who
essays to penetrate the meaning OF the SEN
tence underscored, for we have wrestled
with it in vain. 1nasmuch as Gen GRANT
was President up to the day when the OBJ
scure man from Ohio was inaugurated, it
was currently imagined that there was
rather an excess than defect Of executive
power in this country during the months
preceding the last-named event.
No less grotesque and diverting is the ac-
count OF subsequent incidents in the contest
between Stalwarts and Half breds" offered
by this diligent observer to the readers Of the
Rerste des Deur Mondes. Mr.. GARFIELD, we
are told, was nominated on platform Of op-
position to 1.-The spoils system" This will
be news to those Republicans who remember
what actually took place at Chicago Some
thing highly exemplary was said, we
believe, by q delegate from Boston,
but Delegate FLANAGAN of Texas was
understood to reflect more faithfully
the views of the Convention regard
ing civil service reform. what are
we here for" asked the candid FLANAGAN,
"if not for the purpose Of winning a battle
and distributing the spoils p Perhaps NJ
D'HArssoNvILLE, observing the recent ten
dency in France to adopt the spoils system
III all its rigor, thought little wholesome
fiction would be more useful than crude facts
Or perhaps he got his information touching
the "Half-breds" and their policy from Mr..
BLAINE, by whose "verve" and "vivacity"
our Frenchman seems to have been
considerably impressed. We are prompt
ed to prefer the latter theory of his
inspiration by his curious version of the mo-
tivcs for Mr.. RoBERrsoN's nomination to the
Collectorship OF the New York Custom House.
We are gravely assured that by this nomina-
ton President GARFIELD addressed himself
with masterful resolution to thoroughgo-
ing reform Of abuses in the civil service In
asmuch as Collector MERRITT had been ap-
pointed by Mr.. HAYES at the instance Of
civil service reformers, and rs his
term had not expired, people of aver.
age intelligence on this side OF the Allan
tic have not yet been able to comprehend
what abuses were corrected by Mr.. MER-
RITrs removal and tho substitution OF a
noted political hack. We suspect that this
edlfying but wholly apocryphal account OF a
political intrigue was communicated to our
French tourist on one OF the festive occa-
sions when, as he tells US, Mr.. BLAINE
LEANED forward with his elbows on the
table and unbosomed himself with the effu-
siveness that follows q somewhat prolonged
repast." Slr. BLAINE, indeed, seems to have
been accepted by his ingenious guest
as mentor and oracle, and the readers Of
the Revue are treated to long monologue in
which tie ex-Secretary developed his valu-
able views regarding the policy which the
United States ought to pursue in reference to
the Panama Canal and South American affairs
generally, Inasmuch as Mr.. BLArNE's
opinions have been repudiated by his own
party, they have ceased 10 have for Us any