The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-16
A Minister'S Impertinence.


If there be any aristocracy in this country
worth the name Of it-that is to say in the
sense of aristos and kratein-it IS that of Let-
ters and the Arts.
To this arstocracy Allen Thornd Ike Rice
| belongs and beyond the pale of it in the
misty haze of temporary prominence may be
perceived the paste lustre of Edwin j. Phelps
the United States envoy at the Court of St.
James.
The two luminaries are suddenly brought
in contact. With undimmed lustre the
first shines; the second resembles tho.e
planets astronomers tell us of that illumi-
nate the sky for time and then vanish new
er to be found again.
In the studed insult that Minister Phelps
has administ. 4Si to one of Americans most
prominent .ary characters, he has affront
ed the natiSb. No intelligent American
would consider the Hon. Thomas Francis
Bayard, Secretary of State, as entitled to
greater cons deraton than the erudite editor
of the NORTH american Repieso
1t is that question that has been ranking
the mind of the Vermont lawyer. He has
made the ruling that the dignity of the De-
partment required that this slight be placed
upon Mr. Rice.
The Secretary's dignity must be an ex-
tremely precious aud rare object in the eyes
of his subordinates as to demand such a sac
rifice
Mr. Phelps makes the extraordinary re-
mark that had the Prince of Wales perused
the article in the ReUielo he would have re-
fused to see Mr.. RICE.
That ASSERTION itself is disputed The
Prince is creSted, among others of his quasi
respectable attributes, to be gentleman OF
unusually sound horse sense. He has the.
slnceiest respect for literary men aud always
NS""' v" w ohiNhi bhoii s'Slai IlBHlh, WHICH,
n England is never disputed. Edmund
Yates and Henry Labouchele are not PEI
Sonaly unknown to him, it is said, socially.
and surely every Reader OF foreign gossip Is
informed upon the position that the ed tors
of the London World and Truth take upon
questions that I uch che royal family.
TIE Prince of Wales character has been
mlsstated by Mr. Phelps. The Prince is too
much Of gentleman to punish socially for
auy d'yergeuge of political opinion even
when it extends, as the paragraphs IN tie
London jourgls referred to. very often d.,
to diree sonal attack upon himself rs
hsii - All these things are thor
onsh .,snn There iA Il, SOCIAL N ~,
ziing press, and politically at the
present mpme'it it would be an onero4s job
10 attemptia England.
The questitin of the justness of the da-
tribe in the North american ReoieW does not
seem to have been taken into consideration
one way or other by the American Minister
at London. The very fact of the articles
appt arance in magazine Of the ReDteoo' s
standing is sufficient argument in the mind
of intelligent people for its perusal
1t has escaped the attention of MIR. Phelps,
in his impulsye and petty attempt to avense
his chief that many English people will log
ically judge that way before reading the
passage aud among the number might be
found the Prince Of Wales.
1t is right and proper that the American
Minister use discrui attn in makiig out
his presentation lists for drawing rooms OF
levees. Butlthere is limit to that discre.
tion.
The line may not be drawn at political op-
position. What a muddle We should get
into We're the present Incident allowed to es.
tablish the precedent that political divergen.
cy were au understood cause for refusal OF
social cuurtesies to au American citizen
when travelling abroad
Yet that is the result of what will proba-
bly, occur il Mr.. Phelps action lie sustained,
II means that WHEN the Democratic party is
power no Republican is, on account of bis
political affiliations, of sufficient social re.
spectability to obtain our envoy's visee ful
presentation at Court.
Munster Phelps shows the undignif,d
petulance of schoolboy in this matter anc
richly deserves the laughter he has raised al
his own expense.