The sun., 1886-01-10
la1sroCRACY IN KxGLAMD
tcspyrishi. isss, By Adam BAdsaAl
NO XIII.


thing OF tho nristocratic feeling. Tho disense
is in the mir, Everything fosters the delusion
that ho belongs to the oligarchy. His pre-
ccdence is defln,d: he has his rlnce In every
pageant or parade; he Is called His Eycel-
lency;" his carriage need not stand in the
rank at balls. but drive. masnifccntly by all
the lesser nobility, who fall back to let him
pass. Hs even enters tho ambassadors' door
at court. Tho sturdcst republican soon Gats
used to tho Difference. and comes to think 1t np-
rrcpria'e rs wsil us agreeable. heard ono OF
our Ministers ANY he would rather be
an English duke than anything ESQ on earth.
and another declare that England ia the only
country In which n gentleman should either
live die. They nnttcr themselves that their
tendencies aud tastes arc English. but 1t Is
nri-tocrntic Euclish only; none OF them want
to belong to tho middle class. Whenever they
cnn thoy claim connection with tho aristocracy.
harpy II they can trace pedigree to some
i!noba oTshoot OF! noble house. which repn-
diatc; rs often as 1t admits tho consanguinity:
or pronier OF descent from q country squire
who had coat OF arms than to b.ar American
names that genius has mado ilinstr!ous.
'Tis strange tho effect ths contact has. There
have bGaN American Ministers Mt London ~
puncti'ious. as syucting. ~ reg lrliess OF conr-
tosy when marc s;uuett, Was in question. ms
known thom wear knee. .brsachss at church
whan every ono else was in plain clothes. and
insist on .hair rrccodsnce with all tho rert-
nacity OF pecrossss or prrvenus. There was
once Il question OF the rank OF the daughters OF
diromatists Several OF tho ambassadors and
envcys were widowers. and in soristy their un.
married daughters h,d long bssn allowed the
precsdsnce accorded to wivos. But At last tho
wives damurred aud tha mighty matter was
rcfcrred to the sovere!gn. Bs!ors the decision
cnne hoard an American Minister say to his
wife: II those girls attempt to pass before
you. I order you to push them back" The
Queen. however,. spoke in time. and thero MAS
no n"cs,sity for so high-hsnded a vlndieation
OF dnm0crat;c claims. Tho daughters OF n
diplomntist. it was decre,d. possess no rank at
court. Ifthoy have n mother. thsy follow her:
II not. they must attend some other diplomatic
matron. OF whose suite or family thoy are
supposed. for the OCCASION. to form a part.
All daughters but her own. indeed. rscsivo
rigorous measure from ths Queen; and az iinst
diplomatic daughters she seems to bear almost
spoc!n' :ruige. refusing them tho privileges
accorded - daughters whose rank Is derived
from birth. ParhArs this springs from ths
English ssntimant that official ran! is in.ic-
nilcant. Diplomatic procaisnce is. OF course.
tire mere fringe OF ollice; not. like inherited
precedence. permanent ,urcr!orlty-ths es-
genital and integral nppurtenanco OF rank
that Is not acquired. English dip'omatis:s
themselves lose nll their official prec.donre tho
moment they Set foot In England. Sir Edward
Thornton when ha wont to court, sttor repre-
sen:ir., Her Majesty for years in Washington.
was only knight OF r.ccnt creation. Hn did
not evan b,'ong TO tho aristocrscy and took hts
PLACE far down tho line-a vorY worthy person
who had risen from tbs middle cIass.
Some years ago IN American Ginistar had
several daush!srs living with him. oas ot whom
was n widow. This Indy WAS invited to ono
court ball with hsr father nnt, his family. but
FOR tho second she received no card. Tho hin
ieter. surposiny tho emission sccid>n:n
SaGt to the Lord Chumteri,.in to hnve i. rec.
t!itsl. But the court iunc.ionarie, explained
that the exclusion WAS designed. One invita-
tion had been SAINT to the lady out OF compii-
ninn: to her fathor. but she must net expect 10
be Il limited evary tins. Having married, abe
ha'. loft har fathers family. In tho estimation
Of thn Quson. For ali these rules are the nS-
press determination OF ths sovere!sn-the fruit
OF calm. l'pa judgment and profound deihern-
t!on Oh her part.
The hm"ri"sn cnroys arc usually vrrT much
disgustel bnctias they nra not ambassadors.
for many privileges are accorded to thcs,
hiGh"st rrtnnta'as Of dir'omGcy tint ar. .
not conceded 10 nero Ministers. It is am
baasadors only who can claim the title
of EycAancy: to others It ia given by
cour'asy alone. Ambassadors only havs
right to demand an interview with the eov-
cro,:;r: and on the fey occ ctaOus whom tn.
GHcon still snter,.iAs In person and IN state. Mt
r,y:.. weddings or csrpmoni. funerals her
di' !omGtic invitations are restricts TO ambas-
sa ,nrs anl to the re representatives Of such SOW
ts ,i,r cf>Fb u 10, ,,,fI
ot course. always oxeit!>.ss tl!o American Min
i5tnr. who sometimes nryar goes to Win,!oor
oHcert to present his crslsntials and lis recall.
But. more humiIi.tln. still. Minister may
walt IN hour at tho Foreign Orino for
an interview with ths Secretary for Forsgn
Affairs. and ut tho end OF the hour SEQ
an ambassador hrrvs and 50 IN be-
fore him. Tho representatives OF the great
republic feel that thcss things should not
boz that the dignity Of tho Uni'nd States
requires that its dinlonntic servants should
have oqual Standing with thoss OF any other
power. And it Is hard to SAY that they are
wrong. tive maintain roprsscntatlve at a
court whore thsso rules prevail. we should for
our own sake insure him proper considera.
tlcn. The Minister OF the United States should
not be thrust back because Of lower rank By
the representative Of any petty State that hap
pens to keep an ambassador.
But the Minister'S somstimes show moro feel
Ing on this subject than com ports with tho
B.ntion that they NIL. One OF them beggod Lord
Clarendon. then Secretary for Foreign Affairs
to address our Government. and request the
elevation OF the American legation Into an
He wa. So partinac!ous In his ap-
pications that Lord Clarendon complained Of
them In oosaty: a fact that did not sId 20 tho
dignity which the representative WAS 20 snx-