The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-07

London was at Apsley House, the residence of
the Duke of Wellington The son of the great
English soldier said that it was proper for him
to welcome the first of American soldiers. He
descended TO the door to receive General Grant,
according to the etiquette maintained with royal
personages and escorted him n the same way
on his departures; but | can remember no other
occasion when this ceremony was performed by
Englshmen
At Lord Derby's dinner General Grant had
precedence of the Prime Minister; at Lord
Houghton's he went in before several dukes.
and so on The point was settled and no one
questioned it afterward; although in advance l
more than once heard Englishmen and women
scout the idea that an ex-President could pre-
cede Duke. Every one. of course. was polite.
The General was necessarily invited by the
highest nobility, and during the three weeks
that re stayed at my house 900 cards were left
for him. 1t came to such pass that no one
could afford not TO CALL lest it should be supposed
he was not OF sufficient consequence. had
party myself for the General, and English peo-
pie of rank who didn't know went down on
their knees to my friends, nploring invitations.
This sounds preposterous; nevertheless IL Is
true
All this was very pleasant to those who were
fond of the General, and agreeable to any Amer
leans who regarded him as an especial represent
alive; but the aristocratic courteses were insig-
nifcant compared with his reception By the COM
mon people of England. The high society has
its sensation every season; there is always
the lion of the hour; and this year it was Gen.
Grant For their own sakes TIE important peo-
pie paid him compliments; the government for
political reasons, the fashionable sort because
the like to know and to say they know all the
great ones of the earth; they are not like Ameri-
can exclusives, civil only to their own kind.
great democrat was to them even more OF a Gu
riosity than king; and their breeding compelled
them to show such a stranger the courtesy 1T
had been decided to accord
But the common people were not included in
the diplomatic arrangements, and they took the
matter into their own hands. without consulting
the Lord Chamberlain. To them the coming of
ex President was event 1t was the reali-
cation of what they had heard of but never seen
that plain man, without rank or birth, or
fortune, with only native ability and character
to back him, could become one of the potentates
of the earth He was the incarnation of repub
llcanism. He was democracy itself in the house
of aristocracy.
Besides this many of the working people had
sympathized with the Union in its struggle for
existence They knew that the high society was
almost universally on the side of the South. not
because it loved the South any better than it did
the North, nor, in fact as WELL but it wanted the
Republic destroyed because the Republic was
reproach to aristocracy; for the same reason the
workingmen wanted the Republic saved. They
knew that Grant had led the Union armies, and
they greeted him the champion of the cause
in which they, too, were interested. AL this is
not the partial fancy OF friend nor the rhap-
sody of republican; it was said again and
again in my hearing, In public speech and prl-
vate conversation. and repeated In scores or the
prominent newspapers.
General Grant was met when he touched En-
glsh soil by the Mayor of Liverpool Now
Mayor in England is not an aristocrat; he is
tradeSman, usually a successful one, but still
not of the upper class. The prosperous part of
the population of Liverpool is not arisocratic; it
is connected with trade. But the ovation
General Grant at once received there
was prodigious He was taken to
the custom house, and 1000 respectable citi
zens crowded into the hall to give him the first
promise of what was to follow all over the land.
The next day the scene was repeated; and so it
went on. At Manchester ho was the guest of
the city and lodged in the town hall, which had
never been occupied by state guests before.
Banquets and professions were made for him,
orations delivered; he was taken to the places
of public interest-always by people of the
great middle class. Not lord appeared until
he reached London. When he entered theatre
the orchestra played "Hail Columbia" and the
actors stopped the performance while the audi
ence rose as they would for sovereign.
He had the same sort of reception in every one
of the great towns of England. In each place he
was the guest of the civic authorities; who in
every one of the great cities are men of the mid
die class. In this way he saw more of that great
class which constitutes much of the strength,
and owns much of the wealth. and makes so
much of the greatness of England; for lawyers,
merchants, manufacturers, editors, artists, liter
airy men-all that We are in the habit of regard
ing as constituting the best elements of society
in England belong to the middle class. The
cities are filled with mercantile or manufactur-
ing population, and the aristocracy never live in
any city except London. II person resides in
a city in England, you may know that he is not
an aristocrat
But it was not only the leaders of the middle
class, the wealthy merchants and great manu-
facturers. the liberal writer's and thinkers who
delighted to do General Grant honor; it was
those who in that country are lower down still
in the social scale-the working class. At
places like Sheffield, and Sunderland. and Birm
ingham, and Manchester, and Newcastle the
popular demonstration equaled any in America
Immediately after the war. Towns were illu-
minated because of his presence; triumphal
arches were erected in his honor holidays were
proclaimed when he arrived; hundreds OF thou
sands turned out to meet him; the banks
of the Tyne were covered with working
people for twenty miles. The horses were
taken from his carriage more than once. and the
crowds gathered around to shake his hand just
as if he had led their armies or fought for their
cause. They felt indeed that the cause was the
same; that he was leader in the same battle in
which they have still their fight to make. Then.
too, here was ruler of great people, and they
could shake his hand! Here was President
who was not inaccessible. It was democracy in
the flesh. No wonder the poor who had lived
under lords and sovereigns for centuries felt
that whereas they had been blind-now they
saw.
While General Grant stayed at nv house I
remember two visits there were paid him pecu-
liar in character. One was from the Comte de
Paris, who wrote to me in advance to know when
it would be agreeable to General Grant to re-
ceve him. The services of the Orleans Prince
were Of course known to General Grant, but the
two had never met in America. Grants star had
not risen very high when the Comte de Paris
was on McClellaE's staff, and when General
Grant was brought East to command the armies
the descendant of ST Louis had returned to
Europe. OF course the visit was compliment
and General Grant was gratifed He conversed
pleasantly with the Prince. and performed the
proper etiquettes.
But afterward. on the same day. he received
deputation OF English workingmen, and though
he had all respect for the gallant gentleman who
had offered his sword in our behalf. and. per-
haps, a shade OF personal feeling for dis
crowned prince. his livelier interest was excited
by the British mechanics and artisans who came
to offer their less elegant welcome There were
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