Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-13
Enthusiastic Reception of the New
Minister to France.
MINISTER. YET A JOURNALIST.
To Honor the Memory OF Theirs
Some Reflections Suggested by the
Nature or the Subscripers
TO the Fund.
A Union of Discordant Elements.
lC0prfght 1889 bv James Gordon Bennstt.l

board Whitelaw Reid and family consisting
of his wife and two children, with their
governess and three servants. BY per-
mission of the company, Frank c. Hig-
gins, the special envoy from the
members of the American colony ut Paris
was taken out to meet La Bourgogne in the
pilots boat and present letter of welcome
to the new minister.
Mr.. Reid expressed his appreciation of the
cordial reception extended him by his coun-
trymen, and was especially interested in
making inquiries as to whether any new ap-
pointments had been made, or if any devcl-
opments in the Samoa question had taken
place during his voyage.
Arriving in Paris. at the Care ST. Laza-
que, the scene, as the special Havre train
steamed into the station, was remarkable for
the large number of Americans and French
men of distinction who stood waiting to take
the new minister's hand. AS he descended
from the compartment to the platform. he
was at once distinguished and recognized.
After greeting his relatives, Mr.. Reid
held brief reception on the platform.
Among the first to greet him was George
Smalley; M. Vigneau, first secretary to the
legation, representing Minister McLane;
DIR. Evans; Consulgeneral Rathbone; NJ.
ipiuhSc, VI thc lIuuo-<hJliuLlC DT.
J. A. Tanner, medical officer of the United
States commission; Mr.. Burnett, attache of
the legation, and Augustus Jay, second sec
retary of the legation.
MIR. viRneau delivered letter from Mr..
McLane, the contents of which were an cx-
preston of regret that illness prevented MIN
from coming in person to meet hun at the
station and Offering his private carriage to
fhn m fam ~ tn nnfo nj
Maurice.
Leaving the station by the private en-
trance, Mrs. Reid, accompanied by Mrs.
Mills, was driven to the hotel in an open
victoria, followed by closed landau, con
tanning the minister, his two children, ana
Mr. Ogden Mills. The large apartment on
the first floor, vacated by Prince and Prin-
cess Radziwill yesterday, were in readiness
for the minister and his family and were
profusely decorated with hyacinths and
a2alias in artistic baskets, suspended by
pink ribbons.
Luncheon was about to be served when the
Herald correspondent called upon the minis
ter. The interview was brief and cordial
When asked about the voyage, he said they
could not have had more delightful trip:
the weather was lovely and the sea calm. II
was not ut oil i'll; was pleased with my re-
ception and am very glad to be in Paris"
as it your intention to remain here dur
ing the summer monthsl"
'Practlcally, yes. l am looking also for
residence. My brother -in-law came from
London to look into the matter for me and
shall go tomorrow morning to see what he
has selected. 1t shall be decided as soon as
possible. When hot weather begins will
take a country house accessible to Paris,
where my family can enjoy the country and
can also attend official duties. But" he
said in conclusion: Notwithstanding my
new appointment, consider myself jour-
nalist l do not feel as If / am separated
from the press by any means.n
Mrs. Reid was attred in mourning cos
tune of black clothes, with tight fitting
jacket trimmed with Grape. Her blonde hair
was almost concealed beneath black bon
net, trimmed with the same material. At 6
o'clock Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Mills drove to
the Bois de Boulogne. and later the minis
ter's family dined.
The committee constituted at the sugges-
tion of the party rationale for the purpose
of the erection at Paris of statue to com
memorate M. Theirs, has already received
support from number of politicians The
motives Of these gentlemen do not, how
ever, oall proceed from the same SURGE.
The promoters of the subscrip-
tion intended to honor not only
the memory of M. Theirs. They
wished not only TO show their respect for
the 'liberateur du territoire," the defender
of parliamentary institutions, and one of the
founders of the republic of France but they
also considered the present moment oppor-
tune for reminding France of the moderate
conservative pjlicy pursued by Theirs to
which the new republic owed its years of
order, quiet and responsibility
Certainly the adherence of Nj. Jules
Simon, an old political friend of Theirs, was
due to this sentiment. That Jules Ferry was
also among the first subscribers deserves
special notice, as the policy pursued by his
party while in power was very frequently
opposed to that of Theirs.
In religious matters mong others, the con-
tradction is strikngly manifest. Thiers
was an enemy of religious persecution. "To
touch religion" he used to say, ''ls the
greatest error a government can commit.
In my opinion a government has no
right to offend tho religious conviction
of no matter how small number of people.
The heighth Of philosophy does no consist in
thinking one thing or another. To oppress
and any government that tries TO make cap.
ital out of the convictions of any religious
party is by such action, unworthy in the
eyes Of philosophy"
Thiers would not have, therefore, sup
ported the policy of article of the DEGREES
against religious orders, secularizing the
hospitals. He would not have approved of
the concessions made 10 the rsdicals by the
opportunists, for did he not say that the
republic will be conservative or will not
exist
Ferry, in his letter of acceptance, says
that in the policy of Theirs, there are lessons
from which the republicans ought TO derive
the benefit. This admission is equivalent to
saying that he and his friends have followed
the wrong path, and there is still time To re-
trace their steps.
more unexpected subscriber is MIR Yves
Guyot, the present minister of public works.
and formerly editor Of lie Laterne, the well
known member Of the radical party. All the
ideas professed by Guyot were strenuously
opposed by Thiers, including the separation
of church and state and the establishment OF
an income tax, and In fact all the proposed
measures that constitute the nroRrap'ue OF