The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-26

We all know that questions Of rank and
precedent often make serious trouble for
society and even states in the monaIchical
countries of the old world. 1t is said, though
it may be only report Of tina envious de-
mocracy, that Queen Victoria, staidest of
sovereigns, contrived to have added to her
other titles that of Empress of India merely
that she might not be superseded on social
occasions by some frisky young dame who
might have acquired by recent marriage
imperial dignities. Whether this be SO or
not 1t is well known that the great ones of the
monarchies set great store by the precedence
of rank. Wars even have resulted when the
canons Of usage in this respect have been
set aside. But common fame has always
had it that in this country the iron rules of
rank have never prevailed, or at least never
since the old Federalist party was routed,
bag and baggage, so long ago that no one
now remembers the event distinctly. There
was time when that naughty and magnif-
cent old Federalist governor of Massachu-
sets and the province of Maine, Christopher
Gore, used to ride to and fro between his
residence and the executive chambers In
coach drawn by four horses and attended
by 0utriders. But when the next election
day came about the Democrats slaughtered
lin as nowadays they slaughter a candi-
date suspected of progressive ideas. Had
not Thomas Jefferson, on his way to the in
augural ceremonies, ridden horseback and
hitched the horse to the front yard fence of
the capitol while he went in to be inaugural
cd President Of the United States? Then
whv ehnuld Chrietonhar Hnra ha ,llomod IN
affect the ways of aristocfats? So he was
put down and America from that time has
been tolerably free from aristocratic ideas in
high places. Along in the Jacksonian days
the President sometimes used to treat the
crowd in the White House, all sorts of re-
freshments being given from rum to NAM
moth cheese. But today the pendulum seems
to be swinging the other way; and in the
last administration and the present we begin
to detect some truly monarchical controyer.
sizes over such an aristocratic question as
rank. In the days of Christopher Gore the
men fought it out at the ballot box to con-
elusive finish; but the ladies are the cham
pions now, and as they do not have the use
of the ballot box the conflict may be inter-
minable. The war began in the first year of
Mr.. Cleveland's administration when there
was temporary vacancy in the position of
lady of the White House." At the New
Years reception, Mrs. Bayard being in poor
health, delegated to her oldest daughter the
duty of standing at the head of the recep-
ton line. Then the storm began. The strict
constructionists declared that the rank of
the husband went with the wife and could
not be delegated by her to another member
OF the family. The other party said 1t could.
And SO the controversy came over unsettled
to bother this administration. Mrs. Harri-
son, being unable to be present at the New
Years reception at the Waite House this
year, has delegated to her daughter. Mrs.
Mckee, the honor Of standing at the head of
the line of the receiving ladies. This has
stirred up great hornets nest among the
strict constructionists, who say as they did
four years ago, that the rank of the husband
goes with the wife, but cannot be delegated
py her. Ii Mrs. Harrison cannot stand at the
head OF the line. Mrs. Morton, being the
wife OF the vice president, should take the
place. Over this point the battle RACES with
vigor showing that some of the old aristo-
cratic ideas, smashed with the Federalists
are returning In these days. or course we
have no opinion on this momentous question
of precedence But If Mrs. Morton is not to be
allowed to take Mrs. Harrison's place at the
head Of the line. we would like to inquire