Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-09

SENATOR SHBBMAN'S ANNOYANCE
The cable account OF the annoyance
10 which Seaator aud Mrs. Sherman
we're subjected by the inspection OF
their baggage In London Is both anus
ing and suggestive. 1t Is easy to under
stand that the distinguished senator
would regard the proceeding as some
thing Of an indignity, after having ap-
prised the officials OF his identity and
assured them that the baggage con-
tanned nothing dutiable. Moreover,
this baggage had passed without mo-
lestatlon through several countries
in which customs officials are
proverbially vigilant and Gus
toms rules notably rigid. But his
tempered with the thought that in his
own country he and everybody else who
enters it, be he prince or peasant, sena-
tor or scullion, must be subjected to q
like annoyance II the customs officials do
their duty. One can easily fancy the
senator posing in q diguiiied attitude
and with frowning mien viewing the
progress of the search by alien hands
through the linen and hosiery, the lace
and ribbons, and all the variety OF arti-
cles that go to the making OF lady's
wardrobe, and 1t will be strange II the
cartoonists do not find in this incident
OF the senator's foreign tour material for
striking picture. Its amusing side is
certainly obvious enough.
The suggestive feature Of the Incl
dent is not so much in the fact that it
occurred in the home of free trade as in
the circumstance that the system OF
close and careful inspection is at least
measurably due to an unfortunate habit
OF American citizens travelling in Eu-
rope. According to Mr.. Chauncey
Depew, who in this matter must be
supposed to have spoken seriously,
Americans who visit the continent
often make point OF purchasing
| large quantities OF old silver
and try to smuggle 1t. The discovery
of this American penchant resulted in
an order, now for several years in force,
| requiring that all baggage from the
continent shall be searched, special at
tention being given, 1t is naturally pre-
| sumed, to the baggage OF Americans.
England levies duty of one shilling
and six pence pee ounce on silver plate
manufactured outside OF the United
| Kingdom, thus affording rather liberal
measure Of protection to her manufac-
turers of silver plate, and it is because
| Of the attempts of his feilow-countrymen
I to evade this protective feature of
England's fiscal policy that Senator
Sherman's luggage was thoroughly
overhauled. The revelation that
American travellers in Europe have
been guilty of smuggling is not in
| itself a pleasant one, but in any event
| the Ohio senator could not consistently
object to system abroad of which he
| fully approves at home. There Is this
to be said, however, In disapproval of a
part of the proceeding, namely, that
there was no excuse for destroying
property. The customs officials should
at least have had the courtesy, after
verifying the statement of Senator Sher-
man that his baggage contained nothing
dutiable, to restore everything as
| nearly as possible to the condition in
which they found it, Manifestly these
English customs officials need to be In
structed in what is just and respectful
to the traveller whose possessions fall
under their inspection, and in this re-
spect, doubtless, the average American
official in like service would afford them
good example. Senator Sherman g
reported disgust at this incident OF
his travels has doubtless by this
time worn away under the soft
ening influence of the distiu-
guished consideration he is re-
ceiying on all hands, and his numerous
friends and admirers will learn with
pleasure that he is showing an un-
wonted geniality of manner. The truth
is that the senator is far more genial
man than he is generally credited with
being. A month hence he will return
and reappear In the political arena to
do aggressive and valuable work for the
republican cause in Ohio.