New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-23


80, enthusiasm by the $50 warrantholders
r,o.ent. who desire to thank His Royal Highncss
Cor his gracious Kindness and respectfully 10
rive cxpression to their loyal duty
Now this last phrase may seem to the freeoorh
Ar,.,;cap a triae abject. There are among this
ancient people many forms OF speech which, re-
"a rded critically or analyticaly may seem AFFECT
: h.v. known an eminent American. saturated
Nth the Declaration of Independence, who. having
...-ta, o. addrcss formal letter TO Peer Of the
Palm stood out against beginning his letter
with the words my Lord" ! have known
ono,her who thought It inconsistent with Repub-
l,can principles to end an epstle with the purely
conventional formula: i am sir, your obedcnt
servant, have known third to whom the
nso ~ the word Sir in speaking to male
ROYALTY was repugnaut, and when he was re-
minded that in his own country he used it to all
men. his answer was: Yes. but needn't II dont
like. and TO the Prince l must
will not pursue these excursions. They are
attractive but they would lead us too far. 1t
is enough to say with reference TO the phrase
"loyal duty that no London tradesman would
understand the American objection to 1t. HIS
language. or the language in which he addresses
his customers, is frequently the language OF
servility not of civility merely. 1t is true both
of spoken and written language though more
true. or more often true. OF his writing than OF
his speaking The word duty recurs with the
nrefx of all adjective more supne than the loyal
which the $50 warrant-holders use to the Prince.
IT, Is MS likely as not that the first bill sent in
N Won on your first visit to London will arrive
with Messrs Brown, Jones and Robinson s
humble duty" Or perhaps Messrs. Smith :" pre-
sent their humble duty" Or they acknowledge
hot xritl fbo
your esteemed favor shall have their best attention.
and awaiting your further commands they remain
your most obedent humble servants. II you
examine the items Of your account you may lie Of
opinion that these manifestations Of humility
have each tariff Of their own; the more lowly
the phrase the higher the charge Thus are the
relations between tradesman and customer adj
iusted. The Prince pays more than anybody; IL
is natural therefore, that the eminent extortaoners
who charge him double should bend double before
him.
Ny object in returning, as promised to the
message first quoted. is to linger moment over
the name OF Colonel Howard Vincent. who pre-
sided at the warrant-holders' banquet. Que
diable allait-il faire dams cette galen 7" 30
broad is the distinction in this class-ridden
country between tradesmen-which means those
who keep retail stores-and society that any
accidental or momentary contact between them
eycites remark They might meet In the cricket
field or for charitable purposes hardly other
wise except with a counter between thein
Colonel Charles Edward Howard Vincent Z. Is,
is both warrior and legislator. He has been
a lieutenant in the Royal Welsh Fusi!iers was
then captain in the Royal Berks Militia, ana Is
now colonel of the Queens Westminster Volunteers
lie is member for the Central Division of Sheffield
an important constituency. lie has the nooiest
principles. and is in favor of progress with peace
empire. and liberty. This is his own account oil
his principles. and he ought to know. lie is
beside all this a magistrate for MiddeseX, ana
for the city and liberty of Westminster. lie If
the most important member of the Fair TRADE
party in this country; perhaps the only member
And vet as You see he sits at meat at the CRITERION
with $50 warrant-hoders. and gives toasts and
makes speeches, and, l dare say, had gooo
dinner and pleasant evening.
Is this one more sign Of the progress OF democ
racv in this country? Or is Colonel Vincent Sc
sure of his position those social heights where
he is won't to dwell, and in the upper air he
bobitualy breathes, that he can gently and safely
| descend for once TO that lower earth, trocdeh DS
the feet of royal upholsterers and jewellers anc
| taiIors and harness makers? | know not. Things
| occur in this country with respect to whici
| it were rash indeed for any one not subject o
Ucr Majesty TO presume to have-or still more
to express-an opinion. U. W. D.