The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-27
OUR PRESIDENTIAL GUEST.

The President took his first look at San
Francisco on Saturday evening; yesterday
be devoted to a much-needed rest; to-day he
Will begin-tO use his own language-"to
make, for future digestion and reference,
many notes upon interests affected by
national legislation" He will fad here
ample material for such notes. This State
is not like other States; its products are diff
ferent from theirs; its interests are not al
ways identical with the interests Of the East;
its future destiny, when it ripens, will
necessarily be tinted by the cOlors of its
neighbors across the sea; its opinions will
naturally change with the spread of progress
and intelligence, but they will probably
never completely aSsimilate with the opinions
OF communities which did not grow up
under the influences that have been felt
here.
1t will tax the mental independence of Mr..
Harrison TO form opinions of his own regard
ing California. Attempts will be made to
sway his mind persons who have creeds
of their own will endeavor to force them on
his acceptance, and to relieve him OF the
duty Of doing his own thinking and coming
to his own conclusions. We have an amiable
way here of pocketing strangers, and re-
curing them to accept our tenetS with our
climate. If they demur, We denounce them
as prejudiced. 1t might be a good idea to
make an exception in favor of the President,
and TO proclaim in his case federation which
We rarely exhibit to distinguished visitors.
This course would seem the wiser, as judging
from certain speeches which Mr.. Harrison
has delivered since he left Washington. he
appears to be rather given to make up his
own mind on the questions as they arise.
and does not often honor other peoples
spectacleS 10 look at things as they fall in
tile line of his vision: so that attempts to
eoerce him into accepting views which he
has not digested may result in discontinue.
1t is fitting that citizens should avail
themselves of suitable opportunities to pay
their respects to the chief magistrate. Every
one ought at least leave a card as
matter Of courtesy. But this tribute paid
to pTopriety, the best way Of testifying re-
spect for the President will be to leave him
free for the sightseeing in which he is
about to embark. 1t will be in bad taste for
people TO gather in crowds to stare at him.
The committee which has him in charge
has mapped out his time 50 extensively
that he will have no leisure to stray from
the path that has been marked. He ought
TO be permitted TO pursue that path quietly
ana WITHOUT nlNuTance. NO OBSTACLE should
be thrown in the way of his thorough ex-
animation of the peculiarities of this State
and this city, which he says he has come
here to investigate.
The announcement that $500 citizens are
anxious to eat meal in his company imp plies
widespread loyalty 10 the person of the
chief magistrate but it also indicates some
thing more which is not quite so creditable.
1t reminds one OF the American who on his
arrival in London requested the American
Minister to put him in the way of eating
his hash with the Queen. As the banquet
hall will only seat some $50 people nine out
Of every ten applicants for the honor of
watching a President satisfy his hunger
will have to be content with assuaging their
own at home. Perhaps they will be no
worse off than their more fortunate COM
DetitOrs. Presidents and monarchs, when
act down at a dinner-tabe, act just as other
people do, and the only advantage that
their guests enjoy is a matter of prestige,
which is not worth fighting about. g
dned with the King yesterday" said the
Marquis of Steyne to the fair Becky, land.
a'am, we had neck of mutton and turnips
nothing more"