The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-25
A BLUNpEE OF ETIQUETTE.

Governor Tennoyer Of Oregon stands upon
his dignity and announces that he will not
call upon the President when he visits that
State, Uul Will expect Mr.. Harrison to call
upon him first 1t would be sad for the
President to leave the Coast without seeing
one Of It's most remarkable products, in the
shape OF a Dem Ocrat who carried his State
when il went Republican, as TO Legislature
and Congressman, by several thousand, but
a visitor cannot hope to see everything.
Men live and are in the enjoyment of hap
piness who never have and never win see
Governor Pennoyer. They are to be pitied,
of course, but perhaps they might be
afflicted with even soTer privations.
THE CALL wonders il our Oregon friend
fauCies that he is original in his contention
OF whether he knows that in his present at
utude history is repeating itself on a dimin-
ished scale. About hundred years ago
President Of the United States named
George Washington Governor PennOyer
has probably heard Of him-chanced to visit
the State Of Massachusetts, of which at that
time the Governor was one John Hancock
Of whom Mr.. Pennoyer perhaps never
heard They we're tremendous sticklerS
for etiquette in those days. In Boston.
above all places. dignity was the highest
Of moral virtues. In the veins of the Han
cocks the bluest blood flowed. Whatever a
Hancock did was right No member of the
family had ever been guilty of a social sole
csm. On the other hand, President Wash
ington preserved the manners Of the haate
u0JleSSe. He sat down to dinner with his
wife, in full dress, with sword and rufies.
As the Presidential cayacade approached
Boston an Rdya nee courier entered the city
to make arrangements for his reception, and
inquired Of the Governor when it would be
convenient for him to call on the President
at The lodgings which had been taken for
nm. Hancock replied that he would call
Immediately after Mr.. Washington had paid
hiin an official visit; that he was sovereign
in Massachusetts, as the President was at
the Federal capital; that he would await
Mr.. Nashington's pleasure in the State
House, and on his arrival would walk a
given number of steps toward the door and
receive him there. After that he would re-
turn the visit.
The affair convulsed Boston. and was only
adjusted by the interference Of certain out
siders, who, having more common sense
than concern for etiquette, conceived a
scheme by which the two dignitaries were
brought together, as it were, fortuitOusy.
Their meeting was something like the en-
counter of Stanley and Livingstone, when
the former uttered the historic phrase, "Mr.
Livingstone, presumed" But the country
was saved, and Mr.. Hancock's dignity was
saved with it.
The Massachusetts Governor was obvi-
ously in the wrong. As against all foreign
ers and all citizens not of higher rank, the
Governor is the first citizen in his State and
is entitled TO the first visit But the Presi-
dent is the first citizen of the nation and in
every part of the country Wherever he IS
he enjoys precedence. a State Governor
can no more exact from him the compliment
Of first call than city Mayor could insist
on the like attention from a Governor,
though, as against others than Governor aud
President, the Mayor is the first citizen in
his own CITY,