The herald., 1893-11-19
AN ABoRTIVR PROCLAMATION AND A
PRECEDENT.

wore diamond gartere on their knees
and diamond buckles on their shoes.
That used to be the proper caper, but it
don't go now, to employ the words of the
topical song. Now any one but lackey
would be ashamed to present himself
beior a laughing and satirical public in
such garb. This farce is still kept up
in some of the European courts, but the
individual who dons 10 is careful to keep
himself secluded in his carriage till he
reaches the courtly arcanum where only
such trivialities now fail to provoke a
smile. Macaulay, in one of his resplen-
dent sentences, says that such usages
have been contemptuously dismissed to
lackeys, much after the manner in
which fine lady casts off her worn out
fripperies and furbelows to her maid.
Not only has the world outgrown the
peacock extrsvagances of dressing up
man like zany, but dynastic preten-
sions have been outgrown as well in the
centers of civilization. Those who best
understand the situation say that even
England is now at heart democ ratio. The
United States and France have fur
nished splendid object lessons which
the world has not been GLOW to learn.
The rejecting portion OF mankind are
at length developed to the point OF
sloughing off all the nonsense embodied
in the formula OF the fright divine of
kings" Even the Hohenzollerns and
the Hapsburgs are now obliged to rule
under the forms OF constitutional gov
ernment, and the first agitation in
Europe is liable to wreck dynssties that
can point to thousands of years of pre-
scription as their only right to reign
over people millions of whom are as
good as, or better than, themselves. 1t
is at such time that Admiral Mello has
bad the impudence, in the harbor Of
Rio de Janeiro, to proclaim the grand
con of old Dom Pedro emperor of Brazil.
This sanguinary rebel has at last thrown
off the mask and disclosed his rea. in
tentions. All the signs indicate that it
is an act of desperation. If the govern
ment of the United States has hitherto
had any doubts as to how it should act
towards the contendiDg parties in Brazil
it should doubt no longer. This country
should never permit the re-eetablish-
ment of monarchy on the American
continent.
We have already established a shin
ing precedent in this line. In the midst
of our civil war Louis Napoleon thought
he saw an opportunity for setting up an
empire in Mexico. He persuaded Eng
land and Spain to join with him in his
mslign misadventure, and he induced
the Archduke Macmillan OF Austria to
leave his splendid palace at Mirsmar,
and go over to our neighboring republic
and masquerade as an Emperor. Eng
land and Spain coon grew weery OF tho
project and withdrew their cooperation.
The French Emperor persevered, afford
ing the Mexican people an occasion for
the display of magnificent fortitude
and patriotism. Our own civil war hav-
ing happily ended, Mr.. Seward took an
early opportunity to inform the Emper-
or of the French that the government of
the United States would witness with
great disiavor the attempt to establish
by force of arms q monarchical govern
ment in Mexico. The intimation was
diplomatic but decisive, and Napoleon
Ill. took the hint and called Bazaine
and hie French legions home. The pup
pet Emperor Macmillan was offered
the privilege of returning to Miramar,
but in moment of besotted folly be de-
clined to avail himself of his only chance
of rescue. Rushing blindly on bia fate,
the Mexicans very properly shot him ss
an usurper and murderer.
Mello and the Count D'Eu will un-
doubtedly meet the fate accorded to
Macmillan and the Mexican traitors
that formed his court and figured at the
head OF his armies if they shall fall into
the hands Of the Republic of Brazil.
The Count D'Eu, the son-in-law OF the
old Emperor Dom Pedro, and the father
of the youngeter whom Admiral Mello
has proclaimed Emperor of Brazil, is
sensible enough to fight at long range.
Portugal seems to be near enough for
him.
The duty OF the government of the
United States is very plain under the
circumstances. 1t is to give every moral
aid and support to sister republic that
is threatened by a buccaneer who has
proclaimed an imperial pretender.
Should any attempt be made to unduly
influence the Issue of the contest by any
European monarchical power this moral
support should be instantly converted
into substantial aid. AS comment on
the trend of the news, it is safe to say
that Mello has greatly injured his cause
by proclaiming the empire.