The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-14
QUESTIONS OF PRICED ENCE,
DELICATE MA1TERS 1T THE CAPI-
Tai or THE MILTON.

George Washington Was the First to
Consider Them-Reasons Why They
Must Be Governed by RuIes-Recent
Changes.
The unknowing, who have laughed at
the dispute between Mrs. Miles and
Mrs Dewey over the question of prece-
dence. should look up the early history
of their country, George Washington
began the discussion of these points
of official etiquette at the beginning OF
his term. President Washington found
himself confronted with the problem of
creating a republican court" where
only the example of monarchial coun-
tries could be quoted as precedent
The natural tendency was aristocratic,
and the Father Of his Country asked
his advisers in the Cabinet to help him
determine with just what degree of eX-
cIusiyeness he should surround him
self. IIe propounded to them series
of questions, which included the fol-
lowing problems:
Whether he should exclude himself
from all kinds of company; Whether
one day of the week would suffice FOR
visits of compliment; whether it would
involve disagreeable consequences for
the President to receive persons on
business; whether dinners to embrace
a small number Of official characters, to
include in rotation members Of Con-
cress could be given informally on
fixed days without clamor from the
rest whether it would satisfy the pub
lie for the present to have four great
entertainments in the year. on the an
niversaries of the Declaration of indie
pendence, the alliance with France
peace with Great Britain and organiza-
ton OF the general government; Wheth-
err it would be improper for the Presl-
dent to make informal visits to ac-
ouaintances or public characters for
sociability how to distinguish him on
such occasions in his private character;
in what light rare appearances at tea
parties might be considered and Wheth-
er during the recess of Congress he
should make tour of some part OF the
country so as to study its resources
and needs and meet public characters
and the people.
The President, in submitting these
questions, said that 1t was as well to
start right as wrong, and that small
matters might develop into matters of
consequences AS to himself, 1.-THE Presi-
dent" he said, Sin all matters Of bust
ND AT have object
but to demean himself in his public
character in such a manner as to main
tain the dignity of his office without
subjecting himself to the imputatlon
of superciliousness or unnecessary re-
serve"
The four persons whom President
Washington honored by asking their
opinion on these great questions were
Vice-President Adams, Secretary JAY
Secretary Hamilton and Mr. Maison.
Mr.. Adams replied that he did not be-
lieve in promiscuous association for
the President or in total exclusion. He
thought that the President should not
give social entertainments; that they
should be given by his secretary ef
state and that the President should at
tend them in his private character;
that the President should make no for
mai call unless the sovereign of another
nation visited the capital, but that 1t
would be perfectly proper for him to
make informal calls among his friends;
and he thought that the President
should keep up certain state by the
appointment of chamberlans, masters
of ceremonies, ETC. Hamilton came
~ csfo To af of a.
than any of the others when he sug
gested that the President give a levee !
of about half an hour once a week; |
that he return no visits; that he accept |
no invitations, but give formal enter
tainments that the Senators have ac-
cess to the President on public business.
But Mr., Hamilton would have restrict
ed the intercourse of the President with
members of the Diplomatic Corps to
Ambassadors and with Congress to
members of the Senate.
The suggestions of Hamilton were
adopted and they continued in force
during the terms of Washington and 4
Adams. But when Jefferson became
President he undertook to institute a
new order of things and his ideas he
embodied in a paper as follows:
First-In order to bring the members
of society together in the first instance
the custom of the country has estab-
lished residents shall pay the first visit
to strangers and among strangers first
corners to later corners, foreign and do
mestic. The character of strangers
ceases after the first visit. To this rule
there is single exception. Foreign
ministers, from the necessity Of making
themselves known, pay the first visit
to ministers of the nation, which is re-
turned.
Second-When brought together in So
ciety all are perfectly equal, whether
foreign or domestic, titled or untitled,
in or out of office
All other observances are but exem-
of these two principles:
First-The families of foreign min
listers arriving at the seat of govern
ment receive the first visit from those
of the national ministers as from all
other residents. The members of the
legislature and the judiciary, indepen-
dent of their Offices have a right as
strangers to receive the first visit.
Second--No title being recognized
here, those of foreigners give no prece-
dence.
At public ceremonies to which the
government invites the presence of
irr, ,i,,ie l,a;x, 20, |