Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-26
Earlier Royal Visitors.

Earlier Royal Visitors.
Since the United States has been an
Independent nation it has entertained
distinguished royal representatives of
nearly all the powers of Europe. and
in each case they have been received
with fitting honots and all the courte-
sizes which a hospitable people could
extend. The first of these royal visit
ors was young Louis Philippe. later the
king of the French, who came rather
as an exile and wanderer than in
royal state. He landed at Wiscasset.
then a sea port OF no little Importance.
and before going to the larger cities of
the land. paid visit to the cities on
the Kennebec. With him was Tally
yand. then in disfavor in both France
and in England where he had fled.
They were entertained by the
Vaughans and-other leading families
in TIallowell; and in Augusta-this was
in 1894. three years before the separa-
tion from Hallowell-they stopped at
Billy Pitts tavern" and were enter
tair1ed at dinner at the home of Col.
Joseph North. The North residence
was where the Granite National Bank
now stands. and was the first building
erected on what is now Water street.
To be sure. some of the icOnoclasts
of later generations have tried to shat
ter this pleasant tale of visit of roy
atty to our city. That Tallyrand came
here is not disputed, but some have
doubted that the young Frenchman
with him was Louis Philippe. But
nothing is sacred from the historical
iconocIasts in these times, and we pre-
fer to believe that they are as mistaken
in their attacks upon this story as they
are in some other matters to which we
referred. few days ago.
Another royal Frenchman visited
this country later, Napoleon III. before
his ascension to the throne. Jerome
Bonaparte also visited America, He
married IN American girl, Miss Pat
terson. whom he afterwards deserted
visited our country when he was but a
lieutenant in the Swedish navy; and
the Prince of Wales, who is now King
Edward of England, visited us in 1860.
Prince Albert of Belgium. the Arch
Duke Francis Ferdinand of Austria,
and the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia
have all visited the United States, to
say nothing Of the dusky and notorious
Queen Lilioukalani of Hawaii who,
here again. 1t was formerly the theory
in Europe that no monarch could cross
the boundaries Of his country without
he first appointed a regent to admins
ter the affairs of his government, but
of late years there has been great
change in this idea. Some four years
ago King Leopold proposed to visit the
Congo country. and council was
called at Brussels to consider the
question Of appointing a regent, but 1t
was decided that so long as the king
kept himself within easy reach of the
telegraph and cable it would not be
necessary to establish a regency. This
sensible view of the matter was adopt
ed by all the other countries and En-
peror William of Germany has even ad-
ministered the affairs of his govern
ment from so great distance as
Jerusalem and it is now customary for
the European monarchs to frequently
visit each other.
In our country there has always been
a tradition that the President must
never step across the boundaries. yet
there is no constitutional or statutory
provision against it. and If President
Roosevelt wished he might go to
Europe whenever, he could get few
weeks off. In 1888 President Arthur
stepped within the jurisdiction of Can
ada while on a summer vacation tour,
President Harrison placed one foot
across the line on the international
bridge at Ell Paso, Texas. and President
Cleveland in a trip around Cape Hat
teras was far enough out to be beyond
the jurisdiction of the United States,
but no President ever made foreign
visit while in office.
The yacht wasn't named the Alice"
as a pretty ssfOry at one time had IT.