Year: 1863




watch the developments of this new campaign.
The Russian Ball-To BE Not To Bet


We have had very varied and very sad
experience in regard to our hospitality to for
eigners. From Mrs. Trollope down to Bull
Run Russell, every little scribbler whom we
have received with courtesy and treated with
attention has gone home and abused or SANDER
ed US. The great people whom we have enter
tanned have acted in about the same unfor-
tunate way. When the Japanese Princes ar
rived we exhausted ourselves to do them
honor, hired the Metropolitan Hotel for their
accommodation, and gave them grand ball,
over which Alderman Boole presided in un-
equalled style and his shirt sleeves. AS soon
as the Japanese returned to their happy land
they declared war against all the world and
massacred all the Americans they could catch.
We gave the Prince of Wales an unparalleled
ovation and an equally unparalleled ball.
He had hardly reached England again before
the British government began to aid the rebels,
and we soon received cannon balls in return
from English guns and English pirates. We
feted and feasted the Prince Napoleon. The
Emperor Napoleon has reciprocated the COM
pliment by Matching all sorts of abominable
schemes against the integrity and even the exist
ence of this government. These specimens Of
the results Of our for(rn hospitalities are GER
tainly not very encouraging


Now we have the Russians among lis. They
came here Unexpectedly and for some good
reasons Of their own. We welcomed them with
open hearts and hands. Our soldiers and our
citizens made gaia day Of their reception.
Private families have invited them here and
there and everywhere, and entertained
them-some times agreeably and sometimes
as agreeably as possible. Then the mu-
nicipal authorities offered them banquet
which took place at the Astor House
last Monday evening. This banquet-thanks
to Mr.. Stetson-surpassed almost all our
previous efforts in that line. Three hum
dred people were present, and the feast
cost about ten thousand dollars. Every
one did his utmost to make the Russians feel
at home, with the single exception of an indi
vidual who forced himself into the room, to-
wards the close of the dinner, and delivered o
rather insulting political speech So far,
therefore, we have done very well, and the
Russians have behaved with similar kindness,
courtesy and hospitality. We have just sent
them off to see Niagara Falls, the great natural
miracle of this continent, and we hope that
they will enjoy their trip and their company.


While they are away from the city we have
an excellent opportunity to ask ourselves few
common sense questions. Have we not gone
quite far enough? Is 1t not about time for US
to stop. The Russians are perfectly satisfied,
and why should not we be contented also!
Why should we not let we'll enough alone?
What necessity is there of giving ball? These
are plain, practical questions, which it is ex.
ceedingly easy to answer, and they lead to
conclusion which it will be found exceedingly
difficult to escape.


The idea Of having grand Russian
ball at the Academy Of Music Is by
no means popular. 1t is confined to
the small brains of the old fogy, pewter
stick aristocracy who originated il. These per-
sons have begun in about the same style that
they did with the Prince Of Wales ball, and
they will end with the same fizzle. They have
appointed an antiquated committee, and limited
the number of tickets to so many thousands
aud fixed the price 1t fifteen dollars, and en-
tered upon the ancient, ridiculous programme
and cliques Of metropolitan society are already
beginning to squabble about the ball, as usual
The committee men and t floor managers are
counting their Russian chickens before they
| are hatched. On the other hand, sensible people
are asking themselves to what all this fuss can
amount We can form no national alliance
with Russia The national policy since the
time of Washington forbids any such entangling
complication. If Russia and France fall out
and have a fight on the Atlantic all that we
can promise is to see fair play. The Russians
are already abundantly satisfied of our senti
ments in this regard, and a ball will not In
crease their convictions. On the contrary, IL
is by no means certain that we should not
incur their contempt by dancing and 6ddling at
such period a. this We are engaged in the
most tremendous civil war that ever afflicted
the world, and the storms Of a great foreign
war lower threateningly upon us. Is this the
time to shake the fantastic toe? Are We to
dance upon the edge of volcano? II money
is so plentiful among our pewterstick aris-
tocracy let it be used in bounties to Gil up our
armies. Should we give ball at this crisis Of
the national fate We must expect to have the
gay music drowned In the clash Of resounding
arms, and the light laughter overpowered BY
the shrieks and groans Of our wounded heroes,
while the black robes Of widows and orphans
cast funerea shade over the festivities. Ameri-
can society has supplied sufficient food for
satire and invcctive in the past. Let us not at
tempt to eclipse Nero's reputation by this con-
templated ball.


GREELxY ON EDITORIAL COURrEsY.-In the last
number Of the Independent, Henry Ward
Beecber's model newspaper. Greeley has long