Year: 1871

/
|. But for the knowledge that head winds and


heavy seas are obs. acles that require time


and perseverance to overcome, we might well


get outof patience with the grand young Duke,


or the young Grand Duke Alexis Of Russia.


Here is youth Of twenty-one summers keep


ing two of the greatest nations Of the earth In


a fever Of intense excitement. awaiting his


arrival in the port Of New York, and day


after day is hope deferred, and night alter


night passes away without the upward shoot


ing of the signal rockets which are to tell us


that the royal visitor is at our shores. AT st.


Petersburg, as the cable informs US, the


respectable parents Of the young voyager and


the loyal people over whom they rule are


alarmed at the delay and appear to apprehend


some danger to the feet. In New York, where


we are more familiar with the uncertainties of


the ocean at this season of the year, so far as


punctuality in the arrival of vessels Is con-


cerned, no fear is entertained for the safety OF
the illustrious party; but our whole people are
nevertheless greatly exercised at their nom
arrival. Our military are sleeping on their
arms" ready to obey the order of muster at q
moments notice. Our civilians who happen
to be on committees of arrangement and re-
ception are in = condition of huster and furry


painful to behold Our ladies are burning
with impatience to see how grossly those SLAM
derous publications, the pictorials, have
libelled the Grand Duke In their abominable
caricatures. Young and old are wound up to
the highest pitch Of expectation, and the
inquiry, "Has he Gomez" is on every tongue.
On Saturday night and yesterday morning a
climax was reached when real Russian
vessel, actually one of the long-looked-for
feet, was signalled of Sandy Hook, and the
report of the arrival of Alexis spread with
astonishing rapidity all over the city. But it
soon became known that the pioneer Was the
Abreck. the smallest Of the feet. and not the
vessel bearing the Grand Duke. Great
was the disappointment Of our longing
people, yet the arrival Of one Of the
number gave encouragement to hope, and
Alexis himself was looked for at any moment
Indeed, 1t is to be feared that, despite the Wig
orous preaching from the pulpits Of New York
and Brooklyn yesterday, the thoughts Of the
congregations were more on the Russian feet
than on the parsons texts.


Alexis can come at no better moment than
the present. The election is over, and we
can show the young disciple of autocracy how
easy it is in an enlightened republic to accom-
IL; on fsl NJ h. haII la
We want new excitement; for with the
election startling developments, harrow
ing arrays Of figures and astounding
reports of committees have suddenly
ceased. To be sure. we have the Brooklyn
frauds, Beecher's sermons and the Committee
Of Fifty to break the monotony; but these are
small matters after our magni-
Rcent robberies and sweeping victories In
New York. Without Alexis the time would
hang heavy on the hands Of our people until
the meeting Of the Legislature aud the grand
redistribution Of the municipal ofIices among
the successful reformers. His arrival win
drive all other affairs out of our
memories, and give US . healthy stimu-
liant after the unwholesome political
excitement Of the past three months. The
people are burning with the desire to repay to
Russia some portion of the courtesy and honor
Of which the lamented Farragut was the re-
cipient in that country three or four years
ago. They long to show to the youthful
Alexis the sincerity and warmth of the friend
ship the United States feel for the nation that
has nathan faarod nor refused tn do filll ina.
tice to the progress Of the young republic. So
the sooner he comes the better, and 1t will not
be the fault Of New York If his visit does not
well repay him for the tediousness and rough
ness Of his voyage.


Mxxx. AsrraGurrrS Ducrurr61rIoN ON CuA TIA.