Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-07
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PKESs
WASHING TON NEWS AND GOSSIP

pageant to come of on the 4th Of March next
IN this city, we're duly brought to a corclu.
sion last night, by the public meeting held in
Temperance Hall, over which Mayor Magru.
der presided. 1t was called, the reader will
remember, to institute necessary preliminary
measures for the pageant in question those
putting forth the call, holding, very properly,
We think. that national affair Of 80 great in
ferest and Importance should not be left under
me direction OF iners local political club that
mad assumed "a management and had accompa.
nied tnat assumption-in the speeches Of some Of
1ts H-embers-with fierce and indiscriminate
drnunciations Of all outside Of their own (club)
organization, who might dare to contest the
divinity of their right so to do and also, with
sweeping and indiscriminate VOL atoms of par
hamentary law, their own rules of order, and
common decency, in their proceedings on the
subject, such as characterize their meeting
on Monday night last.
The meeting last night was far from being
harmonious, the spirit which characterized
Inc jackson Democratic Associations meeting
hferred to above, having been introduced into
1t and let loose in more than one speech on the
occasion. 1t was very properly rebuksd by
MsssrS. Davidson, blouse Of Representatives.
OF louisiana, and Brown, of Mississippi, u.
8. Sepate,) both CT whom deprecated in de-
servedly severe language, the sweeping i'm
propriety Of the disposition manifested to keep
the affair in tho hands of mere local club
deriving all its real importance from the cour-
tesy and favor Of those whose proposed In
terferercs in the matter had been SO unspar-
ingly denounced. As before remarked, the
whole trouble was settled. That is, by tbe
result Of the ballot of this meeting for a chief
marshal; Col VIM. Selden having received
$50 votes, to lis given for Nj Conelius Wen.
dell.
As We remarked some days since, no better
selection could have been made for the proper
discharge Of the duties for the occasion, than
that Of Col. Seldom and for the life of US We
cannot perceive how any other question can
properly be involved in the choice Of such an
officer than that single one COL Selden's
eminent fitness for the position secured his
choice, notwithstanding the use to which many
who voted for him evidently thought his name
had been essayed to be put by moro or less of
those who, Wanting their own democracy as
being worth its weight in diamonds, insist that
that Of the few others around them is above
suspicion.
This controversy about the chief marshal
ship Of ths approaching pageant is rsplete
with lessons, showing the worse than folly of
the observation-disclosures Of local political clubs
in affairs other than those to which they legit.
imstely sppertain. From the days of the
French revolution down to the present, when
not engaged in their appropriate duties,
wherever they have undertaken to regulate
public affairs they have done so under the
guidance of specious demagogues and persons
who fail to enjoy the confidence Of their fell
lov-citEens-Of men who are successful in
life only in the pestiferOus calling of the small
politician.
To us, 1t is a source Of sincere regret that
the Preparations for this pageant have not
been the work Of the public, without distinc.
tion Of party-the Inauguration of Chief
Magistrate Of the United States being a ma.
tional affair and to obtain for the new Admin.
istration, in advance, the good will Of the
whole public, as far as possible, being a point
worthy to be aimed at, in the judgment of most
persons Of discretion sincerely anxious for its
succsssful management of its trusts.
wsshington.-The hotels of this city are
again full, with few exceptions. We saw in
their halls last evening more strangers than
at any previous time since the last days of
the first session Of this Congress. Many Of
them are noted Democratic politicians, attract
ed hither by the cousultations-cahoodli
certain to tTanspire on the eve Of the inaugu.
ration CT new Federal administration. The
bill to remodel the tariff, however, brings
hither most CT those around Us, shrewd, well
10 do and perseyering men in appearance, all
OF them. 1t is not wonderful that they flock
TO Washington at such time in large num-
bers; for in tie case Of most of them, the future
Of their own legitimate business is greatly in
yolved In tie action Of Congress on the sub.
Jeet mentioned above. This fact is sufficient
TO induce Us not to place them in the category
OF those en- whom the press has so extensively
commented Of lats-the lobby. The lobby,
proper, are simply brokers in legislation; men
who, acting in no professional capacity, un
dertake to engineer measures through Con-
gress with which they have no legitimate
connection for a consideration Of course.
While we feel assured that we will be una
BILE to recommend compliance with the per-
sonsl ends, suggestions, recommendations,
prayers (csll them what one wil) of any Of
this crowd Of fairly and properly interested
persons, We believe il due to the public inter-
est that Congress shall patiently learn what
they have to say, giving their argur ents a
fair hearing Though they may, of course,
be expected to have their own interests imme-
diatey N view in giving advice, they should
know much of the operation of tariff on the
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