Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-23

lhe innocent recreation and intellectual pleas.
ure OF the poor. Our cities are without Iunos
without those beautiful and spacious parfs
Inat adorn and render healthful the cities OF
Europe. The poor breathe a fetid atmosphere.
rom winch there is no escape. We have fool.
nny trusted to political equality to ensure So
ciai equality. 1t has the reverse effect. In
the battlefield of free competition, the few.
wise, cunning, and provident have prasped
WEat God and nature intended in different pro-
portions for all. When our population be.
comes dense, gloomy future threatens the
unprovided poor. Already the wisdom of ou r
aocest1rs, In the construction of our institu-
.ions, Is, each succeeding winter, refuted by
tne suferings of the destitute in MANY of our
older States. We have 'smuzzled the OK that
treadeth out the corn" Better look this fact
In the face now, when it is not too late to pro
Vide remedy, than repent it in sackcloth and
ashes when the hour of our tribulation shall
come. The voice and the arm of the people
nave become of late ages, more terrible in their
Jove. o-o
Mid the famine and desolation that swept
over many of our cities during the last fall and
winter, the prosperity of Washington stood nm
diminished The rich did not fail, and the
poor did not lack abundant and remuneratiye
employment. 1t will always be so; for, in
THIS national Metropolis, a wise, liberal, and
auve employment for a suffering and destitute
iaboring class. The citizens of Washington
a are the best represented people in the Union :;
Ior they are represented by the collective wis.
dom of the Union.
it is not, however, mere exemption from
physical suffering that renders Washington a
desirable abode for tho poor. Human lite,
were, indeed, dreary waste, if mere anima al
comfort were its lOftiest aim and highest at
tainment. The pleasures of taste and of intel.
ieet are here equally open to high and low.
ricn and poor. The most destitute here have
withOut money and without price, ever spread
before them an intellectual feast, more annie
and more delicate than the wealth of the mil
ionalre can command in any other SPOT in
america The public buildings, the statuary
ana paintings that adOrn them, the many pub
l.e libraries, the splendid parks and walks
about those buildings, the National Museum
and NATIONAL Observatory, tie free lectures at
the Smithsonian Institute, the levees at the
RESIDENTS, the semi-weekly musical perform
ance at the Capitol and the Presidents. are
common property, equally open to all decently
Dehaved persons these things give a charm
to Washington life for all classes of men Tbev
are the rich mans enjoyment and the moor
mans property-property which no private
cupldity and ayarice can appropriate and mo-
nopollzs, no Judgment or execution reach and
aestroy-the only property worth having in
America, where the spirit and practice of trade
occasions 80 many mutations OF possession, such
frequent ups and downs in life, that to be rich
t.-day merely serves to aggravate the sufferings
OF the poverty of Tomorrow
1t was such sources of common ep;ovment
that refined and educated the poorest citizens
OIL Athens. Paris has become the model of
lashion and centre of thought, because she is
the most democratic city in the modern world
an Athens redir,ra-with a world of art, of
s,ience, and of nature, continually spread out
as tree aud common feast for all of her citi-
1a lens throughout the continent of Europe,
large provisions Of the kind We are describing
have been made for the public Hence, on tho
Continent, despite of poverty and want of school
education, all classes are refined and generally
cheerful, happy, and cOntented. The wsnt Of
such provisions in Great Britain makes nm
couth Doors OF her poor, and coarse, awkward
gentlemen of her rich. Her proverbial provin.
ciaiism is not owing to her insulated situation
but to the absence Of those sources of high
public intellectual enjoyment that blend, give
character to, and refine all classes Washing
ton Is destined to WELD a powerful influence
on the future fortunes Of the nation Great
cities do not now, as in ancient times, consti-
tute States; but they still control, in great
measure, the conduct and fate of States Paris
Is often called France and London almost rules
dreat Britain for in London are collected and
centered much Of the wealth, and most of the
controlling intellect Of the nation Our feder
ative system will oppose some check to this
Capitalization Of power; yet still the highest
minds will ever be looking to Washington as
the Mount Olympus, on which they are to WELD
the sceptre, and whence they are to issue their
DEGREES, and nurl their fulmnations.
Fortunately for America, the interests of
Washington are all conservative. Sectional
mIsrulc and oppression would speedily dissolve
the Union, and the dissolution of the Union
would be the desthknell of its Metropolis.
The great power which she will attain to will
be employed as umpire and pacificator, TO heal
dlssension, to prevent sectional oppression. and
10 restore amlty between opposing, hostile, and
contending sections. Ii she act well her part,
the centrlpetal influence which she will exer.
else will come in, we'll and timely, to SUNNY
the place OF the cohesive power which the fear
or the Jealousy of foreign aggression exercised
In the early and weaker days of the Republic,
We fear not now a combined and hostile world
There is no power, no influence, ab erfra. 10
keep us united as one people, in any sense OF
that term. We must have some power. nB in.
ira, to balance the centrifugal propensities OF
our system. The whole of our future DESTINY
depends on preserving a proper balance be.
tween the opposing forces OF States-rig and
consolidation. Destroy either, and our history
ends.
Opposing forces constitute vegeta able, animal
and national life. Death is but the peace in.
duced by the triumph of either force.
Living in Washington is far cheaper than
elsewhere, if food for the mind be q part of liv.
ing, as well as food and raiment for the body
Life III Washington is more varied, more full
OF incident, more open to enjoyment, than in
other cities Of America.
Society here is most intellectual, because il
collects, represents and embodies great part o.
the intellect of the nation.
We have only made the acquain 'ance of ons
portion Of that society, who constitute, how
ever, a numerous class. These are the clerk,
and other subordinate officers of the Govern
ment, in and about the various Departments
Their very general intelligence, urbanity, re-
finement, and scholastic accomplishment, have
filled Us with surprise and admiration. Thi.
strange. social phenomenon, is in part account.
ed for BY the fact, tha., in general, it is such
men only who can command influence to secure
position but mainly, no doubt, is attribu to biz
to that half shrinking modesty, that social ex
c,usiveness, and retiring delicacy and refine
ment, which the pursuit of schOlasti, or profes
sional studies is apt to beget. Such men otter
prefer the quiet routine Of subordinate Office
to fierce competition, the hoarse tun ult, AND
the rough and stormy struggle of ambitious ol