The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-01-03
ii Letter from the Federal Capital.
Lack of interest--H olidays-Re Of the
year-Morai Revoiution-Ihe prospect.
Fl. 90 WAsH1NeToN, Dec. sOth, 1884.

To the Editor Of tAe Press:
The week now elapsed since the adjourn
ment OF the two Houses of Congress has not
here, been marked by local incidents or events
of special interest Although few Senators
and Members remain, by far the largest part,
together with many other officers and employ
ees of the government, have gone to enjoy in
1ss 9Sa ns 81 III the tRfistmas holidays
The time-honored festival has been celebrated
here with even more than the usual zest. On
the eve of Saturday. oath, there were as usual.
pleasant meetings oil friends and family gath
erings, and Christmas trees with their various
and precious loads and glistening tapers shin
ing down upon groups of happy faces; but
the principal festivitiesFere postponed until
after the Sabbath. This however did not pre-
vent sundry unruly boys who did not appesr
to have the fear of the fithing man, nor any
other wholesome terror before their eyes, from
making sad inroads upon the Sunday quiet
with their noisy demonstrations On Monday
the Departments and all the public Offices
were closed, and general holiday was enjoy
ed in spite of unpropitious skies and muddy
streets.
Cold must be the heart that does not warm
little at the return of this genial festival. At
the mention of 1t what visions rise before US
of feast and wassail in castle and hut, In pal
ace and cloister, of yule logs cracking and
roaring in the wide-mouthed chimneys, Of
PANEL and molding cleaning with wreaths Of
Lii 80 10 loI b;,,ex fxonf and
launches of choisest venison, boars' heads
wreathed with mistletoe and puddings sweat
ing rich juices, savory, enormous--of thane
and thrall, baron and retainer, stately ladies
and buxom damsels, princes and peasants
mhgling in common joy with lay of min
strels and songs Of waits to ill the pauses of
the feasting, with chimes sweet and solemn
pealing through the still midnight, and carols
blithe as bird songs rising on the crisp morn
ing air. Aad how does it lead our minds
backward and yet backward to that ''still
midnight centuries ago, /" when in q hosiery
of Judea, was born the promised Saviour
the Amounted Deliverer-the Hope and De-
sire Of all nations-Christ the Lord; and
when the multitude of the heavenly host min
gIed with Inscriptions of "Glory to God In the
highest" the glad tidings, Sand on Esath
peace, good viii to men," Nearly twice q
thousand years have passed since then, but
upon one night of each. have radiant pinions
seemed to cleave the darkness, and celestial
voices to proclaim anew the blessed message
Of peace and good will as If TO assure the
poor, struggling, shining, suffering earth Of
Gods remembrance, and to keep aliyein His
bosom the great hope Of man. And then the
beati6c vision is gone away again into Heav-
en-, leaving the world as 1t now leaves us, in
doubt and darkness, with contention instead
Of good will, and war Instead of peace. And
how through all the ages so full of violence \
and misery echo and resound along with the
Christmas benediction those other terrible
words, II come not to bring peace but
sword" Are the first then delusion or a
mockeryP Doubtless both are true, and the
centuries are slowly but surely resolving the
paradox. First the sword, and peace after
ward. First the struggle and agony of con-
hAet, and then when truth has been established
and right vindicated, rest and placid repose,
AND is not the world with all its fierce antag-
onisms and terrible commissions tending
toward peaceful future? Nay, are not we
ourselves with sword and battle axe, hewing
our way onward to the coveted goal, the long
desired consummationa Are. mot the thunder
of cannon, and the crash of steel, and all the
fierce wild uproar Of battle now so terribly
familiar to us. a true and genuine. though dis
cordant response to the Christmas anthem Of
the angelss Since the wrong that will not
yield must cen be crushed, 60 ~ SSpd
"Since the thunder bolt must shastsr q /
sssts Chains, the sunshine cannot break" ssi 4
is not this our way, our only way to peace |
that assured peace that comes of purity?
And how many stages of our journey have
we already passed Let MS look back little.
Notwithstanding all our proud hopes, and high
enthusiasm, and immense resources, in what
shame and humiliation closed our first year of
war Not merely beaten in the field, but |
without moral courage to meet the tremen-
dous crisis, egning war against . rebellion
, hose life we did not yet dare to touch, Trying
20 hide IRON ourselves the great duty Of the
hour and clamering piteously for deliverer
80 we left the old year and entered upon the
new.
Anotheryear went by-a year Of mingled |