Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-06
coon WORDS ron THE PEOPLE or WASHINGTON.
Reply Of Mr.. Pssses, 81 New Yerk, -
Mr. Stevenson, - Ohio.

IL will be remembered that Gen. Chapman,
our representative In Congress, made prompt
and telling reply to attacks upon the people Of
Washington made by Mr.. Stevenson, Of Ohio.
The following effective answer was also made
70 Mr.. Stevenson by Mr.. Potter, of New York.
member whose high standing gives value to
his eloquent championship of this community:
. On yesterday my eloquent friend from Ohio
MI. Stevensonl spoke of the city Of Washing
cities in the United States. When taken to task
for II by the Delegate from this District he ius-
titled himself by saying that he alluded only to
the floating population of the city. Now, as 1
have Away lived in a remote quarter of the
town, IN little house Of my own, am not very
wei Fitted TO say how far the gentleman NAV
have been justified in his remarks. 1t would
notbe strange, sir, If I'm a city like this, with
large floating population coming and going from
year TO year, there should be many of the char
acter to which he alludes. What desire To
ton Of the people of Washington. In order TO
give the exact words used by the gentleman on
yesterday to which 1 refer, and which seem TO
me unjust, | will quote from his remarks:
" Mr. Chairman, while that tern, NAV not in any
sens be applied 20 the Old permanent, aristocrate
the Treasury Of the United States who will compare
peruaiSn which we md here IN the wSte4 L an
ex' ra, and frivolous one beyond that of any
watering place in the season, and probably this &C.
COUNT somew hat for the high prices prevailing"
Now, IL seems to me, MIR. Chairman, that in
this the gentleman entirely misapprehended
that portion OF the people of Washington to
which he there alluded. III Washington pre-
sents any charms at all, and to me II presents
many, il is in the fact that of all the cities IN
the union with which ] am acquainted it is the
ore where the possession of wealth Is OF the
least importance. That class of its citizens who
nave long been resident here, and whom nv
friend speaks of as aristocratic in their gran
deur and pride" presume possess less wealth
than any other equal number of population OF
like position In any great city in this country.
For myself, think the special advantage OF
this Washington aristOcrAcy. as the gentleman
calls il, is that. to get the benefit of all society
me illustrate by q case now have in mind of q
member Of one Of those old families to which
the gentleman refers as aristOcratic in their
wealth and pride; a lady born in this class, her
father an officer who served the government
with great distinction in the army, and her
husband an officer who served with credit in the
navy. They in that way lived upon the public
treasury, as my friend says. When her husband
and father died, this lady was left a widow with
children and with no means for their support
for such is the common result to those who live,
70 adhere To the gentleman's phrase, on tine
pubic treasury Of this government. Another of
this lady's family dying, she took the children
OF that other member TO bring up. Thus she
FOUND herself here, woman young in years,
surrounded by those dependent on her and
without means. Her friends procured her a
eierkship In one Of the departments, for which
u
hundred dollars a year-nOt very much for ex
uayagance or grandeur; and vet everybody
who knows her will bear me out in saying that
she Is not only an estimable, refined, and at
traetive lady-that she is by nature-but that
besides. poor as she is, she goes among the best
society and receives the best people equally as
n she were indeed rich. | have been at her
mouse and have always found 1t plain to the last
degree, but have also found there agreeable
and worthy people vino seek her modest quar-
teIs as readily as if she were in truth rich and
grand. And this is a case which could hardly
happen IN any other capital, an advantage
winch exists In the same degree in no other
great city with which I am acquainted.
Mr. Chairman, there are many gentlemen in
THIS house Who will, i am sure, bear me out i'm
The statement that wealth is not so necessary
here as IN other chief cities. In all the other
great cities of the country, society SO called is
In dc gree closed to those OF slender means /
am glad therefore here tonight, when l am
winch Il may not return, to take this OppOrtu-
NIFTY 10 say that so far from the aristocracy of
Washington. Il mean that portion Of its citizens
To whom the gentleman from Ohio alluded by
mat term,) so far from this class of the citizens
OF Washington being sticklers for grandeur or
wealth OF fashion, the charm Of the place Is
precisely the contrary; that il Is place where
the best people can come and 60, can enter So
If they have nothing but a small government
salary 10 support them, equally with those
" hose means are larger.
iofesee a great future for this city. The
growing Capitalization OF the country cannot
tail to lead to its increase in population AMI
wealth. 1t will have better streets, grandeT
Nal slons, liner equipages. and more wealthy
ptople than now. But doubt whether in such
graide and Weather days, when the com
nehts OF the gentleman from Ohio will 5e more
reserved IMAM they are at present Washington
VIII be even as desirable or agreeable q resi-
deLce as il is now.