New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-18
THEN AND hOW.

The Association owning Carpenters Hall IN
PHILADELPHIA propose to invite Congress to
meet in that ancient building on the coming
anniversary of its first sitting. If any faith
can be placed in ghosts, doubtless the shades
of those ancient worthless who hundred
years ago occupied the wooden benches, Will,
unlimited and unseen, attend the celebration.
To tell the truth, it is relief to think they
will be unheard also. 1t is the secret belief
of every rational American that his fore
fathers, with their orOtund application, their
igh-s6oudered courtesy, their dilution OF
self-eyident platitudes into far-reacblng
tropes, would, in our moro hurried, compact
day, be bOres as orators, however imitable as
men, But what if these tedious ghosts are
compelled TO listen to their successors on
field day such as that of last weeks Coarse
ness and want of culture, no doubt, they
would look for; the country can no longer
be represented by such delegates as the
stately half-hundred of Livingstons, ROdneys,
Lees, and Gadsdens who filed the little build
ing, the gray haired Peyton Randolph pre-
siding. and a venerable and grave Quaker
taking the part of scribe. There was no
member of the class that Martha Washington
stigmatized as "dirty democrats" in that
Congress.
But with other times other manners become
a necessity The respectable old ghosts would
RELISH very likely, the rOughness and strength
which represented the great, uncultured con-
stituences of this new time, just as they rel
ished tasting new liquors, the like of which
were not in their own cellars. The ruffanism
of Pike, the guttuIals of an Indian, the ig-
norance of freed slave, they could compre-
bend and find reason for. Wit, even when saw
age and unsparing, is its own excuse for being
Pistols whisky bottles, even BrOoks's club
brandished on the floors Of Congress, as they
have been were, after all, characteristic express
sions of masculine prejudices or passions. But
how are they to understand the lowered tone
of manners in the whole body the habits and
customs which make it not only possible but
natural for a man of passable good breeding
in his home life to act in the House or Senate
Chamber like vulgar fellow out on holiday
new member comes in, anxious not only to
serve his constituency or himself, as the case
may be, but to do his part in representing
nation at least partially educated and OF
average decency and dignity of behavior;
but he speedily finds his colleagues
looking up to men as leaders whose
language and manner are not only vul-
gar, but stupidity, unmeaningly vulgar; and
seeing that laugh is cheap and the wit
needed of that namby-pamby, penny quality
which usually delights the frequenters of
village grocery, he too throws himself into
the arena, and strives to emulate these brilliant
tours de force such as telling his opponent that
"hs ears are longer than cute,' or that he had
"better spit on his hands and take another
"heave," OF such like fine incisive blows
Therein lies his mistake.
The truth is, and everybody knows it, that
the Congress of the United States has not for
many years represented the average standard
of good breeding or decOrum in the country,
as the Chambers do in France or Parlia-
ment in England. Not because there are not
men of dignity and refinement who exercise
power, but they only enter the arena to serve
an occasional purpose the daily debate, the
petty, incessant babble, is left TO the control
of class of men who, either from defect of
birth or training, are hopelessly blind to their
own bOOrishness. When a gentleman and
ruifian meet, the latter usually has the last and
loudest word. They have it, therefore. their
own way, and fancy themselves conquerors
as the bull no doubt did in the china shop
But all the same, everybody knew it was
nothing but bull.
Outside of Congress, however, there have been
during the last few years marked SOLDERING
and s0ttening OF public taste as culture pene-
trated the mass. We have grown simpler, more
genuine. quieter in our art, our literature, and
noticeably in our manners. We are becoming
educated enough to know that loud, vapd
clustering is. a sign of weakness that the
most potent forces are the gentlest. Reforms
In outward manner must of course work down
ward. 1t may be long time before they are
perceptible in our fast fashionable circles or
in the vulgar minority of Congress, but we are
sanguine that they will yet reach these out
skirts Of civilization.