Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-06
Mr. Cercoran and the District Gov.

Mr. Cercoran and the District Gov.
We publish elsewhere IN full the card of Mr..
w. Corcoran, that he may have the benefit
Of TIE STARS universal circulation to ensure
him the most thorough hearing for his griey-
ances. And we may add that there is not one
OF the Washington papers he berates that
would not cheerfuIly have published at first,
and without cost to him the matter he
pays TO have inserted In the adyer-
tising columns Of a Baltimore paper. This
Is due to him as q prominent and valued citi-
zen; and furthermore no paper here that we
Know has ever shown an indisposition to give
Tue fullest publicity to any allegations OF grew
ance or wrong made by responsible persons.
We are content to-day to allow Mr.. Corcoran's
statements to 20 TO our readers without com ment,
further than the remark that supposing every
item of bis complaint to be true, the public will
inquire with surprise il he has allowed such
considerations TO put him in the mischieyous
attitude he has assumed. The plain fact is that
Mr.. CorcOrsn, with sill his merits a. a citizen,
has not been able to appreciate that Washington
has needed something besides picture gallery,
and an asylum for first family widows. Though
the capital city of America has been the scott
and bye-word OF theworld for its dirt squalor and
IncoDgruities, and q formidable ATTEMPT to
cause its removal was founded on its disgrace
full condition, Mr.. Corcoran seems to think
by his card that there was nothing amiss in the
condition OF things here. To be sure he saws
as Henry S. Davis says, and all the rest saw,
that he Is favorable to improvements. But
how does he show 1t By putting his own shout
dsrs TO the wheel? No, but by planting himself
directly in the path Of progress, and resisting
its course by every mode Of obstruction known
TO the law, or electioneering tactics. A plain
rUfll has
Mr. Coreorsn, or Mr.. Riggs, or Mr.. Davis ever
move hand to sbate any of the great nuisances,
or correct any of the great abuses existing
when the District Government entered upon
the work? Would they or would ten gener-
ations Of Corcoran's, Riggs or Davis's ever
nave lifted finger TO pave or grade a street;
abate the canal nuisance; the market house
nuisance; the nuisances Of reeking cutters.
open sewers, and unbridged water courses: the
nuisance from animals running at large; from
green-scummed quagmires In the open streets;
from the carriage dislocating pit-holes, bould
ers, and dust heaps that made MP what was
called In those times ''the pavement" of Penn
sylvsnia avenue; from turnpike gates and
Wretehed roads leading to the country that
kept farmers and market men from the city for
nine months of the year and sent them
TO market in other cities; and from the
numerous other nuissnces and drawbacks
from which We are now happily relieved?
No. Messrs. Corcoran & Riggs ct al, estinable
as they are IN various ways as citizens could
never have been counted upon to sacrifice their
luxurious ease in any such Herculean labors as
these. rrequired yet better citizens than thew,
citizens more energetic. public spirited, self
sacrificing, TO undertake the needed task, and
carry II through, despite all the obstacles of
envy, malice, svsrice, and old fogysm. The
least TO be expected of these gentlemen is that
they should applaud and encourage, instead of
thSsrting, the young men OF energy and ac-
ton who have taken up the great work OF i'm
provement and reformation they have left I'M
done.