Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-15
A REPUBLICAN ARISTOCRACY.
The Progress we are. akin Uuder
he Rule Of Grant-HOw do Plain
PeODle Like IT,

usages that previously prevailed !,
public, from Washington down K
johnson, and which conformed to tn,
genius of republicaninstitutions Shod
dyism has established itself in the high
est places, and seeks to ape in a yul9al
way the practices Of foreign courts.
Initiating the example of ROYALTY. th,
President abandons the capital as soo1
as his loyal Congress adiourns. anc
establishes himself at Long Branch fol-
the season, just as if the public bust
ness had no claim on his attention. Tn,
Cabinetand crowd of underlines follow
In the footsteps of their llustriousc chief
so that Washington looks like deserted
village flor four months Of the year
and the departments are practically
closed.
In order to distinguish himself from
the common herd, the President drives
a fiashy four-in-hand, with gilt harness
white reins, and Ivered outriders to
match, all got up ON the famous Helm.
bold pattern. The respectable messen.
gers who once served at the White House
have been changed for funkies after the
English mOdelofal low type. The coarse
tastes and bad mannersof the Executive
Mansion are the fashion among the adj
v%enturers, jobbers, carpet baggers, shod-
dyites, and schemers that enjoy the
Presidents intimacy and set up what
they call society. Among this following
there is aconstant strife for ascendancy'
or more properly, for the first place af-
ter Ills Excellency," as they all dub
him on State occasions.
The conventional law which becom-
mgly regulated the relations of official
intercourse for three-quarters of a GEN.
tury did not suit the upstairs and pre-
tenders, who, ike the dregs In violent
fermentation, have found themselves
suddenly thrown 10 the surface. So
Cabinet, Senators, Representatives,
courts, and other branchesof Grantism.
have all been exercised about their eti-
quette, and as to who should have pre-
cedence atBoss Shepherds dinners and
balls, which the President ordered them
to attend Their thoughts have been
mainly occupied with rank and rivalry.
Jealousies and backbitting, which had
much to do with defeating Williams for
Chief Justice, since according to the
new social code that place would have
gwen Madame a superiority which her
friends" of the Cabinet did not like to
yield.
This spirit has invaded Congress.
From time immemorial the galleries
of the Senate and House of Represen-
tatlves have been open to the people, to
whom they belong, with two reserva-
lions only-one forthe diplomatic body
and the other for the press. Under
pretext of obtaining better ventilation
and light, an order was passed by the
Credit MObilier Congress to change the
gallery Of the House; and when Con-
gress c~ametogether IN December it was
found that a separate division had been
made for members and their families.
which appropriated the best part of the
gallery to this exclusive use, thus estab-
a class distinction wholly incon-
with usage and propriety.
The Senate had already setup this pre-
cedent, where it never before had been
or suggested.
And now comes the Speaker of the
House TO claim a separate part of that
Congressional section, to be set aside ON
the front line for his particular use. so
that thepubhc willknOw thatthe Speak
er and the Speakers family and friends
are OF the first rank, entitled to supe
nor privileges, and must not be iostled
In their mighty magnifcence by COM
mon American humanity. 1t seems
that a Republican member from Hi
nols, MIR. McNulta, attempted to occupy
4 vacant seat on the bench assigned
without any rule or authority to the |
Speaker, and that he was refused en-
rance to 1t by the door-keeper. who.
I, true spirit of ~funkyism, consid-
that sa, I'd ground. McNulta was
ery plain spoken apOGt his rights and
he equality Of members, when reached
he ears Of Mr.. Speaker, who brought
he matter before the House, With his
WI plausible version Of an old practice
-hich could have no application, as no
pecial enclosure for members was ever
eata ut until now. But Mr.. McNulta
TODD his gfOGra ERd said:
" There might be pTopsrly a seat
to the Office Of the Speaker Of
ais House as ana of courtes to the off,
~, and not to the person. But do
beet decidedly te sny member of this
louise having any exclusive rivilegeor
eat in the gallery assigned IN t7em-
ers. The reason for so Directing, l
link, Will be apparent to every men,
er. When our families come to the
allery and ask admittance they must /
notified, 50 to speak, that they r (
cohd-elass passengers in that boat;
lat there is a seat they cannotOccupy; {
lat seat is specially reserved | un- !
srstand that this custom has here -,
fore been, or that the practice has !
zen, to assign this official seat IN the :
-plOmatic gallery, where the members l
will not come in contact with
lese notices, that are. to say the least,
disagreeable. I
1.-THE ~Speaker-If the gentleman Will j
low a correction Just here, the Chair a
III make me-. Prior to this session |
ere nerer has been a seat reserued for {
families at all. I
Mellish-Would it be- in order TO l
axe a motion that the gallery ;
t apart for members families be ;
'olished? =
1.-The Speaker-Not at the present '
7
MIR. Mellish-I think the distinction
tween members families and others
ould not be any longercontinued. II
European, and ought to be abolished
r the credit Of the country" '
The opinion which Mr.. Mellish ex- a
,essed was at least manly. Mr.. Nc I
ulta did not appear to think therew was :
improperly in treating his constit- !
nts as interiors by excluding them I
the members gallery, but he r
und it very d~isagreeable' to have c
s own family excluded from the re- Q
rived space set aside for the Speakers g
ID his set by the dOorkeeper. c
As MI. Blaine is a despot in the ?
.use, who exercises the arbitrarypow- .
of keeping members from the floor !,
no do not submit passively to his die :,
ton, he had no difficulty in carrying q
5 personal point. The House acqui- 4
ced in the assumption that he should a
we the front bench for his use. When a
reigners visit the Capitolthey will see &
the galleries sunDOsed To be for the II