The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-11

The Departed Congress and Some Of
ita Work.


WASHINGTON, March g. 1875.
"Died at Washington, D. c., March 4, 1875, the
third congress Of the o. g. Of America leaving
the Force BILL '.Bll" King, and numberless other
paintings, to mourn Its untimely end"
There I set out with the intention of
giving the dear departed something extra
fine in the obituary line; meant to string
out the virtue part and pile on the re-
grets according to the most approved
style; but alas! arrived at that point /
find that, besides rushing through the nee
essary appropriation bills, and material
izing the unquiet civil rights ghost, it re-
ally accomplished nothing but an immense
amount of useless wrangling. Hold !!
though, I'm mistaken. 1t did save the
country from certain ruin by providing for
the reorganization of the treasury depart
ment, "a proceeding which reduces the
salaries of the small fry, and adds the
amounts thus saved" to the nice little
sums received at present by the heads of
bureaus and ''sich." And the Solomon, to
whose wisdom the country owes this ex-
tensive blessing. is Mr.. Kellogg, of Conn.,
long may he wave whose brilliant
achievement has thrown the wooden nut
meg state into transports Of gratitude and
delight.
By the recent action, taken by Demo-
cratic NJ. Cs, in regard to the next speak
ership, ii looks very much as if my en-
thusiasm for, and appreciation of Mr..
Randall, Of Pa, were shared by q good
many wiser people; and unless something
unforeseen occurs to change the current
bearing him along, expect to see him
next December welding the gavel, and
playing pedagogue to our crowd of dele
gated. legislative infants.
And, now, as the operation of the civil
rights bill seems to be of universal inter-
est, suppose that l ought to add nay
mite to the testimony also. But as Wash
ington has been the paradise of negrodom
10 these many years, fail to see any
ment of our dusky citizens, since the pas.
sage of the bill. Being proverbially lazy,
they have always patronized public convey
ances to wonderful degree-even if the
fare had to be begged from some soft
hearted specimen of ''po' white trash
first; and being not yet up to the point Of
knowing that cleanliness is next to godli
ness" besides having tendency to onions
and natural swamp cabbage sort of odol
of their own, they have all along man
aged to send shivers of DISCUS
over such people, afflicted with
noses in good working order, a,
were compelled to have them fo
fellow passengers on warm or rainy day.
And as far as politeness is concerned
well, the less said on that subject the bet.
ter, Your Washington darkey knows hi:
rights, assure you once he is planted
in n seat in street car he follows the il
lustrious Stanton's example, and sticks
to it like brother. If some superanua
ted "auntie" or rheumatic uncle makes
dive for a strap, and swings around, il
imminent peril of capsizing at the mex
lurch of the concern, it is invariably som
white gentleman or lady who surrenders
seat for their comfort, while your strap
ping young imam and brother" gentl
warns his eyes, and with touching al
pearance Of true inwardness" conten
plates blessed future of all sleep and n
work. Yes, have more than q doze
times seen delicate piece of dark temiI
inity-who would turn the scales at b,
tween two aid three hundred-deliberat
ly sit down in the lap Of the meekest lool
ing white woman in the car, thus forcin
her. with an air of perfect unconcern, out
her seat, while the rest of us looked on wit
mingled feelings of disgust and anus,
ment, and commenced hunting for pins
extra size,
And then as far as places of amusemer
are concerned, Well, opera tickets al
expensive luxuries as general thing, an
thus the grinning young ebony who saw
my wood can not well afford to take m
neighbours servant girl into seats fankin
those occupied by I'VE uns," and thus th
almighty dollar makes this particular Sc,
ton Of the bill rather harmeless, an
leaves US precisely where we were befor,
The hotel paragraph also can easily
evaded, as houses of entertainment can a
ways be conveniently full, or out OF repai
when uDwelcome guests apply. An
when it comes to saloons-well poop
who do not care to drink after negro ca
always fall back on total abstinence prime
Piles, thus saving both their dignity an
their money, besides escaping any numbt
of curtain lectures.
There! this is about the state of min
of our people ON the subject. Had til
common school clause been retained in tb
bill there would have been serious di
turbances as it is very few people see,
to mind it, and all are willing, firmly b,
i Al L ~ \