New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-06
THE FIRST CIRCLES or THE C1PITAL.

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THE FIRST CIRCLES or THE C1PITAL.
The fall of Gen. Bclknap has created pain
ful sensation in the first circles of the capital
The ex-Secretaly of War was n distinguished
figure in Washington society. No entertain
ment was thought complete that was not graced
by his handsome presence and agreeable con-
vcrsation, and in the gayeties OF the season
the Belknaps ALWAYS played n prominent part.
There is no fashionable society i'll any part OF
The world which bears much resemblance to
that of our Republican court. Here alone
democracy asserts itself at the private dinner
table and the evening party, and social ex-
tremcs meet on terms of equality in the parlor
The best company and the worst mingle with
outward show of cOrdialty. The most lastid-
ious of gentlemen, whose thorough good breed
ing is inherited from two centuries Of gentle
ancestors, and with whom elegance is a second
nature, bends over the hand of n Congress
mans wife who has not yet learned that verb
must agree with its nominatve case, and that
the nose is not one of the organs of speech I;
while Lady Clara We're de We're gives her arm
to a red-faced legislator with dyed mustache
who fitted himself for Congress by keeping IA
liquor shop. II any personal qualifications are
necessary for admission To the first circles of
Washington, it would be hard to define what
they are. Good manners are not required,
nor good education, nor ready speech.
Official title is passport, but even
that may be dispensed with. reputable
moral character is not needed, for prisoners
undergoing trial for felony attend the feStivi-
ties of the White House, and notorious thief
holds his head quite as high as a blue-blooded
ambassador. Anybody with decent clothes is
good enough for guest, and anybody with
money enough to give ball becomes leadc. of
fashion.
1t is natural perhaps in a country like ours,
where opportunities for education and culture
are seldom hereditary, and it is almost always
new men and half-traincd women who bear
the chief burdens of society, that refinement
and yugarity should DC found in close COM
panionship chatting together on the same sofa
and dancing in the same set. But there has
never been any society IN America whose av-
erage of culture and morality has been so low
as that of Washington during the past six
years Washington lacks many of the refining
forces which affect the tastes and habits of life
in the large Cities-thc influence of the liberal
professions, the constant contact OF persons OF
high accomplishments and noble pursuits, and
the abundance of amusements which bring
with them some sort of mental Improvement.
I'm the Federal capital there is practically no
life except official life, and what that has be-
come we do not wait TO be told. The policy
of the ruling power has been to drive out of
Congress the last remnants of craftsmanship,
and TO crush the ambition which digniies
political career. In both parties of
course there are now. and there always
have been, bright examples OF upright
life, patriotic purpose, digniiied behavior,
elegant education. But with every session the
number of such examples has grown less and
less, and the intellectual and moral tone in all
branches of the Government service has fallen
lower and lower. Politics is no longer a career,
but speculation seat in Congress, place
i'm the Administration. is no longer valued for
the honor it confers, but for the opportunities
of gain which it opens. In this country quite
as much as in the mOnarchies of the old world
the life of the capital takes its character in
great measure from the head of the state. A
social influence radiates from the White House
no less than from Buckingham Palace. II we
find avarice and respect for money in the
Presidency We need look for nothing better in
the first circles of the capital.
A demOralizing haste TO be rich n vulgar,
consuming passion for display havethus come to
be the strongest characteristics of Washington
life. The court favortes are the men who
give the most costly balls, live in the most
costly houses, drive the most costly cquipagcs.
The Boss Plumber, who has built palace for
himself by driving the District Government to
the verge of bankruptcy; the public officer
who spends twice his income and gets rich on
the deficiency the mining Spectator who dis
graces his country in Lombard street the
"practical politician who has made fortune
by managing elections these 0re--we do
not say exactly the leaders of fashion,
but the most prominent and most envied of
Washington characters. Not q man in the
White House circle has distinguished himself
by his intellectual ability, his accomplishments,
his WIT, his learning, his virtue, by any SER
vice TO the country. by any grace of manner,
by anything in short except wealth, quickly
made and ostentatiously spent. The conse-
quences are obvious and inevitable "Get
rich, get nch," is the advice whispered to
every pushing family which finds itself
within the influence of the greenbacl
aIistocracy. Get rich, and you may
dine with the President and dance with
all the diplomatic corps. Get rich and
your name shall be in the newspapers, aud
description Of your brand-now house, with its
blazing carpets and gilded furniture, and the
list Of titled guests at your card receptions,