Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-10-13

lard money paid into the hands of
Now, the constitution working in
1he interest of the people and the |
obby in that of monied men are
two masters whose service is as in
as that of God and |
Jesus Christ and the
Devil-ye cannot serve both, gen.
demen; you have to choose which
you will serve.
1t will be said that these things
have been done hitherto by North
ern men and Republicans, and not
by Democrats and Southern men,
and that in addressing such consid-
to Southern Democrats we
are gratuitously insulting men
who are above such dishonest and
mercenary motives. Well, there is
some truth in that; it has been
chiefly upon Northern men and Re
publicans that the lobby has opera
ted so far, and we say it with pride;
we should say it with more pride
but for the consideration that South
ern Democrats have not been so far
tempted as Northern Radicals
have. Lobby members know whom
to approach and where to lay out
their money. What they want to
buy is legislative power; hitherto
Northern men and Republicans
have had that, and Southern Demo-
Gratis have not; but the times are
changing and in this Congress the
Democrats will soon have the pre-
ponderance in both Houses. The
lobby is already scenting their arriv-
al from afar and, like flock of vul-
lures, is lowering over the capital
looking for its annual feast of car
riOn. Democrats and Southern men
will be chiefly approached by them
now, and it will be seen whether
the comparative immunity of that
body from mercenary conduct re-
suits from their superior moral
worth or the comparative absence of
temptation.
We are going to assume until the
contrary is proven that the higher
has been the efficient motive, and
that our Southern members are at
least above the degrading influence
of brides at least we are satisfied
that those who go from this imme-
diate locality are far above being
influenced by such considerations.
But it is not alone in the capitol
building that the lobby works, nor
is it by money alone that it carries
its purposes. The whole atmosphere
of Washington City is saturated
with its influences, the whole struc-
ture of Washington society is sub
servient to its behests-nay, it is
said that the Establishments of fe-
male lOveliness are chartered in its.
service. We are not speaking here
of the grOsser abuses of this sort,
though even these have been pressed
into the service; but we are speak
ing of the monde not the denai monde
we are speaking of respectable fe-
males on respectable sOciety-nay,
of the queens of fashion within the
most exclusive circles, as contribut-
ing to the resources of the lobby
against the people.
The Delilah against whose wiles
we are warning our Southern Samp-
sons is a lady, and very great lady,
too. Her husband is a member of
the cabinet or high army official,
or at least a wealthy Senator. When
we say wealthy we mean that his
mansion shows evidences of I'M
stinted expenditure, its suite of re-
ceptiOn rooms being open for enter
tainment several times a week with
flowers, music, dd H6itttH1 and as
for Mrs. Diplomat herself $50 we
will call herr, her velVetS and satins
and laces, her diamonds, pearls and
Opals occupy many columns in the
fashionable intelligence of various
provincial journals, nor are her pur-
chased splendOrs more superb than
her intrinsic attractions; her con-
versatiOn is as brilliant as her dia-
mOnds, her cOmplexion-well,it was
warranted first class and was inn
ported from Paris at the same time
with herWOrth costumes. Her fig
ure-well, Worth guarantees tOmake
any figure he operates upon to be
rendered perfect in symmetry. To
this splendid mansion Senator Ever
green Noodle from an inland dis
trict in a Southwestern State is in
Vited by this transcendent hostess.
Noodles vote is very urgently
needed for the terTenO-lunar railway
extension appropriation. He finds
himself amid 4 crowd of ambassa-
dOrs and attaches, counts, barons
and barOnets, cabinet ministers,
milliOnaires, and everything else that
is astonishing. 1t is still more as
tOnishing to him to find himself Sc
lected by the Hon. Mrs. Diplomat
for the distinguished honor of es-
cOrting her from one splendid saloon
to another, and from the latter to
the subdued light and cooler atmos-
phere of a conservatory shaded and
perfumed with tropical flowers in
the midst of winter. The light
and noise and heat were too much
for Mrs. DIS poor head, that's all;
Noodles head, never a strong one,
had already been dazed by the blaze
of light and the crash of music and
now, under the influence of Mrs.
Diplomats conversation, now grave,
now gay, now satirical, now senti-
mental, and again brilliant and lit
erary, he hardly knows whether he
has any head at all. Parenthetically