The daily gazette., 1878-01-28
SECOND EDITION
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

FUNERAL AND NuPTIAL PAGEANTRY--
THE JousT BETWEEN THE MOOSE HUNT
ER AND COD FIsHERs-BLAINE RRDI-
vIvUs-D1PLoMACY-B INGERsoLL.
From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, jan 25.-This has been,
i'll some respects, an eventful week in
Washington. "With mirth in funeral,
and dirge in marriage" we have beheld
the imposing obsequies of one Catholic
king, and the celebration of the nuptials
of another while in the Senate, there
has been the always interesting entertain
ment of Senator Blaine in his great role
of Hercules farens, pitching into Boston,
Plymouth Rock, aud everything else that
is sacred, stirring up the enervated con-
ceit of the Old Bay State to something
like resistance. 1t had been supposed
that the most popular of Republican
leaders, broken by disappointments, fail
ures, and i'll health, had lost his prestige
and his fire but those who know him
best, with the many who witnessed his
attack on Massachusetts, are convinced
that there is much of the Phoenix blood
in him yet Certainly no man of our
times succeeds in keeping himself so con-
tinualy alive in public interest as the
favorite at the Cincinnati convention.
His antagonists in the recent .joust were
not Ben Hill and Ben Butler, a fact not
much in their favor. Massachusetts,, in
the Senate, is not that heavy mental force
that the high pressure culture OF Boston
might be supposed to evolve. Senator
Dawes, from being leader in the House,
has become minus quantity in the SEN
ate, hidden in the umbrCe cast by Conk-
ling, Blaine, Thurman, Bayard, Matthews,
VOORHEES, and others. Senator Hoar,
gives the impression of a safe lawyer,
with a village reputation, having an in
stinct for mi,iutg but not for the compre-
hension of general principles Shades of
Sumner and Webster, can it be that these
are all that remain of thee?
The entertainment given by the Span
ish Minister in celebration of the mar
riage of the King of Spain has been the
social event of the season. 1t was attend
ed by a brilliant throng of diplomats in
in uniform, and many Senators, Repre-
sentatives, and distinguished personages
Of the Cabinet, bench, bar, politics and
lobby.
1t is significant fact, and one that
will be considered soon by the press and
people, that the old legitimate occupa-
tion of the diplomatist is gone, and that
now instead of being up to their eyes in
intrigues, involving frontiers and thrones
ceremony-oalling and receiving calls
giving and eating dinners, while the ex-
quisite Attaches of legation devote their
time 10 fiirtaaon an Pennsylvania Ave-
nue., wearing exquisite gloves and eye
glasses, but i'll fitting coats over corsets,
all imported duty free.
Mr.. Hewitt will soon Introduce a bill
| in, the sHoase for the consolidation of
our entire foreign service. 1t Will be
In. .,ff 1iota
in Paris or London, and with branch
Offices at the more important capitols of
Europe to transact all necessary busi ness
aud keep posted as TO all the Secret mach
inations of our enemies, if we have any,
But the fact is the day of Vaccinations
IL passed. In modern governments, of
respectable power, all foreign relations
and measures are discussed In the jour-
mails, and debated publicly In Houses of
Commons, Corps Legislatiff, and Diets,
in full time for other peoples to take
cognizance Of them. The most accom-
plshed diplomatist would never he able
10 coiupste with the modern newspaper
IN knowing and making public the
councils OF kings and cabinets. The press
has usurped the place of diplomacy. and
any man who can buy paper, NAV be
better posted in his day than were Talley-
rand and Matternich In their time.
that / must not emit in IA history of the
week. refer to the lectures OF Bob. In
gersoll and Senator Voorhees,.
The lecture OF the former was an attack
upon hell, heaven, the past, and future.
Indeed he denounced pretty much every
thing except the present and tangible.
Mr.. Ingersol, unlike Shakespeare, repeats.
His last lecture was, In some parts the
hash of lecture delivered here few
weeks since. He presented nothing new
under the sun on either occasion, but
for those who care to study the tenden-
cies of contemporary Thought, 1t is worth
while to observe the effect of the ideas of
Voltaire and Paine, rebahilitated in the
skepticisin of modern science, upon an
epitomo of nations intelligence, as
seen in its representative meu. His au-
disnce was the largest that ever filed the
hall Many ladies were compelled to
stand, for every seat had been preenga-
ged. A reference to Tom Paine was the
occasion for prolonged cheers. The re-
mark thai he would not drink skim milk
in this world that he might have butter
IN the next, brought down the house; and
every attack upon the church and the
clergy was loudly applauded.