Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-03-06
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 26.

Murphy, MS olue rlOOon coh'er'o'
the various local temperance organlza-
tions with their red ribon adherents,
had monopoly of the celebrating busl-
ness on the 22d inst, Washington's
birthday Beyond fair display of
bunting and the stereotyped annual
observances INDUCED in by the Oldest
Inhabitants Association, no formal ce-
remonies were attempted by the Gov
ernment or the municipality, though
the day had been decreed a holiday
within the District confines. The
streets were crowded as usual whenev-
er the Departmental employe is let
loose and don't really know what to do
with him or herself. Then the ladies
composing the cream Of Washington
society were abroad on their daily
round of calls to excite the admiration
of the many beaus stationed along the
line of that thoroughtare to review
them, or to exasperate their sister less
successful IN obtaining her share OF
masculine attention and who was cor
respondingly indignant with those pos
scssed of greater attractions. But the
celebration by the temperance men was
the great feature of the day. Consld-
erng the number of people in Wash
iugton the procession was not large;
but the very fact that public sentiment
has so far advanced here as to tolerate
a tenn perance celebration at all, is en-
couraging Up to within a very few
years those here who were at all sensl-
tive to the drift of public, or ''society,'
opinion, shrunk from identifying
themselves in any conspicuous way
with temperance reform, because OF the
ridicue and other unpleasant things
they were sure to invite. it appeared
to be about the same up through the
various graduations of society till the
upper crust-rather the most lntoler.
ant probably-was reached. Even the
churches hung tenaciously to the old
doctrines and practices of the fathers.
Total abstnance was regarded as one of
the outcroppings of New England fana-
ticism and was cordially hated, of
course, by the old Washingto man who
moulded public opinion til. the Yankee
hordes brought by the war rooted him
out and took his place. But to-day [
believe every pastor Of an evangelical
church in this city is teetotaler as
are many of the lay members. And
the growth of a sound, healthy senti-
ment here since the close of the war
has been noted by all interested. But
it is to be regretted that the good
Murphy might have done has been
much restricted and impaired from the
lack of perfect accord between him and
his friends on the one hand, and some
of the temperance organizations on the
other. will not attempt to decide
between them. Murphy seems to have
lost none of his popularity with the
public. He yesterday addressed nine
or ten thousand hearers from the east
steps of the Capitol. One of the signi-
fcant features Of the celebration Friday
was the spectacle presented of one of
Washington's most popular Catholic
priests, on the stage with Protestant
clergymen, working shoulder to shoul-
der for the cause. The original NOV.
ers in the reconciliation cause-some
Of them at least-appear about the only
ones very unhappy over the modified
silver bill as passed by the Senate ard
concurred in by the House and which
goes to the President to-day for his
signature. Now that little time has
been allowed for reflection, I believe
the great mass who wese opposed to the
Bland movement because they feared 1t
covered scheme for initiation, are not
very rabid in their hostility, even if
not quite recouciled to the measure, as
it now stands. No one appears to have
any well.founded opinion as to what
the Presidents action will be; but as
we may reasonably expect the matter
decided in few days at most, I will