National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-10-08
LAH-DE-DAHi
An E-thetie Editorial from An Oscar
wilde Editor.
From the Washington Post Of yesterday.
A pnIIrE ERA In TILE WHITE HOUSE.


From the Washington Post Of yesterday.
POLITE ERA IN THE WHITE HOUSE
We cordially agree with our respected
Eastern contemporary, the New York Sun, in Its
expressed hope that Mr. Arthur will bring to the
White House some social habits which have long
been strangers therein. We trust, too, that Wash.
ington will feel their influences, and respond in
kind. We have had surfeit Of Western Presi.
dents, and even the one who was set up in the
White House to do Presidential duties could not
supply in the novelty Of his relationship with au-
thority the want which was so evidently felt
Since Buchanan drove away from the White
House steps the centre Of social attractions in
Washington has been presided over by Western
people, with their orudties and peculiarties Of
manners which have made a memory Of earlier
times aboutthe only relief nom positive ennui.
Lincoln came first, thoroughly Western man In
education, associations, and manners. Honest and
tre-hearted, yet lacking painfully In that degree
OF culture and knowledge of the amenities OF
social life which mark the children of new and
thinly settled section Of country. Johnson fol-
lowed, with but little improvement on the ways OF
his predecessor; and yielded to Grant, who took
into the Presidential Mansion with him his love
Of dogs and horses, his vulgar habits and notions,
and even failed to close Its doors against his still
more vulgar associates lie could not understand
the difference between show and taste, between
Washington society," and passion for gaudy exhi-
bition, vulgar wealth and power took possession Of
that class OF people most nearly connected with
him in taste and affiliations. The leaders Of Wash
ington society were those who could make the
greatest display OF thet wealth, II mattercd not by
what means II came into their possession; and II
is but truth TO say that period in the history Of
society at the Capital exhibited so low stage nor
one where depraved taste 30 crowded out the re.
nnp mi nf obi apd brandiau Mrq
Hayes, after trying to make stand against the
fashionable customs demanded by her position,
yielded to the ways Of Washington life and carried
her fondness for costly toilets almost to excess.
But she could not compensate for the want
OF polish In her husband who brought with him
from Ohio the ways OF the politician OF middle
rank, and his absurd attempts to make himself n
teacher Of manners were too plainly hampored by
his reflections cnncerning his questionable right
to dispense the hospitalties OF the Mansion. His
ostentaous professions Of religious sentiment, In
the Light of the history of the process
which foisted him upon the country
as its Chief Magistrate and OF sub
sequent events, only served to render him
ridiculous, and TO bring disoredit upon religious
principles. OF Mr.. Garfeds social characteristics
1t Is not possible TO speak, owing to the brief period
of time and the distressing circumstances Of ILL.,
ness which prevented their development; but he
too was Western man. though his amiablc quail
ties and higher education, coupled with the un-
obtrusiyc, womanly character OF his wife, might
have wrought change in the social life at the
Capital so long needed.
And now, while we cannot echo the egotsm of
our respected contemporary, which makes it think
that New York is the only polite centre Of Amerl-
can society, nor yet recognize New Yorker as the
only claimant to the title OF gentleman, we are
free to say that feeling of gladness attaches TO
the thought that the crudties and pcculiGrites of
tho Western plnins are about to give place to the
polite society.