The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-03-24
OUR RAsHINGTON LETTER.
[From our On Corrsspondent.

From our Ot0f3 Correspondent.
P07ygGnly BigI-Ho1D 1T eCGs passed
Congressional Ezoquef5ce Disc0uTdg-
ing for. Temperance Workers. White
House Dinners. Churches and Oper-
attic Music.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. March 20, 1882.
Tt will be no news for any one to be
told that the bill for the suppression of
polygamy has passed both houses and
become a law. This is the most i'm
portant enactment of the present SEES
sion. This bill was originated and
championed by Republicans in the sem
ate, and passed that body, after deliber-
ate consideration as to its moral, social
and constitutional bearings. When
the bill reached the House for concur
renee, the Republican members were
satisfied to adopt it as it came from the
Senate, without going over the ground
of discussion again, unnecessarily
consuming time. The Democrats pro-
tested against passing the bill, unless
it was thrown open to discussion and
amendment. 1t was claimed as
/ Republican measure; therefore, what
ever of merit might attach to it by the
people would accrue to that party. In
view of that fact the Democrats those
friendly to the bilD were intent on
amending it in some way, so that 1t
should go before the country, at least
in part, IS Democratic legislation.
| Nearly two days were consumed in
making motions and raising points of
order, chiefly from the Democratic
side, in order to carry their point.
When the final vote was reached,
many of the Democrats who had ex-
pressed dissatisfaction with the bill
during the debate recorded their
names in favor of it. The bin passed;
yeas, 1919; nays, ~. The, nays were all
Democrats, and mostly from the South.
Many of the speeches on the anti
polygamy bill, while under considera-
ton in Congress, were able, eloquent
and instructive The best Senatorial
talent was brought into the debates,
from different sections in the Union.
Mr.. Williams, of Wisconsin, made q
short speech in the House, which, for
eloquence of diction, he may before
have equalled, but never surpassed on
the floor Of Congress. 1t has been
complimented in leading public jour
nails as among the finest specimens OF
Congressional eloquence.
DIsCOURAGING FOR TEMPERANCE
WORKERS.
Temperance workers in Wisconsin
and elsewhere cannot draw encourage
ment from the condition of temperance
matters at the National Capital. To
say nothing Of the return of the high
er officials to the old-time practice of
providing wines and Intoxicating
beverages at receptions, which prac-
tice was to a large extent discontinued
during the term of Office Of President
Hayes, there are other indications that
the use of alcoholic liquors, instead of
being discouraged, are becoming more
strongly entrenched.
The manufacture and sale of distill-
ed spirits appears to be gaining in
favor in Congress. Hobbies represent
ing large monied interests in the liquor
business are besieging Congress to take
off a large per cent Of the tax on Whis-.
key. Similar influences are also
brought to bear for reduction of the
tobacco tax. The Committee Of Ways
and Means, which has these matters in
charge, it is said will report in favor
of large reduction of the whiskey tax,
also the tobacco tax. The present tax
on whiskey and tobacco are the largest
items of revenue to the Government.
| Members Of Congress who advocate
reduction Of the tax on Whiskey say it
will not diminish the revenue, for the
reason that the manufacture and sale
Of Whiskey will be largely increased by
cheapening it in the market. The
logic of this is, reduce the price of
Whiskey, and enough more will be
drunk by the people to keep mp the
revenue to its present figures. There
| is a breed of statesmen, so-called, who
thrust humanity aside, and take moth
ing into account but dollars and cents.
If the whole country be deluged with
cheap whiskey. and, as legitimate
consequence, epauperism, crime and
human suffering be increased a hum
dred fold, it matters not, so long as the
U. S. revenues do not suffer.
SOCIAL DI NNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The President gave his third social
dinner last Wednesday evening, in
tended for the Judges of the Supreme
Court, their wives, and few Senators.
Reporters for the city papers describe
it as q most brilliant affair. The din
ner lasted from 1880 to 10:30-three
hours. Among the great number Of
table attractions were six varieties Of
wine An evening paper remarked
| Uncivilly, perhaps) the dinner might
have lasted an hour or two longer had
not the wine given out.
THE CHURCHES AND oPERATIC MUSIC.
There has been marked change in the
music of church choirs in Washington
during the past ten years. Prior to
that period, the old, simple and impress
sive tunes which had been sung for q
half century or more, were the pre-.
vailing choir music. Less than>a doz-
oH years ttS0 Ilo optIduIC Stylc VI silly
ing was not heard in any of the
churches; now it has worked it's way
into many of the leading ones. Sing
ing and chanting have always been re-
garded as helps to devotional worship.
Many of the old familiar tunes are in
spring and soul-lifting, not alone for
the music itself, but for the words and
sentiments to which the music is suit
ed. Operate singing does not impress
the devotional mind it excites admira-
ton by its artistic warblings, trills and
shakes, running through every scale of
the musical scale.
A pious gentleman who attends a
popular church on G street was asked
| if he heard that beautiful and impress
sive hymn, Nearer, my God, to Thee"
rendered by Miss p. on the preceding
Sabbath? He replied that he heard it,
and could not help thinking God was
further off when she finished her oper-
attic warbling than when she began.
The ambition of many churches for
securing the most attractive music is