The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-08-04
Our Washington Letter.
TOUR REGULAR LETTER. |
WASHINGTON, D. c., July 80, 1888.

TOUR REGULAR LETTER
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 80, 1888.
The usral summer hegira of those
whose purses are long enough to enable
them to hegirate is practically ended,
although the President is yet here exud-
ing perspiration a. the Soldiers Home.
Were it not for the blistering concrete
with which nearly all the streets, ave-
nues and sidewalks are paved, WASH
ington would be one OF the most comfor-
table of summer residences, because
her wide and wellshaded thoroughfares
admit all the breezes that distribute
themselves from the open Virgins bol-
der and the always breezy Chesapeake.
Years ago it was no unusual thing for
Congress to extend its long sessions way
into August, but that was b.fore the
Inauguration of the Newport and Sara
toga txactiuns upon fashionable society.
Nor was it then customary for the Presi-
d mt, save on rare occasions, TO leave
the city during his term of office, de-
spite the fact that the White House Was
located where malarial fever and con-
comltant diseases were constant mem
ace. The interminable journeys rtquir-
ed for menibers of Congress- 10 reach
their homes before the railroad epoch,
kept mary of them here during vaca.
ton, and Gadsby's and the more promi-
nent hotels did quite as lively busint IS
in the swelteriug S, ason as during the
Congressional term. 1t may be, how
ever, that our latter-daY statesmen are
not able to stand as much of SUNNI. I
heat as the Websters and Cllys and
CalhounS of forty years ago, when iced
tea and other cooling liquid reresIm uts
nursed through a straw were in their ill.,
fancy. Washington then MS now took
the lead in everything pertaining t.
matters OF social intercourse, aud the
inevitable dinner party WAS never al
lowed to suffer interruption during the
hottest days OF the heated tenn, thoTgh
dancing was at decided Discount Sc
ber. There were no swell parties at thu
capital in those days, simply because
they would not be tolerated. Tley were
all matter-ot-iact sort of people, who
were too close upon the revolution tc
countenance snobbery eyeu in its mild
est form; yet some of them yet live tC
see their degenerate sons and daughters
with such strong tendency toward the
aristocratic mannerisms ef Europe as tC
make us fear for the safety of our boastet
democracy and homespun civility,
The Indian problem will come in fol
its annual airing at the coming Session
of Congress, by some strong recon
mendations from Secretary Teller look
ing to the abolition of those customs
and habits of Mr. Lo which have hith
erto operated as hindrances to any ap
preaching civilization, While it may b,
admitted that Congressional euactmen
has no little potency in many directions
there is cause for apprehension that
statute prohibiting the rerpetuation 0
those customs that absolutely make NJ
the existencs of the Indian will hav
about as much effect rs the Pope's bul
against the comet. Deprive the IGdinl
of those saltatory amusements found il
the sun. dance, the calp-dauce, the war
dance, and the horribly superstition
conjurings of the tnedicine-man, and h
is deprived Of all that he conceives
worth living for. 1t strikes most de
morali2ing blow at his social condition
and in SO much stands ia the way of an
attempt to invest him with any sent
meat favorable to civilized life. Th
long haired phIlanthropists who at dis
tauce of thousand miles view the II
dians ns a man brother, and who gatt
er their notions of his condition frcl
all sorts of impossible legends aud poet
cal romanoes, are satisfied to coDtinu
him in his character of the nations war
aud encourage him in the capacity of "a
able bodied loafer, who never in Il
world will get out of the way of civilii
alton so long as there is q governmeI
to feed aud clothe hlm. Had it not bee
for this mistaken public sentiment at II
east, long stride toward civilizing Ii
border savage would have been mad
years ago, when the government resolve
to make the Indian go to work aud ear
his living. The s'me meHsurs shoul
be again adopted and thoroughly eI
, forced, so that il the Ipdian is really 81
cepiible Of bring hronght 10 a eondilio
of civilization it may be demonstrate,
Tnere woHli be something tangible an
utilizing in an enacimt Mt that woul
compel an Indian 10 90 To work au
abandon bis / illness and hls predatoI
; aud waTlike habits, which, being dom
a he xeuld become member Of the bod