Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-31

Next to the disappcintments handed around so
plentifuily by Speaker Carlisle In the composition
OF the House committees. about the most unwel-
come Christmas present that could be rendered TO
the honorable g'.ild OF American statesmen came
ia the publication OF batch OF Mr.. c. T.. Hunting
tons letters, written several years ago, In regard
% Pacific railrold matters and methods These
unique documents place In a very embarrassing
position number Of gentlemen more or less
prominent in political affairs, some of whom have
already passed into welcome obscurity, but a few
.ylArG are still 10 public lie, with future hopes
but which must be much less sustaining now than
they were few months ago As for the letters them
selves, they are far from being models either in
grammar or morals They throw a strong side
light or the, manner in which rich corooratfons
manage Congress, and are calculated on the whole
blower legislative bodies generally In the estima-
ton 1.-THE public At the same time they show their
writer To De a capital Judge OF men and character
se.ear-headed business man, with his eye always
On the main chance. and possessed Of a faculty OF
expressing his views, II hot with elegance at least
with Vl2oT and painneSS The curious thing about
the affair Is that a man Of Mr.. Huntington's sa-
Gacity and experience In that line should haze
written 50 many and such compromising letters,
ana under circumstances, TOO. which made their
preservation certain and their seeing the light at
some time very probable. Men situated as General
Cotton was are not likely to destroy such effective
ammunition as would be afforded In certain con-
tingencies by trunk full of the kind OF letters
written to him by Nj Huntington.
Democratic politicians who NAV be disposed to
favor civil service reform should Tot fail to observe
the position In which Senator Pendetoa Il row
placed py reason OF his dalGnce with that seductive
siren His chances for reelection are now treIn-
Ding Ia the balance, with a strong probability that
Mr Vest vii! occupy his present Corrected, seat,
while the name of some democrat made of sterner
stun VIII take mis- place the Senate payroll 1t
Is true tnat MI Pendleton has some personal an
tagonisilS 10 encounter In his canvass. and there
are local questions to be met and settled but all
these, there Is reason 10 believe could be overcome
Wnen Squarely confronted by his acknowledged
talent, MS high personal character and his ability
ana experience as a legislator. But against the
blunt charge that he Is in favor of Keeping repubi-
Cans In Office when the democratic party is in
power there Is little ground for hope that anything
cdn prevail BY that sign he will be conquered If he
fdls, as now seems likely. That is the unforC-iT-
able sin In the eyes o. the democratic party by and
ifTge, no matter what an occasional leader may
say 1t Is the real ground Of opposition to Mr. Pen
detoi ana the fact that the fight against him is
evenly made on that issue is significant 1t
early indicates what the fate OF civil service re-
fITn VIII be when the democratic party comes into
power and It's bone and sinew have something to
Say In regard TO its policy and practices
|
Ihls Is the day OF PREPARATION. The gentlemen
are locking over their cravatS and gloves making
their list" revolving the question of hack-hre and
praying that IL won't be sloppy. The ladies' are
Seeing that the cake IS baking nicely and that the
new dresses Mt. Two annually RECURRING questions
are Yex1ng people Of uncertain minds one is that
OF the gentlenan's dress Here the voice OF au-
IhoFiCy l. explicit. \ New Years call Is a morning
call. and should not be maize In full dress The
olctun OF fashion In this matter is however, not
universally followed even by those who are SUD-
posed 10 know what's what" The second Oues-
ton involves the character OF the rereshment TO be
SET beIOTe guests And here again fashion has
pretty much made I'D its mind that it Is not true
hospitality 10 turn ones house into bar-rooIn and
furnish Tree intoxicating drinks TO those who call
Few people had alcoholic sfieboarris last New
ears day. and the tendency is towards their abo,i-
toh altogether "a feature OF the DAYS entertain
nlent In this matter fashion is on the side of NOR
AMY comfort and common sense. II the New Years
cal IS "a morning c9ll7 In the matter OF dress If f.
logical that ii shCulc be also in that of hospitality.
and punches and liquors are not included I'm the
entertainment lady offers gentleman caller at
such time.