The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-02-26
Washington Letter.
ttrom our regular correspondent
W ASuTxGTo~ Fpb - 1884

" ASHISGTDN. EeD. -. lSeh.
Yesterday being the anniversary of
Washingtom's birthday, neither House of
Congress was IN session, and the Govern
ment machinery stopped, as usual, in honor
of the day Although there was no formal
celebration in this city there were a num-
Der of suitable observanees The Oldest
Inhabitants Association met, read Wash
ington's farewell address. and some Of the
members made speeches. The Washing
ton Monument Association also had
meeting and served luncheon TO some dis
tinguished guests. including Senators,
Judges. ministers. Generals. etc. Then
there We're some military parades, National
airs were played on the Metropolitan
church chimes. and the Washington Con-
tinentals made pilgrimage to Mount
Vernon, where they were addressed by
Congressman Cabell, OF Virginia. Compton,
of Maryland, and Gen. Black, the present
Commissioner of The Pension Office.
The city has been under siege by female
suffragists since wrote Won. The women
have gone, however, iubilaut over their
lively convention, and the church that re-
sounded with their eloquence is, this week,
at the service of an Educational conven-
ton. The advocates OF woman suffrage
were granted hearing by the House
Judiciary committee, before which they
plead their own cause. Among the ora
tors of the occasion were Mrs Merriweather
and Mrs. Minor, of Missouri, Miss East
Mrs Bennett, of Kentucky, Mrs. Field, of
Louisiana, (who is the ''Catharine Cole
of the Ne,e Orleans Pieayuht,) Mrs. Sewell,
of indianapolis, and Mrs. Cougar of In
diana. The latter probably made the most
striking remarks. She asked the Com
mittee to let the question 80 to the State
Legislatures. saying they need not commit
themselves TO the principle. She said she
was not for suffrage, but for the salvation
of society and Of the country. The Gov
ernment was ruled by the cities, and the
cities were ruled by the slums. She want
ed to put the intelligent woman's vote as
Woman did not want suffrage, suffrage
needed woman. Womans vote should be
the reserve force upon which the intelli-
gent men of the country would have to
call to preserve them from degradation
and crime. She pointed out the election
troubles in Chicago and Ohio to show that
for the want of more intelligent voters the
government was being run by the criminal
classes at these elections. Gentlemen,
she said, You are kind, you arc gallant.
We ask you to be just" The Committee,
of which Randolph Tucker. of Virginia. is
chairman, listened TO the ladies with re-
spectful attention. When the last speech
had been made, Susan B. Anthony. who
is mistress of ceremony at all the suffrage
conventions, presented the committee with
history of the suffrage movement from
its beginning up 10 the present time. Il
will continue TO make history ont of your
actions ON this question, said she, until
we get sixteenth amendment to the Con-
stitution'
Since every Congress gives a week or
two to the Fitz John Porter business. now
that the General has been disposed of by
! the House for this winter, it is hoped that
body will get down to real work All of
the Democrats and sixteen Republican
members voted 10 restore General Porter
to his position IN the army and retire him
with pay The bill will now go to the
Senate, where its friends think it will have
four majority, although the Republicans
have control of the Upper House
| The Senate has the Blair Educational
| bill still under treatment. Senator Evarts
defended the measure, leading its bittercst
opponent, Senator Morgan, to say he was
sorry that one of the greatest of American
lawyers should have declared himself in
favor of the absolutism of Congress. Mr..
Morgan's references To the Constitution
gave Mr.. Ingalls, another opportunity 10
be sarcastic THE Constitution, " said lie,
SIS made for the people, and not the peo-
pie for the Constitution. Government is a
thing of to- day and not of yesterday" He
said he had listened with rapture to the
disquisitlons of the political psychologists
who have made subtle explorations into
the subterranean recesscs of the Constitu-
ton. and the inner consciousness of its
founders. All this had Undesirable de-
light for those who are inquiring what
should be done to-day But the Senator
from Kansas thought it was like turning
from Pennsylvania Avenue to the buried
streets of Hercal;eum and Pompeii to as
certain what were the opinions of the poll
tieians in Rome in regard to the coinage Of
the silver dollar and the reform Of the Civil
Service.
In political circles the arrangement of
the Administration policy regarding Off
cial changes submitted by Senator Ed
munds is the chief topic of comment
Some OF the Republican Senators show
lukewarmness in following Mr.. Edmunds'
lead which may initiate against very
stubborn controversy The battle is 10
begin about next Monday. Whether it
will be followed by very bloody war re-
mains to be seen. WESTON.
Hon John B. Finch, the present head Of
the order of Good Templars for the
world. and Chairman of the National