Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-02
The Evening star has q regular. permanent
bona Sse daily circulation more than treble
thar Of any other daily paper published In
Washington. and equal 70 that Of all the
ether daily papers here added Together.

" Washington. and equal 70 that Of all the
ether daily papers here added together.
The battle in the Senate opened sharply yes
teriay with two democratic challenges one the
minority report of the Judiciary committee and
the other a message from the President defin-
ing his position. The latter document Is un-
usual in matter and manner. Senator Ed
muDds went so far as to compare il to the arbi-
trary Communications of King Charles, the
first. to his parliament. Evidently. 1t will, for
the time being at least, Danish all hope and
thought of compromise. Its first fruit, indeed,
was the prompt rejection of Pillsbury and Chase
for offensive democratic craftsmanship. And
other reflections may be expected to follow.
The President writes with energy and feeling.
He more than intimates that the Senate, in its
call for information, is seeking to discredit his
professions of reform by making it appear that
his practice has violated the principles he laid
down at the outset Of his administration. He
makes the issue a personal one, and puts his
case at once before the people in plain, blunt
way that will gain it universal attention. The
keynote In his message Is the broad statement
towards the close: al am not responsible to the
Senate, and I am unwilling TO submit my
actions and official conduct to them for judg-
ment-" This is declaration of independence
which will be very unpalatable to the republic
can majority.
AS IL to anticipate a charge of executive ag-
grandizement of power, Mr.. Cleveland lays
special stress on his record in making official
changes Every pledge, he says, by which he
placed a limitation on his own exercise ofexecu-
tive power has been faithfully redeemed and
he concludes his message by q declaration that
neither discomfort in his own party nor the
alurements or threats of his political oppo-
nents shall turn him from the course he has
laid down to follow.
The Senate was not prepared to discuss this
serious communication In of-hand style and
50, after a few remarks by Mr.. Edmunds, the
chamber went into executive session. 1t Is ex-
pected that to-day the debate will formally
begin, and the prospects are that it will develop
considerable heat and bitterness. The repub-
hcans have the advantage in numbers and in
speakers; the democrats have behind them the
moral support on one side of the democratic
House and on the other q democratic admins
tration.
The admission by Commissioner Webb that
in selecting the notoriety-seeking crank, J. NJ
Gregory, for advisory school trustee, he was
not aware that Gregory had attempted, through
the courts, 10 force mixed schools on the
District, shows forcibly what we have
already urged,-the utter inability of the
Commissioners, burdened as they are with
other duties, TO assume the active manage
ment of the Public Schools. 1t was due to the
Intelligence and energetic action of the school
board. the Commissioners are now seeking to
abolish, that Gregorys mischievous attempt to
break down the admirable school system of the
District, in favor OF mixed schools, was frus-
trated. With an advisory school board made
up OF open advocates of mixed schools like
Gregory and DIR. Purvis and with Commissioner
Edmonds favoring mixed schools it Is alarm
1ngly possible that a similar attempt might sue
coed.
The anti-Mormon bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Woodburn, of Nevada is a more
drastic measure than anything yet proposed
by Senator Edmunds, in that 1t treats the Nor
mon church as essentially polygamous, and on
that account unlawful society Under
Ibis theory, which is the underlying principle
OF what is known as the Idaho law a man can
not be good Mormon without either being a
polygamist himself or aiding and abetting
polygamy in Others Hence the law takes cog
nizance not of the offense of plural marriages
simply, but of the society which sanctions and
shelters this Illegal practice. 1t has been
claimed that such a law invades the constitu-
tional guaranty of freedom of religious belief
But on two occasions the courts have sustained
the Idaho statute.
1t may easily be seen that religious belief
may bring its holder into conflict with the
state. If, for instance q sect arose that believed
in human sacrifice or human slavery it might
be necessary 10 proceed not simply against the
masters, but against the religious faith which
developed such enormities
The latest freak of fashion is amateur prize
fights The young bloOds in New York amuse
themselves and their lady friends by fsticuffs
in club ROOMS. and now we have q thrilling &C
count of a sparring match at Boston between
representatives of the Institute OF Technology
the Harvard Athletic Association and the
Young Mems Christian Association The match
was done up in the best form. The entries were
duly divided, under the rules of the ring into
feather-weight. lightweight and middle-weght
classes, and then the champions began to punch
one another. The first bout resulted in vic
tory for Mr. Williams, of the Young Mems
CHRISTIAN Association, who hit Mr.. Grew of
Harvard "a singing blow on the cheek which
knocked him senseless-" And conseQ uenrly as
Mr. Grew failed To come tn time Mr.. Williams
did not find IL Necessary, as n mode I'm Young
Christian, To- srnile him Oh the other cheek II
must DC added that Mr.. Grew was not the only
senseless person engaged il this incident as
Pusiiist or spectator
very busy and useful Lille was led by Mr.
henry Stevens who died on sunday in London
The name is a familiar one To all naval officers.
and associated in their minds with The sweetest
Oh memories, Tor II Was through his forwarding
agency that these wanderers in foreign waters
got their letters from home. Mr. Stevens was
Aiso Wen known TO many American travellers
who found in him = hospiiabIe countryman
ready and willing to assist them In their needs
As an authority ON books M Stevens had few
superiors, and his loss will be keenly felt by
collectors in both hemispheres
The Queen paid the United States q marked
attention yesterday by inviting the wife OF Min
lister Phelps 10 a private reception at Windsor
Castle This, in court etiquette, raised her to
the highest diplomatic rank, a distinction
which the representative OF this country does
not enjoy by the title and Office of minister.
which II grade below that OF ambassador
This act OF tine Queen shows her desire 10 main
tain cordial relations between her empire and
the United states
IL Is rather novel doctrine for anybody to tell
the universal Yankee nation that IL can't
make machinery of any sort, marine engines
included. We may be little crude as yet in
art and song and that sort OF thing, but IL takes
some hardwood TO decry our mechanical in
xenuity and dexterity.
company Of Brooklyn amateurs are going
70 give a theatrical performance for the beneflt
Of home tor consumptives. Appropriately
enough. The play they have selected tor repre-
sentation Is The Iron Chest"