Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-03-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, March Is, 1886

The Senate galleries are crowded
every day and many members OF
the lower House leave their end of
the Capitol for the unusual at
fractions now offered in the north
wing. Since Mr.. Edmunds' master
~ attack upon the Administration,
Mr.. Wilson, the Senator from Iowa,
has also thrown his lance at the roy
al prerogatives, and Senators Pugh,
Of Alabama, and Kenna, of West
Virginia, have made Democratic
contribution to the discussion. To
day again Senator Cullom of Illinois,
will speak from the Republican
stand.
Senator Wilson drew comparisons
between Darwin's protoplasm and
the Democratic doctrine of reform,
and asserted that to deny informa-
tion was to accuse public character.
He quoted the Presidents promise
that this Administrator was to act
behind glass doors, and was to have
C no secrets" This, Mr.. Wilson
said, was courageous and the coun.
try applauied it; but it had not las
ted long. The Administration prov
ed to be loaded down with secrets
and the glass doors had been aband-
oned.
This debate will afford the coun-
try fair opportunity to judge OF
the intellectual strength of the two
parties in the Senate. The Repub-
licans have advantage in numbers
and in speakers.
On Saturday the debate gave way
for an impressive funeral in the Sen
ate chamber. The Executive, Leg.
islative, and Judicial branches OF
the Government, and the represen-
tatives of foreign nations, united IN
paying a tribute of respect to the
late Senator Miller of California. 1t
was just twelve years ago on that
day that Congress and other public
functionaries assembled in the Sen
ate chamber to participate in the
funeral rites of the distinguished
Senator, Charles Sumner.
AS on that day, the chamber was
draped in black, in honor of Mr.. Mil
Ter, and the ceremonies were strik.
lngly and appropriately simple. No
eulogies were attempted, and the
solemn service for the dead of the
Episcopal church was finished in
less than half an hour. Then the
Marine band, playing funeral
dirge, headed procession of Sen
ators to the depot, where Pullman
hotel Car and palace sleeping car
awaited the family and Congress.
ional Committee. 1t is estimated
that the expense Of transporting the
late Senator's remains to California
on special train and sending with
it committee which will return in
the same way, will be $4,000.
Washington society has just con
Guided another fashionable season,
and the transition from gay to pen
sive, in the past week, has been alb
solute. 1t has become the fashion
to observe, or to appear to observe
Lent in this city, and on last Wed.
nesday morning many bellies of the
ball room, their hopeful mamas and
watchful chaperones, were seen in
demure costume vending their way
to church. The places of worship
are daily well filed, though the con
gregations are made up largely OF
women, who seem to be more willing
than the sterner sex to make amends
for indulgence in gayety.
The tendencies of social life in
Washington have long been of q
character to make the judicious, moi
to say pious, grieve, and suggest
such antetypes as Babylon and Par
is. No one who has not spent season
at the Capital can have and ade
quate idea of the recklessness and
extravaganza that pervades of
fetal and social life. 1t was not
thus in the earlier, simpler days Of
the Republic. Wealth has brought
display, and the prevalence Of an
easy morality has made the Nation
al Capital winter resort for a spe
cies of wealthy pleasure seekers who
bring in their wake horde of ad
ventures and resolutes. who, if they
do not compose, at least color what
is called society. Moral worth and
character are not essential to sOcia
advancement, nor are intelligence
and what are called the minor yir
tues. Almost anyone who has
wealth sufficient for the mainten
ance of outward appearances, car
become leaders.
The secular press throughout the
country has here correspondents by
the hundred, who keep before the
public rose hued pictures of the in