The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-09
"JEFFERsoNIAN SIMPLICITY"

"JEFFERSoNIAN SIMPLICITY"
How 1t Is Practiced end Illustrated by the
Present administration.
Special to the INDIANAPOLIS journal
WAsHISGroS, Jan. 8-"What has become OF
h ose correspondents who used to print columns
upon columns about the extravarance of the
Republican administration, and later on prate
about the 'Jeffersonian simplicity of the Demo-
cratsa" said an old member of Congress to me.
II remember how they seized upon every pre-
text TO abuse President member of the
Cabinet upon a little excess in living that was
above the common" he CON ahmed "and espe-
cially how poor George Fl. Williams was bounded
ard made spors of because when he Attor.
ney-general it was discovered that he kept a
landau at the governments expense % ride in.
His whole political life was absolutely wrecked
by il. Yet to-day there is hardly Cabinet
officer who does not do the same thing in the
name of Jeffers oman simplicity.
There never was time in the history Of the
country when there were many extrava CANT
excesses in official life at the capital as have
been seen in this Democratic administration,
brought into power by anc based .Jeffer-
sonan simplicity Nothing, just after the war,
when high living and extravagant show outside
of official life the rule, could compare with
what we see every day now.
when Cleveland came in the Democratic
papers were filed with descriptions of his plain
manner OF living and transacting business, even
to saying that he sat ia his shirt-slseves day in
and day out.
During the first few weeks of the admins
tration the dispatches burdened with the
details of the number of horses and carriages
sold by the different Cabinet officers and q re-
cital of how great saving in money was there
by made to the treasury. and how the govern
ment was at last coming back to a basis of the
severe Jeffersonian simplicity of fathers
They even went so far as to describe how each
member of the Cabinet traversed the distance
between his plain and unpretendlng quarters
and his Department.. One rode in the street
cars another walked, another rode horseback
tcare being taken always to say it was his own
horse). and so on In tiresome prolixity.
but to-day there is not Cabinet officer (un-
less 1t be Garlandl who has not his governments
carriage that would throw poor George Williamss
landau in the shade. Yet the dispatches from
correspondents have failed to record single In
stance of the change In the conditions OF Jeffer-
sonan sim piicity.
I'm Republican days IL the President or
Cabinet officer gave dinner. at which better
table service than the usual everyday kind WAS
used or viends richer than bacon and cabbage
were set before the guests, ornamentation
more gaudy than a suntiower permitted at
once the howl went out through the Democratic
press of the violence done to JeffersoniaE sim
plicity, and q change was demanded. Yet
week does not pass that the society columns of
the city press not filed with the descriptions
of the princely dinners given by the President
and his Cabinet officers the like of which was
never before known. i remember il was off,
caly stated that one dinner given by the Sec
retary of the Navy cost over 81. 900. and there
q very small company present at that.
II find in the columns of the Post. the acknnwl-
edged organ of the President, the following de-
scription of a dinner given last Thursday night:
1.-The President and Mrs. Cleveland enter
tanned the Cab net at the White House last
night ct state banquet of thirty covers There
never vas such elaborate floral ornamentation
in the East Room. 1t Was a miniature forest,
and the effect in breaking it's great length by
pyramids of tall tropical plants in the center
spaces between the divan and the north and
south windows was very tasteful. The window
inches and mantels were banked up with green.
The long mantels had mosaics in cut flowers
pale roses predominating, sprayed with carna-
tions. The central divan, which is a recent ac-
QUESTION to the room. had plants atop Of it,
which reached to the hanging smilax from the
chandelier just over II. In the Green and Red
tells aud tables. In the state dining
room, the mantels were covered with
mellias running through The table was a
liable bouquet. There being only thirty guests
to be seated. 1t was small aud in shape an
elongated oval. The center plateau had its
mirrored surface oval center piece of red
roses. with outside border of spikes OF white
hyacinths There were tail cornueopa baskets
filled with roses and topped off with orchids &C
either end of the plateau. At the ends OF the
table there were overfowine vases of roses.
L wo tall triumphs or the cooks skill were at
either end. q srearne stand for the pates,
the other q sugared edifice with conserves and
canGied fruits top The table was lighted with
tall and low candelabra, the tapers being
tipped with white. pink and ruby shades AS
each cover were mum bers of wine and champagne
glasses excepting at Mrs. Cevelands place,
where there was ouly water goblet and glass
for Apoliinars. The corsage bouquets for the
ladies entirely of orchids, with asparagus
vines for foliage, tied with long yellow satin rib
bons The boutonnierss were OF n single rosebud
and eeranium leaf, with tiny spray OF valley
lilies
'.And we are to believe that this ia Jeffersoni-
simplicity. It is safe 70 say that the cost of
the flowers used last night amounts to
than the cost OF all the dinners Jefferson gave
during his entire term.
Understand me. am not who thinks
the President any official has not q right TO
give these expensive dinners Ii he can afford it,
and pays for is. / am complaining of the want
of consistency and fairness IN the treatment by
the Democratic papers, and Of the cant and
demagogism displayed. am tired and sick OF
the Jehersonian simplicity cry. and want the
country TO know the truth"
LAMAR RESIGNS.