The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-06
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Hero Give. Very Interesting letter
Upon the Subject.
Special Correspondence
WASHINGTON. Jan. 3. s-Thc "eoason"
has now fairly begun Washington so
cicty has eagerly started on the merry
round. for which the New Years ioyce
ut the executive mansion was the signal,
and which will abatc only with the COM
ing of Lent What is Washington So
ciotvf 10 h. one Of the most interesting
things in the world 10 IS complex,
shifting. transiiorv as to individuals, not
thoroughly settled in its traditions. and
ruled altogether hy forces, two m mum
hrr which are not by any means the
highest types Of personal of social power.
Tho forces are politics and money get
fiuc There h. no other society in
America SOD completely dominated by
tUo such elements. Elsewhere family,
long residence. professional ar literary
ability count for much Here they
count for little a popularity of Wash
ington ecaciv is That It's leaders are
crowned or dOihronod at the ballot boxes.
The change of "a few thousand votes in
single state sweeps the major half
of this society away, scattcrs 1t
90 the four winds of the earth. and sets
in its place q new c0tcrie. Political for
tune has in times past brought % the
very forefront of this society individuals
OF uncouth person and rude manners.
~ o. have been presidents who spat TO-
h1cco Juice on the carpets in the White
House. and Mrs. Zach. Taylor used 10
smoke "a comcob pipe in the East room.
lllitOrlto coarse men. from control of
ignorant votes ina corrupt ward. through
power iu congressional district or a
state. and upward through all the stages
OF political ascent. have risen to the honor
of leadership in capital society. I'm its
greater and controlling part this is q
society OF politicians a price which the
people have had io pay for popular gov
eminent b. the Shame of seeing men
make bcaasol themselves in high places.
III the lottery of politics many unworthy
men have drawn great prizes. I'D days
gone bg these mon brought riiicuio upon
The country Travellers from foreign
lands cav here % their amaZoment 500
ciety leaders who smcllcd of tobacco and
whisky. who Wore mpoishCd boots 40
state receptions. who spilled wine and
punch on iho carpets of their hosts, who
know not tine uroprioties Of dress or the
renucmonts oi speech For decades 500
ci,tv &C this capital was the laughing
stock Of nations.
as
Tho system has not been changed.
bur thc people have changed Coarsencss
and unc0uthnoss have had their day aud
disappeared Politics still Is tho chief
creative factor in Washington aoclcty.
American cl0qumco and craftsmanship
may not have advanced q single step
since Tine days of Webster. Clay and
jackson. but tine national society has
made wonderful strides toward dccCncy
and genthiv Washington society D.
t,uicll of the growth of Che nation
Wealth h0s become factor in politics
greater than our iortiaihcrs dreamed Of
is ben- Wealth brings to the descend
ants OF ita g.tteI. III not 90 him, opp0r
tnnitie, f0 education. social intercourse
cultivation iu tho hc.. reiuCmcnts at thC
times The tendency of % community is
Away toward is highest types. The
best. and NOS thc worst IS initiated. orc
vice after another b. communicated:
the coarse and vicious mu ara l,lt by
the Wavllc. The nation ha, mado That
wonderful advance from tlc days Ol
jackson and TAYLOR which leads il now
Il, look I'D Id. manners of the mon T.
lonors Probably an Andrew Jackson
v-.iill nr. ror, boz elected president of