Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-12

He Says It's . Beautiful City and Pays Trib-
ute to Gov. Sheuherd,s Great Work

He Says It's = Beautiful City and Pays Trib-
ute to Gov. Shepherds Great Work.
This is q most beautiful city, said ex-Sena-
tor Blair to STAR reporter this afternoon.
when did I first visit washington2" re-
peated Mr.. Blair. at was in 1872 Now IL is
great city; then 1t but promised to be great.
came when Alexander Shepherd ruled the
District and met him very shortly after my
arrival His was a strong character. He
walked the streets like car and reigned as
though no authority could possibly be higher
than his. There was much that was striking in
his appearance, and Is see him now in the
mirror of my memory he impressed me as be-
ing bigger man than John L. Sullivan. A
good deal like Sullivan, Observation-Disclosures
for his task was gigantic. The
nations capital was a conglomerate mass Of
antique architecture, marshes, useless timber,
streets were lily paved and the worst would
beggar description. To evolve respectable
city from the natural thoughtlessly cultivated
chaos was the work and Shepherd applied him.
self to, and marvelously did he succeed.
GOV. SHEPHERDS GREAT WORK.
"He leveled mountains and filed up valleys;
tore down the unsightly and obstructive; built
after modern fashion; favored progress of all
kinds; and did thousand necessary things
which other men were too timid to think Of.
He called upon all sources of power for assist
ance, and even secured the services Of Satan
and made him labor for the city's improve
ment
''Some day this city will pay to Gov. Shop
herds memory the tribute which it deserves.
That means a great deal, too, for no one can
dispute the proposition that but for him this
magnificent capital Of ours would today be
but little better than it was twenty
years ago: OF course, much has been
done since Shepherds time, but these later
Improvements were made necessary by his
acts When he lowered the grade Of q street
twenty or thirty feet it naturally followed that
the houses also would some day have to come
down.
Many Of us will live to see the day when
million people will call this city their home.
Then petty prejudices will be lost in the praise
which Shepherd earned early in the seventies.
SUFFRAGE FOR WASHINGTON.
slow can Washington be improved Give its
inhabitants the right of suffrage; the right
which is not denied an American citizen in any
other place in this country. Until you folks
here can vote there will be more or
less hating in the progress Of the city.
II You do not demand suffrage now
the time will come when your slackness
will breed regret mean when the rings and
great monopolies that always Cypress a people
whose freedom is trammeled reach the limit
of their power and when the oppressed will
wreak fearful vengeance on tho oppressors.
What future is there for an American in WASH
lngton, unless he be in the newspaper business2
Real Americans will not make this their home
until the ballot exists within your borders.
What shall it profit man if he gain q resi-
dence in Washington and lose the greatest
privilege known to an American citizen? Just
think OF that little, won't you? The subject
will bear thought"