Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-01-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. d. C, December

Merry Christmas pealed the church
bells yesterday. Merry Christmas said
the tin horns. Merry Christmas
whistled the northeast wind with the
chills of coming snow IN it. Merry
Christmas said the president. the news
boy. everybody, everything. Even the
horses sprawled about grotesquely on
the slippery pavements last night as if
they, too. had snccombed to the gen.
eral jollity and ''eggnog." The snow
was not expected for the weather Office
said nothing about it; but it was none
the less seasonable and welcome-wel-I
come, because of what use would new
sleds be without it. In the White
House and in the gay centers of official
social life there were merry parties of
relations and friends. In the cabinet
homes the usual programmes were
carried out. Christmas was Christmas
everywhere, and the great holidays
spirit was to be found OH all hands and
in all conditions of society.
1t is only within the past ten years
that Christmas has become a popular
festival in New England. Representa-
tive Morse. of Massachusetts,, remem-
bers that when he was boy there was
no thought of celebrating Christmas in
his section of the country. The old
Puritans, regarding Christmas as
Catholic festival m,do If q r,oipt fr in
more it, and worked harder than usual
ON the very day when all the rest of the
world was merry making. Nowadays,
however, the New Englanders welcome
almost equals the feeling in the south.
The spread q the observance of Christ
mas is, to Mr.. Morse's mind, an over
whelming answer to lnfidelity.
Republican senators interested in the
passage of the elections bill indicated
yesterday that after the holidays the
cloture rule would be taken up and an
attempt made to pass it. They state
that the rule can be favored by sitting
it out and then have majority here to
pass it. However, the programme of
sitting it out will be one at which two
can play. 1t will necessitate republi-
can quorum in the senate chamber at all
| hours of the day and night, while the
democrats will only need half a dozen
faithful takers and watchers. As a
matter of fact. the feeling that the rule
cannot pass is growing. If it is roi
agreed to. republicans cannot pass
any contested measures unless the,
compromise with the democrats, and
many of them would rather vote fol-
the rule than to admit that they are in
the hands of the minority. The sort
in the opinion of that staunch republi
can newspaper, the Philadelphia In
quirer. is to close out on the election:
bill. set it aside, lay it over. give it uI
altogether, anything to clear the tracl
for more important legislation, that i:
suffering by reason of the obstruction
About one-third of the session is prac
ticaily gone already. and the motion oi
the Inquirer would seem to be in order
as substitute for Mr.. Aldrich' s cloture
resolution. TIE time that has beer
wasted on this matter could have beer
put to much better use for the republi
can party and the country at large.
There has been cOnSpicuously observ
able of late. the tendency among the
farmers of the country, especially in
the west and south, to originate move
ments and to effect the combinations
whereby they may be enabled to exer
else their legitimate influence In the
councils of the nation and of the states
and this is fully justified by considera
tiOns of wise expediency. There is M
class of citizens whose interests ATT
paramount to those of the agriculture
class. The industry in which farmer!
are engaged is the very basis or civil
lied life, and from 1t, as from root
has sprung the vast aggregation ot
varied conditions and activities which
constitute modern progress. With the
prosperity of this industry the welfars
of the whole people is indissoiuhly con
nected, and upon that prosperity tn,
permanent success of all other indus
tries and business enterprises directl,
depends. If, on the other hand. th,
interests of agriculture languish tn,
interest of no class of the communit,
can long flourish. The farmers of tn,
county as a class have always beeI
distinguished for freedom of though
and independence of action. Their
is the honesty that makes govern
: ment by the people safe Amon,
!, them are men of ability. experience
! and integrity, well equipped 70
j the duties of craftsmanship. i
the past history of congress
has been noted that the greater pro
, portion of strong men have come. no