Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-05
FROM THE CAPITAL
An interesting Letter from the
Seat of Government.
ODD SCENES ON The STREETS
New pol1lieai Figures IN LegiaaAtion--ln-
gals and His Populasay--Two Hard
Working Senators from Michigan.

WAsHfSToS. ID. C.. Dec. 3l.-This is
the last moment, almost, OF the year
1891, and here in Washington II goes
out in blaze Of glory. The day has
been perfect. just cold enough to be
braclng. with . clear sky and bright
sun, something like = bright October
day up in Michigan; and - one walks
along the streets thronged with gay
humanity, the blood takes fresh start
and goes coursing through the veins
with redoubled force. j spent some
time today walking on Pennsylvania
avenue. thence across to + street. and
watched the people ~ they came AID
weat. whirling alcng in all sorts of
vehicies or rushing by on foot. Ii
seemed to me just as if everybody ap-
pIeciaie1 the fact that the old year was
Just expiring, and that something had
10 be done, and done quickly. before
the new year came.
There may be other cities like this,
but | thought TO myself no where In
this country is there such an aggregs-
ton of different phases and types of
humanity as here in Washington. No
where is there such ''go as you please
air." rs here. In no other place that
| know of do you find the high and
low of all degrees ana shades OF color
iostling eacn other in the "huriy
eurly' as here, and IN no place are you
SO likely to be mistaken IS to the char
acter and standing of those you meet,
be they male or female, as here.
The individual, YOU as stranger,
would most likely pick out in crowd
for q United States senator or the
leader in the house is probably . dead
beat of the worst kind.
Changes In Congress.
The year closed has brought many
changes in government circles. In the
cabinet. Window, whom everybody
loved and respected because of his big
brain and heart, was stricken down and
his life went out without = seconds
warning. In the senate. Plumb OF
Kansas, Hearst of California and Will
SON of Maryland are no more. ingalls,,
Evarts, Eustls and others are retired
and IN their places come new men.
The new states are now represented, so
that, although the senate Will look
almost like different body from what
it was In the fifty-first congress. The
man most talked about who has left
the senate is John j. Ingalls,, yet j ap-
p.ehend he 10 missed the least and
upon the part-of some, if not many.
senators there was experienced sense
of relief when it was known that
Ingalls, was to be succeeded even by
"Whiskers" PETER.
have been trying for some years TO
ascertain just what it was that gave
ingalls, reputation. l have heard
people away from Washington cay he
was 9 great man, but here mo. ono ex-
cept some of his partisisns. ever ac-
cused him of bel ,g great, or above the
average man who comes TO the senate.
asked a man prominent in public
life, the other day, what made Ingalls,
great. did ne ever do anything as q
senator which entitled him to distinct
ion? IL he the author of any great
piece of legislation What did he ever
do? The answer was this: Mr.. Ingalls,
was the best presiding officer who ever
welded good. He had wicked tongue,
great command of English, and in
dividually he was picturesque, l fully
agree with this summing up of the
qualities which have made John j.
lbHdile "a b0tlOuoi Su8taSSSts
He was in no nense leader. He
constantly watched the drift of senti-
ment in his state, and in ovder to per-
petuatc his political fortunes was ready
to 60 with his people, even 10 the devil,
as one man said. If 1t would continue
him in the senate.
Ingalls, Fatal Error.
All remember how, when his fate was
hanging in the bvlance last year, he
went home for few days, looked the
situation over. and finding it desperate,
came back here and made q speech In
which be almost repudiated his past
record. The attitude OF his party upon
all vital questions and made n direct
and open bid for the support of the
very element which finally defeated his
reelection and sent PETER here as his
successor. That speech ruined Ingalls,,
alienated his friends and at this hour
he probably realizes the fullness Of his
error, for, had he stood up before the
people of Kansas and said, l am today,
as in the past, Republican. have no
apology TO offer you for my course or
that OF my party. am in sympathy
with my party and shall remain so-he
would, by the time this will be IN type,
have been appointed senator 10 fili the
vacancy caused by the death of Mr..
Plumb. In politics as in all else good,
square. manly course will win.
So much has been eaid of Ingalls,
successor that no description of the
man is necessary. To me he seems
like a quiet and feeble old gentleman
without any force of character, yet
withal fnnatical and possessed of . de-
gree of stubbornness which will make
him ridiculous before hIs term ~ san
ator expires.
Already he has introduced q meas.
ure in the senate absurd in the ex-
treme. By which he believes, II il be-
comes a law, some Of the economic
questions over which great men have
been pulling their brsine for more
than hundred years will be solved.
and that forever after no man need
give heed TO the morrow, for money,
foied and the wherew.thsl 20 clothe our
nskedness viii be gathered from the
thorn.
Michigan WsserHsys.
The question is frequently asked,
VIII this congress accomplish anything
The answer IL yes and no. SO far ne
the passage of legislation beneficial 20
The country r. concerned. little will be
done. bat good wiIi result from the es-