The morning call., 1892-05-16
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.


Just one hundred years ago to-day the
new French Minister Of Foreign Affairs pre-
scented himself at the palace of the Tuileries
wearing pair Of trousers reaching to the
ankles and pair of shoes fastened with
shoestrings. The master Of ceremonies at
once stopped him. Roland had to define
his station and qualities before he could
pass. The official ceased lis opposition,
but turning sadly to General Dumouriez,
who stood by. be said: ''Sir! Did you no
tice? No buckles in his shoes. What are
we coming to ?" "All is lost" replied the
general, with sarcastic smile.
Dumourez was nearer right than be i'm
agined All was lost; the shoebGckle was
an outw ard and visible sign Of an inward
and spiritual grace which was going TO
permeate the world at large before it was
done with. And this not only in France.
but even as far rs distant America.
Buckles and knee-breeehes typifed caste
and privilege. Liberty went with trousers
and shoestrings. In prim Boston, where
the love Of title was as prevalent as in Eng
land itself, it was resolved that the use Of
the words mister. sir and reverend was as
lettering remain Of aristocraey, and must
cease People addressed their friends by
the soul warming term of citizen" and
women would have adopted the title Of
"ctess" but for fears that il might be mis-
construed. They gave preference to the
term 'biped."
In the year 1892 a Presidential election
was held. But, though there we're two po-
litical parties, with well-deined principles
Federalists and Republcans-there were
nominations, no campaign committees. The
Presidential electors were chosen by the
people, and were not committed or in
stTueted. There were 132 of them, and it
was so we'll settled that President Wash
iugton must be reelected that trouble
would have arisen had their choice gone
elsewhere. But as to the Yiee-PresidenJ
they were free to choose whom they pleased.
The provision Of the constitution forbidding
tins selection Of both President and Y ice
7 President from the same State ruled Jeffer-
son out Of the contest The struggle then
lay between John Adams, who was Fed
eralist, and had openly stated that "the
CONSTITUTE on was a promising essay toward
a well regulated Government" and George
Clinton Of New York, who was a Republi-
can, or, as we should say to-day. Demo-
crat. Adams won by q votes in the EIec-
toral College, though his opponent polled
the entire vote of New York, irginia,
North Carolina and Georgia. The result of
the ballotng in the Electoral College was
not known till December, and Kentucky
had not been heard from ON New Year 5
day.
Just a hundred years ago a Jaw was
passed admitting newspapers to the priyi-
leges Of the mails. Before then the post
boys had carried them in their saddle bags
OF not rs they pleased. at that time there
were 264 postoffiees in the country, and the
total revenue Of the Postoffiee was SIS, eco.
The course Of post between New York and
Philadelphia. about 80 miles, was 80 hours.
The rate Of postage was cents for so miles,
and rose from that figure to 25 cents for 450
miles or over. In order TO cheaper the cost
of postage il was proposed that the Govern
ment post-wsgons should be allowed to carry
passengers, but this was defeated in Con-
gress on the ground that it would be an iu-
vasion OF State rights. In all the East there
were but two daily papers; their circulation
may be inferred from the fact that the fast
est press could not turn out over ECO copies
an hour.
1t is just a hundred years since the first
Sunday-sehools were established. They saw
the light in New England and Pennsylvania,
and were at first non-sectarian. A vehement
cutlery arose for their abolition, on the
ground that they were breaking the Sab
bath. But the preachers OF the Methodist,
Uniyersalist and Episcopal faiths came to
their defense, and the whole subject, so far
as Pennsylvania was concerned. was re-
! ferred TO tie Legislature. Albert GallatiD,
! speaking On an application Of the school,
teachers for aid. moved for a committee to
consider the subject Of free schools. The
/ committee reported in favor of schools for
children who could read and write. But
! the QuakeTs rallied in opposition to any
form Of schools, and the project fell to the
! ground
/ 1t is good every now and then to note the
| progress which civilization has made in the
course of a century,