The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-04-26

wholly lmpoSslpIo during inc present
generation, for our people have grown
better as well as wiser than their an
ccStors were.
With one exception during recent
Tears we have not only had better men
in congress, but men of stainless repu-
tation in the white house. Never again
will our people place in tho prcsidcn-
Gal Office Il man whose hands arc
stained with human blood or who has
engaged in deadly duciinp. When Gen.
jackson cGmc 80 the white house he
Ind tho reputation OF having wounded
two men in ducls and killed one He
had received two wounds in street
fracascs, one of which, from the hands
OF Senator Thomas II. Benton, he bore
conspicuously all his life. 1t was said
that "Old Hickory" had boon in n
dozen dUels and IA hundred personal
encounters whom he entered the white
house. During these latter years we
have had in the executive mansion high
bred Christian gentlemen and ladies.
The quarreisome, querulous swagFcrcr
is no longer L popular political idol.
No matter what differences Of opinion
may arise, nor how excited statesmen
may become in debate, nor what wicked
things they may say to each other,
there viii never moro be ducling in
Washington nor in this vicinity. Tho
day OF blood .tonemcnt ut the hands OF
man has gone forever There remains
nut litiin OF the duoling spirit, even in
those states where tho southern sun
III
and quicker tclnprrs.
During recent years there have been
no drunken scenes in the capitol, either
In the senate or house OF representa-
tivcs, with one exception. a celebrated
debate was closed during the carly
days OF the Fifty-third congress by q
senator who has lived over from the
past generation; and his voice was very
slaliy, and his ideas wcrc mixed, be-
cause nc had palpably dallicd too long
with tho demon that DESTROYS. Our
fathers and Eraudfathcrs lived in an
ngo when drunkenness was as normal
as sobrinty and temperance arc to-day
In those times, maudlin scenes were
common at the capitol, and they wcre
not considered disrraceful but were
tho CAUSE OF temperance has grown and
the influence Of The Indies OF the land
Inns been so potent that tho future leg
islation OF our country will be the
product of sober brains
just before the war, and during That
great militant epoch, there We're gam
bling honses NIL along PENNSYLVANIA
avenue from the capitol TO the white
house. To-day there Ia not IA single
Faino running in Washington which
statesmen patronizc. or course there
arc some low dives here, as ia all cities,
but mono which statesmen dare TO
ontcr. Before and during the war it
Was not considered wicked or improper
for senator's and representatives,
strolling along Pennsylvania avenue,
TO enter public rambling houses and
engage in games OF chance. Nobody
paid any attention to such conduct ON
the part of public men. Tho ncwspa-
Pers of to-day would quiclely chronicle
The event If any member of the senato
or of the house should frequent such
places, But in those days tho newspa-
pcrs made no mention OF the lives OF
fhp great men who were attending to
congressional duties but two or three
hours each day, and passing from
twelve to fifteen hours in saloona and
gambling houses.
1t q comfortable reelection that the
world Is growing better; Mt least our
portion OF it. The Christian men and
women throughout the country will be