Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-01
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

IN THE STAR
Though just on the threshold Of the
greatest civil war in history, few men
| fifty years ago appeared to
Great realize the imminent dan
| r.,,,.. ger. Grave issues were In
evidence. and politicians
and statesmen were actively and earnest
ly discussing them with appreciation Of
their importance. In The Star Of Novem-
Der %, 1857, was printed long editorial.
in part as follows:
There never was previous time since
the foundation of the government Of the
United States when 1t had on hand at
once three as important and really DIFF
fcult subjects to manage as the Kansas
imbroglio. the Utah rebellion and the
entire abnegation Of the neutrality law in
regions where popular opinion is against
its due execution. The aforementioned
is important insomuch as unless filibus-
tering be checked it must utterly destroy
our future commercial prospects with
Spanish America; it will also afford most
plausible ground for the continuance of
northern filibustering against the consti-
tutionaI rights of the south. The Utah
rebellion is destined to give infinite trou-
BILE to the government. AT least ten
thousand additional troops will be re-
quired to protect, its rights in the terri
| tory. AS for the Kansas question
though it stands in a fairer position FOR
harmonious and speedy settlement than
ever before-who that knows Congress is
not well aware that it will continue to be
favorite subject for strenuous opposi-
ton efforts to pull down the democracy,
and that a single spark may again set nre
| to the inf1ammable elements in the demo-
cratic organization itself. to end in great
| ly increasing the difficulty of harmonious
| action in the party upon any and every
| thing"
Party caucuses upon the eve Of the
assembling Of a new Congress were very
lively affairs half a CEN
Lively fury ago compared with
r.,+.s+ those of the present day.
For testimony to this fact
witness the following paragraph in The
Star Of November "a 1857:
There are already twenty-tnree avowed
competitors for the post Of doorkeeper of
the House of Representatives in active
training for the race soon to come off,
We hear of six others about to go into
believe there will be well-nigh candidate
for each congressional jockey blouse
member), as it seems to be getting fash
ionable for each one Of them to have a
man Tor the post OF those already
the aggregate, like 'Jeremiah's figs, the
good being very good-the bad, too bad
to give to the pigs. 1t is to be presumed
that by the Irst Monday of December
we shall have a column of the usual an
baf n
the ring for the office. The best of the
joke is that nearly all Of them are maxi
ing strong calculations on being elected!'
Washington was suffering from an
acute outbreak OF rowdy SIN at this time
fifty years ago. Several
Reign Of murders had lately been
Rowdvism committed and riots were
of frequent occurrence.
A young man was slain and a police of
ficer' was wounded by a gang Of roughs
Saturday, November p, 1857. and at
their meeting held November % the board
of aldermen adopted resolution oner-
ing reward of $3.50 for the arrest Of the
guilty person in each case. The common
council the same evening adopted a reso-
luton requesting the mayor to confer
with the President Of the United States
as to the necessity of some united and
vigorous action by the federal and NUM-
cipal authorities to restore and preserve
peace and order within the city of Wash
ington. They also passed a resolution
requesting the Secretary of War to ask
Congress for an appropriation for the
erection of garrison capable of garrison
ing at least one company Of light and
one of heavy artillery, at or near the
Military Asylum, in the District of Co.
lumbia and instructing the joint COM
mittee (of the city councils charged with
attending to the interests of the corpora
ton before Congress to urge on that body
the great importance of speedily respond
ing to any Recommendation for this object
from the War Department.
An extract from ther Richmond Enquir-
er. printed in The Star Of November 81.
1857. describes an interest
Human ing scene which occurred
Power in the Virginia capital
few days previous. The
great bronze equestrian statue of George
Washington was being moved to its site
in Capitol square when the horse power
failed. The populace thereupon took
charge Of the work and with more than a
thousand men and boys hauling on ropae
the great box, weighing nineteen tons,
was speedily drawn several squares to its
destination.
Militia companies participated, with their
colors, and the affair took on the SEM
blance of a great popular demonstration.
At the. capitol grounds the railing being
in the way the crowd quickly tore up the
iron fence and curbstones and contig-
uous trees to make a passage into the
square. The mayor Of the city mounted
the box and made a speech The crowd
then called Gov. Wise out from his Office
and after salutes were fired and a band
played patriotic airs 1.-THE governor stood
beneath the Stars and Stripes. held up py
number of citizens, and addressed the
immense audience with eloquence and
powerful effect"
Recollection Of Mark Twain's famous
remark on the report Of his death is
revived by encountering In
Report The Star OF November %,
nar;ad 1857. the following news
paragraph under the head
ing Denies That He Was Killed:
"Rumor last night declared that Mr..
John Holbrook, the agent of the omnibus
line between the railroad and AJeYapdr}o