Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-21
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

Helping trades and industries of
r. the people. In The Star
of June IA. 1858. is an
editorial relative to criticism which had
been aimed at Mr. D. ]. Browne. the
head Of the division of agriculture of the
patent office:
I'VE really know not where just now
there is a, better abused individual than
this same gentleman. No inventor. or
discoverer of. or dreamer about an agri-
cultural humbug of the times. it seems to
us. fails to attack him with some I'M
founded allegation or other We confess
to little love for the interference of the
general government with agriculture, be-
cause are opposed to the principle of
Capitalization to which it inevitably leads.
Yet we recognize and fully appreciate the
fact that no other one man in the nation
is accomplishing more than the Mr..
Browne aforesaid for the substantial ad-
vanCement of this country in the art OF
making two blades of grass grow where
but one was previously susta!nable by the
soil, which after all. is the basis of our
national prosperity and Improvement In
each and every branch of American In
tereStS."
Congress adjourned the 18th of June,
1858. without however. engaging, as to
the lower House. in any
Disappointed of the eccentric antics re-
ported from that body
1870 few weeks ago. The pass
ing of the national legislature moved The
Star to comment upon the lobby which
had infested the Capitol for several
months:
Those who comprehend what goes CT
in WASHINGTON bahinS 40 RI nj iS
the experienced observers-have duly
noted the extent and activity of the
lobby here during the past fortnight The
'hubbubboo' concerning the lobby in the
newspapers for the past years and before
investigating committees during the ses-
sion caused it to fight shy covering its
tracks as far as possible and to burrow
while at its work. During the last fort
night its schemes have been developed.
embracing proposed drafts on the Treas
ury to an extent more enormous than
ever before, in furtherance of which not
only nearly all the old stagers but an
army of able, pertinacious and unscrupu
lous recruits were enlisted. Conspicuous
| among them were many of the vociferous
patriots who before the commencement
of the session We're noted for the We
hemence of their Outcries against the al
legged abuses connected with the public
printing. They were not more VOciferouS
then than earnest and industrious in their
calling. explained above. in the last fort
night. They are indeed soldiers of for
tune. aroused to very desperation by the
fanteSt scent of gold to be clutched, either
by maligning others or log rolling among
themselves Fortunately for the public
interest most of their schemes for the ses-
sion have been defeated so a large ma
jority of these enterprsng people must
be shOckingly diSgruntled. Much is due
to the construction of the new hall for
the defeat of their schemes. That en-
ables all to comprehend instantly all that
is being said or done in the course of any
stage of the proceedings of the House.
Much is also due to the change of the
rule of admission. which excludes nearly
all from the hall but actual members and
officers of both houses. That change
scattered the ex-member lobby as a flock
of crows on being fired into. The prospect
of making a big haul in the hurry and
blunder OF closing up. however. brought
it back on Congress in the last fortnight
to be defeated in it's schemes for the NEST
part
The schools were being put through the
annual examinations at this time fifty
years ago, and the Star
Public commended them to the
c.., attention of parents in the
following language:
we trust tildt pdiSlltS, guar anu
all others Immediately interested In the
prosperity of our city will attend the pro-
crossing examinations of our public
| schools. On the progress of common
school education in our midst the COM
munity must depend in great part for the
final eradication of the reign of row6y-
ism-for the two influences are deadly
hostile to each other and one of them
| sv,t 1,n = l,4
youths who render night hdeous and dan
gerous on the streets are not those who
have attended school regularly AMI ap-
piled themselves to study with becoming
assiduity. They are persons who's early
education and training have been more
or less neglected. Though their parents
are responsible. in great part. for
their mental and moral conditions operat-
ing SO unfavorably on the public peace,
the lack of proper common school oppor-
been reared is a fruitful source of the
trouble they give to society"
Washington was excited over the ex-
pected execution of James Powers, con-
victed of murder, there
Murderer having been no capital
Reprieved. punishment inflicted in
years. Powers crime was one of the
items of disorder calling for protest from
| the leading citizens of the District and
there was anxiety lest his Baltimore
friends of the lower classes should under
take to rescue him. Unusual precautions
were therefore taken to prevent trouble
at the Jail on Friday. the 18th of June,
1888. The President, however, on being
appealed to by Powers friends and fam
ily granted a respite until Saturday. the
26th. The Star commenting on the
prieve granted by President Buchanan.
said in the issue of June ID:
I'VE are persuaded that various cir
cumstances that must force themselves on
his knowledge ere the termination of The
respite will redouble the cautiousness with
which he has invariably interpos ed his
executive power to stay the judgment of
the law. The fact of the atrocity of the
crime for which the man was sentenced,
his notorious close association with the
men who have now for SO long murdered,
burned and MANNED in our midst in too
many cases without effective hindrance
from the law; the fact that no efforts
have been sufficient to prevail on the
court, jury and bar to unite in petitionng
to set aside the sentence; and the prevail
ing sentiment of the great mass of our
fellow citizens, whose lives and property
are at the mercy of desperadoes, in fore
ing themselves on the notice of Presluent
Buchanan render ii certain that ere inter-
faring he will make assurance doubly sure
that the demands of public justice and .Ae
4 H.