Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-29
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

u ~ =
The nomination of Abraham Lincoln
created the greatest interest In the east,
where he was practically
Abraham unknown. In Washing
49,, ton, however, he was re-
A~oAA' membered as a former
member Of Congress. In The Star or
May q. 1850. is the following regarding
him, with a spelling of his first name
which was then prevalent:
THE Hon. Abram Lincoln served one
term in the House of Representatives
not long since, which with the exception
Of occa sional service in the legislature of
Illinois, comprises all the opportunity he
has had Of learning the business Of
craftsmanship, If a states legislature
may fairly be denominated a school in
which one can be trained in any degree
in the business of the statesman in
national affairs, which we question.
When in Congress he was regarded as
gentleman of fair average natural
parts. but exceedingly ignorant in all
matters likely to make one useful or
distinguished public man. He possessed
quite a gift Of CAB, and, as the public
men Of the times are prone to do, he
relied upon that to carry him through
the discharge Of his functions as rep
resentative with credit. 1t really did
more for him than most of his COM
peers, because he was endowed with a
larger share of that description Of wit
that enabled him to turn the laugh upon
his opponent in debate whenever partici-
pating in it. His ambition in those times
rarely led him to attempt to make an
impression in any higher oratorical OF
legislative walk. Since leaving Congress,
he has been known, out of Illinois, only
as a gentleman who, being ready stump
speaker, sought to take the lead among
the Irrepressible-Conf1ict popular orators
of the northwest. His positions on the
slavery question have always been quite
as ultra as those of Mr.. Seward, and
indeed he has sought invariably of late
to achieve the favor Of the ultra
abolitionisIn of the times by taking abo-
lition positions in advance of those OF the
great anti-slavery leader of the north:
He has his reward for the bOldness of
this anti-slavery radicalism in the nomi-
nation that has just been conferred upon
him.
Public curiosity regarding the visiting
japanese could not be curbed by the adj
monitions in the press or
Jananese intimation that the orr
Wilt entails might feel offended
'ASA'oAs' toward the United States
as a result of the thoughtless behavior
Of the crowds. In The Star of May %,
1850, is the following paragraph:
1.-The experiment of going out around
the city essayed by some Of the Japanese
yesterday, we hear, was sufficient to COM
pei them to remain almost altogether in
doors during the remainder of their stay
here. While at the patent Office they
were hardly able to turn round for the
pressure of the crowd upon them. 1t is
idle to expect that miscellaneous Wash
ington city or any other American crowd
will refrain. unless compelled to do so,
from gratifying their curiosity at any
sacrifice of good manners on their part,
or Of the comfort and delicacy of the
persons to be stared at and otherwise
duly inspected. Unfortunately, the only
remedy in such case lies in the eff
cheney of the police, which here amounts
to just no remedy at all. 1t strikes us
as being necessary, under existing cir;
cumstances, to protect them from rowdy
and overcuriosity on the part
Of thoughtless but not designed imperti-
hence by the presence of squad OF
United States marines wherever they
may go. to keep back the pressure of the
crowd
The Districts troubles in Congress are
of no recent development. Half CEN
fury ago the capital had
Local serious grievance on
nh this score. and in The
AAVuoieS' Star of May %, 1850, is
an editorial protest of a column and
quarter, which throws a light upon the
difficulties under which the citizens Of
those days labored. In part, it is as
follows:
Yesterday the House of Representa-
tives struck out Of the general appropria-
ton bill containing it the clause appro-
priating 100000 for continuing the work
upon the extension of the Capitol, hav-
ing previously in committee OF the whole
struck out of another such bill the clause
appropriating $4,000 for the Auxiliary
(police) Guard of the federal metropolis.
That man must be mentally blind who
does not comprehend that such con-
gressional legislation is fraught with
most disastrous consequences to every
property holder, every merchant and trad
er and ever mechanic and laborer in
our midst whether dealing directly with
the government or not
THE adoption of such a policy toward
w dSHlHStOu CITY Ol Tic part VI tiioSc
members who have adopted it, usually
most liberal of all the House in legis-
lating for the federal metropolis. has it's
origin evidently in the existence of a
state of things against which The Star
at least has labored with unremitted
1t is we'll known to all that
previous to and during the last municipal
canvas offlcious small politicians banded
into self-appOinted commit
tees and instituted a system of espionage
with reference to the politics Of nearF
every laborer and mechanic in the gov
eminent employment among us, holding
over them the terrible rod of the loss
of their bread and that of their families
unless they voted to suit the views and
purposes of the self-created regulators of
their political conduct.
Seeing these things as We do see
them, it is but The Stars duty to dis
cuss this subject thus plainly to its city
readers. Their prosperity hinges upon
the regard of all parties in Congress for
our cityS interest and The Stars pros
perity depends wholly upon theirs. 1t
has no otner care than the interest of
the District of Columbia. 1t has not yet
nor will it ever permit political con-
to stand between it and it's
duty to the District at large without
thought of party"
The SEEING TELEPHONE.
iTrrn Ernn haV