Evening star., 1914-12-13

nual message to Congress December 6,
1854. and in The Star Of
Presidents the next day is the fol-
lowing editorial COM
mesSaHe. mentary:
This document impresses the reader
most favorably by the exceeding clear
ness and ,succinctness with which the
operations of the government for the
year are set forth, and its future policy
developed So compactly are the lead
ing facts stated, indeed. that no resume
could well be made condensing them
without making important omissions.
To those who expected that Mr.. Lin
coin would unfold some patent plan
for attaining peace short of crushing
the military power of the Confederacy.
the message will prove a disappoint-
ment But the logic of President Lin
coin upon this point is SO irresisttble
that those who expected the President
to somehow enunciate or declare a
peace must see that the disappoint-
ment is of their own making. 1t is, as
Mr.. Lincoln SO conclusively shows. an
issue which can only be tried by war
and decided by victory At the same
time he reiterates that the southern
simply by laying down their arms and
submitting to the national authority
under the Constitution.
"The declaration by the President
that he will take no step backward in
regard to his emancipation policy Is
supported by adequate reasons The
exposition of facts showing that we
are not exhausted. nor in process of
exhaustion. either In men or physical
resources, by the war, Is interesting
and satisfactory. and cannot but have
a good effect in disabusing the minds
of those who have imagined that this
great nation was already at the end of
its resources by reason OF a war which,
however colossal in character. has been
SO brief in comparison with the pro-
tracted struggles of other nations In
fighting for their birthrights."
+
Public interest in the progress on
the Metropolitan railway, nearing COM
pletion at this time
METROPOLITAN fifty years ago, was
keen on account of the
AhliWay. fact that this was the
second street car line to be established
in Washington, which began to feel
quite metropolitan in consequence. In
The Star of December Z. 1864. is the
following:
"1t is expected that this road will be
put in operation next week from the
Capitol to 18th street. Two of the
cars have already arrived and are at
the Baltimore and Ohio depot. Twenty
have been ordered to be placed on the
road Immediately and they are rapidly
being finished at the shop in Phila
delphia. They are of the style pc
culiar to that city, known as the box
car, and are similar in style to those
made by Murphy & Allison. running on
the Avenue. They are tastefully fin
ished in cream color and green. the
sides being of the latter color, and
inside are velvet cushions of the same
color. Along the upper portion are
the words, City Hall, Patent and Post
Offices, Willard's. Treasury. War and
Navy Departments and on the sides, in
gilt letters. H and F Streets. from
18th to Capitol and Baltimore Depot,
while the center of the sides is en-
bellished with ornamental paintings.
They are of the usual size and will
seat comfortably twelve on side. twas
contemplated to run them by the last
of this week, but iron sufficient to fin
ish the track is not now on hand and
the company may be disappointed for
a few days, but they are using every
exertion to make good their promise to
run the cars by the 10th inst"
Military passes were at times most
important to citizens of Washington,
who were surrounded by
Military guards and posts and 9TH
p. er barriers of warfare. In
"''es' The Star of December Z,
1864. is an item illustrative of the part
played half a century ago by these
slips of paper:
"In accordance with instructions is
sued from Col. Weiswell, military
governor, Lieut.. T. Ingraham, jr., has
been placed in charge of the pass Of
flee established in the building pre-
pared by the Potomac Ferry Company
at the 7th street wharf for the purpose
of issuing passes to persons desirous
of visiting Alexandria. The rules of
this branch office will be the same as
those heretofore governing the office at
the corner of 18th and I streets, except
that passes will not be issued for a
longer period than seven days, nor to
any other point than Alexandria. All
monthly passes and passes to cross the
bridge will, as heretofore, be issued at
the Office, corner of 18th and I streets,
which will be under the immediate
charge of Capt. w. H. Rogers, the reg
'
wells headquarters"
Washington witnessed some rough
scenes during the war time. as now and
then the troops became riot
Mutlnous GUS and went beyond bounds
T-.o,, in pranking. Such a scene
"P'' is described in the following
item in The Star of December IL, 1864:
Saturday night the regiments en-
route to the front stopped in the cars
on Maryland avenue. awaiting orders
to ship yesterday morning. The COM
manding officer was quartered in a ves-
sci at the wharf. and the regiments
under their respective officers were
ordered to remain in the cars. During
the night, the officers being away. the
men seized the opportunity for a spree
and asked the guards to pass them out.
The guards refused. and the tnsubordi-
nate men forced their way out, SO Sc
verely beating one of their comrades on
duty that he had to be taken to the
police station to be properly attended.
These men then roved about the ward
at pleasure, entering grocery stores
and restaurants and drinking shops,
beating the proprietors, drinking whis-
ky till they were drunk, and making
night hideous with their yells and dis
orderly conduct.
The efforts of the police to restore
order were unavailing, and the provost
guard was not sufficient to return the