Evening star., 1926-04-04
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

When. upon his accession to the
rank of general of the Army on the
| election of Gen.
| 6eadq uarterS Grant to the presi-
| dency, Gen. Villa m
| VI tho 0inJ' T. Sherman moved
| the headaua arters OF the Army to St
| Louis there was much resentment in
| this city. An effort was made to re-
store the traditional status and bill
was introduced in Congress to that
effect. In The Star of March 81, 1876.
| lis quoted dispatch from this city to
| the Baltimore Gazette, saying:
Gen. Sherman says that he has not
| the slightest desire TO return to WASH
| ington and will not unless compelled
| to do so by the passage of Mr.. Bar
NUNS bill. which fixes the head
quarters of the Army in this city.
| Sherman says that his objections TO
| Washington still remain good. lie
| does not like the influences OF society
and he could not live decently Oh his
| pay and keep up appearances. Now
| that it is proposed to reduce his pay
nearly one-half and require him TO
have his qua arters in Washington, he
| doesn't know what he will do. lie says.
however, that he will wait until Con
gress settles the question before giving
| a positiye answer as to his future in
tentions."
The Star in reioinder says:
"The public are getting a little tired
of this Sherman baby-talk about the
| inability TO live decently in Washing
ton on his ample pay. or to bring up
a family respectfully here on account
Of the concentrating influences of
Washington. This sort of assertion is
| a slander upon the thousands of re-
spectable families in public and private
| life that are maintained decently and
reputably in Washington, uncontani-
mated by society influences, and on an
| income vastly less than the comfort.
able nav received by the general of
| tha Army. The truth Ia there Is no
CITY in the Union where the mere pos
session or expenditure OF money does
40 little to give position in the best
society as in Washington; and there
is no city where a public man can
regulate his expenditures TO suit his
mea ms or tastes with such perfect free
dom as In Washington: and Gen. Sher-
mans puerile talk about the low tone
of Washington society Is elevated TO
a. pitch OF absurdity when It is re-
membered that he selects st. Louis,
that headquarters OF crooked whisky
and emporium OF pork, as the city or
all American cities in which TO nnd the
arcadian society, neat but not gaudy,
his soul pines for. To the refining
and ennobling influences OF that So
cietv. made up of wealthy distillers
and pork packers, he thinks family
can be intrusted, to be brought up
purely, decentIy and reputably. Well,
every one to his own tastes"
y
Prior 10 the centennial exposition of
1875 there had never been a complete
The Government semblass Of .vi-
at Philadelphia, 0cnGss WorS Of Of the the
United States Government at any one
point. That great fair was regarded
as an ideal opportunity for such a dis
paay, especially as it was to COM
rnennorate the signing OF the Decla-
ration of Independence, and thus the
organization of this Nation. The star
of April I, 1875, says:
"The centennial committee has very
properly reported In favor OF a
suitable appropriation to enable the
executive departments of the Govern
ment to make a respectable show
ing at Philadelphia. The House
appropriations committee, which has
not particularly distinguished itself
for liberality, will now be called
upon to indorse or disapprove this
Recommendation. 1t is a notorious
fact that while Americans as indi-
viduals, and foreign governments, are
making extensive preparations for a
creditable exhibit, the United States,
as a government, has as yet done
scarcely anything except to give GER
tain sum toward defraying the ex
penses of the exhibition. With an
adequate appropriation the various de-
nartments and the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition could make most Interesting
exhibit. The Smithsonian, for in
stance. could send to Philadelphia a
collection Of instructive curiositiss