| Show written for this paper wa LIGHTS AND band SHADES washington DC D C nov 30 1893 washington la is unique as aa compared with other american cities volumes have been written about it but it must be visited and studied by observation in order to appreciate its peculiarities in all cities the mere economies of life housing nou aing food and raiment auevery are very ko much the same in some the struggle ye for existence is greater and also the q al 1 disproportion in the distribution of property perty than in others chicago and af new w york give evidence of the widest disparity between the wealthy and the poorer classes perhaps philadelphia a approximates more nearly than any 0 ther other city an equilibrium in the distribution trib ution of wealth but it is in the spiritual make up the tone the public sentiment that especially characterizes a city boston kt to most classic that is it is most regular and cul cultures in science literature and the arts as the basis of its public sentiment there to is a strong tendency to caste iu in boston but caste te is not strong enough to ignore culau culture re as general butlers But lera failure proved his sympathies were humane and generous but his bis procedure allied him largely with hoodlumism and the better classes were repelled from him VIM now new york is the paradise of the k 4 plutocrats wealth for its own na sake ke PA an expression of the power which it gives to is the supreme object of worship 10 the middle and lower classes have their own lives and hardships to occupy them but they all pay tribute to the men who stand as the embodiments of now new york wealth A vanderbilt or a gould is the apotheosis of new york sentiment it is in to such ft a coD consummation summation that all are striving and to have attained by whatsoever means is the culmination of human endeavor the to is a step in advance for while he is equilla devoted devote J to wealth getting as the highest good he belletto bellev tes to in his town and its palatial business grandeur his highest hope in death would be to get a heavenly chicago whose mansions were a ler leir stories higher than the prototype beside lake michigan washington Is im different it may be said mid of this city as it was of francis con that bat it is the greatest wisest meanest of mankind in stead of wealth or culture we have official supremacy as the highest mark on the social thermometer for the time being the president his wife his cabinet and all other officials in their tank rank and order are the oreme creme de la creme the he topmost rounds of the ladder in all this the same human weakness and lency are displayed as are shown in other cities for other object worship we have here with a population of a quarter of a million the same struggle with poverty as is seen elsewhere and of the unfortunate female class who have thrown truth virtue and self respect into the fierce contest we have perhaps a larger proportion than in any other city of the united states this is because the population of the city throughout the sei sessions of cun cin gress grebb which cover much the larger part of current time is greatly made up of pilgrims those who come for office for legislation for jobs for the thousand and one things that attract men to the national capital it is this thle vast and constant influx that perpetually recruits the ranks of those who should be sisters and mothers among men but bad as it is it to is not this travesty of home this stupendous drama of defilement this holocaust of passion on me wanton breasts of shame that const itu lee the meanness of washington life it is the debasement of manhood tite the treachery to principle that infect the he legislation and debase the office seeking and jobbery of the na national dional capitol in ninety nine cases out of a hundred the wealth acquired in and about congress is if a brand of infamy it Is almost impossible to honestly acquire wealth in official service the men who have grown wealthy in office are thieves thieve and robbers they are worse abs tbs than jack cade or robin bobin hood for these thieves made an open profession ot of jobbery but our wealth getting legislators belie their profession as judas did with a kiss they put on the livery of heaven to serve the devil in they prophesy good but evil is the fulfilment fulfillment with words of seeming wisdom they deceive the people and bina bin a cruel burdens upon them they betray the people into the hands of their task masters for a liberal share of the swag A servile cringing office seeker is ot of all mankind the most ignoble it if ever in these last days the lord aade should hould repeat himself that he had bad made man 8 as 0 it seems to be intimated that he did once in former days day it would be when b be a should witness the humiliating A devices of many of those who seek to avail themselves of the emoluments of the public service an honest desire and preparation for is honorable but when the means of attainment are such as to ignore manhood integrity principle and ency it becomes infamous but there is a noble side to life hie there are those of all parties who are honorable and true to their convictions men who are unswerving and incorruptible in the discharge of their delegated powers there are those who are true to themselves and their principles and who if successful will be true to their country doubtless it is the desire of each administration to ret iret good men in office and if this desire for or the public good were abao cutely paramount there would be fewer mistakes made but the exigencies and strafes of party are so BO great that office seeking becomes a scramble for spoils and the survival of the fittest is the success of the strongest money cheek cheeky bluster demagoguery too often win one great redeeming feature here la it that public sentiment natural ly broadens and stretches out to a comprehension of the character and needs of the whole cou country there is no city in the united so broad and liberal as ag washington there is no other that so effectually tends to educate the mind in relation to the social development and resources of the country every state slate and territory and every party has its recognition and legislation to is large ly a counterbalancing and woolland olland of the wb whole and its many parts for a time one section or interest may be neglected but by a persist ent presentation of itself it will finally compel and receive attention in all the prospective legislation of the coming the interests of the intermountain country seem likely to be ignored but the day may not be far distant when utah and her surrounding commonwealths will be immensely PO potent tent in the councils of the nation u CB R |
