The Olivia Letters: Being Some History of Washington City for Forty Years as Told by the Letters of a Newspaper CorrespondentBriggs, Emily Edson
History
The Olivia Letters: Being Some History of Washington City for Forty Years as Told by the Letters of a Newspaper Correspondent
Briggs, Emily Edson
United States -- Politics and government -- 1865-1933; Washington (D.C.) -- History
To-day the Hon. Abram S. Hewitt, accompanied by other New York
citizens, will appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee
to urge the adoption of the bill to incorporate the United States
International Commission, and provide for the same being held in
the city of New York in 1883. The bill had already been introduced
in the Senate by Senator Kernan, and championed by Senator Wallace,
of Pennsylvania, who always looks after legislation which will
benefit the Pennsylvania Central Railroad. Senator Carpenter argued
that it was in violation of the Constitution for Congress to aid a
corporation in any such way; that it was a precedent which would
entail any amount of trouble in the future. Other great cities would
come up with their projects, asking Congress to assume responsibility
and bestow financial aid. Senator Wallace argued that it had already
been done for the city of Philadelphia; which was answered by Senator
Carpenter in his own inimitable way. Leaving his seat, a step brought
him into the broad aisle, where he stood directly in front of the
Vice-President, and raising his voice to a key which penetrated all
surrounding space within the Senate walls, he replied, “Stealing has
precedent after precedent; but shall we argue for this reason it is
right to steal?” After a brief but ringing appeal in behalf of the
assaulted Constitution, this superb and polished orator left the
floor. In many ways Senator Carpenter is one of the most able men
in Congress, with the mark of genius more pronounced, or rather,
more noticeable in his case, than in any other man in the Senate.
One of the surest evidences of genius (for genius is God-given,
whilst talent can be acquired) is the carrying through the years to
the last all the qualities of each period of existence--the blind
enthusiasm, the winning folly of the child united to the grand
powers of maturity. In genius the character never crystallizes.
It is changeable, yet strangely invariable, and in many more ways
resembles the indestructible elements. Senator Carpenter has a way
of tying his collar, crushing down his hat, and bounding into the
Senate with the same kind of abandon which resembles the action of
a boy, while his laugh has all the music of youthful glee. His life
has been a prolonged enjoyment of the admiration of women, because in
him all ages, from romping girl to icy age, find something to adore.
A handsome man when in perfect health is Senator Carpenter, but at
present he is a good deal of a shadow as compared to his former self.
Upon the principle that a high-pressure engine sooner wears itself
out, so these men made on the Carpenter plan rarely live to old age.
It is the fret and wear of the invisible organization that finally
wrecks the physical, and there is no earthly picture so painful as
these men who have reached the snow line, when the sun of life,
according to the years, should be in full meridian of glory. Turning
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account