"While venerating their lofty patriotism, may we emulate them in their
republican simplicity of manners." He declared that a great deal had been
said at one time and another about the democratic simplicity of our
forefathers. Suppose that the gentlemen of the present day should go back
to some of the customs of the forefathers. Suppose a man should go to a
ball nowadays in the costume in which Thomas Jefferson, "that great apostle
of democratic simplicity," once appeared in Philadelphia. What a sensation
he would create with his modest (?) costume of velvet and lace, with
knee-breeches, silk stockings, silver shoe-buckles, and powdered wig. "Even
the great father of his country had a little style about him," said the
speaker. "It was a known fact that he never went to Congress when he was
President unless he went in a coach and six, with a little cupid on the box
bearing a wreath of flowers. The coach must be yellow and the horses white,
and then the President's secretary usually followed in a coach drawn by
four horses. When Washington ascended the steps to enter the doors, he
always stopped for a moment and turned slowly around to allow an admiring
people to see the father of their country. Oh! our forefathers were
saturated with modesty and simplicity. The people of the present day have
retrograded greatly from the simplicity of their Revolutionary ancestors. I
can remember when it was impossible, years before the war, to hold a night
session of Congress. It was impossible because the members of Congress
attended dinners, and lingered over their wine. They attended dinners very
like the one we have just enjoyed, and yet there is not a man in this
company who is unfitted to attend to any public or private duties that
might demand his attention. Yes, it is true that we have departed from
the old customs, but we have advanced and not retrograded. The world has
changed, but it has changed for the better. It is growing better every day,
and don't let anybody forget it."
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