The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-20

itself In its most extreme forms in the latter
days Ofthe Roman Republic, when capitalists
ike Crassus were openly recognized as DOW
eIs In the State, and patricians of genius
plunged into crime to repair their fortunes; ont
it is new In our day in this form, as part of the
thirst for power and for distinction, and IL NAV
work frightful mischief. In the United States,
where 1t RACES unchecked, IL is destroying the
purity OF the legislatures, of the judicial b suoh.
and of many branches of the executivs-au
ambassador, for example, has Just been con-
vioted Of selling his privilege of import in a
way which must have destroyed his indepen-
denee-and is directly impairing the power of
the Union, which fuds every step unbearaby
expensive. The great capitalists there are
gaming with the position the power of mobiles.
The laws are openly deied by men strong
enough in their command of capital to
secure" not only iuries but Judges, and not
only Juries and judges, but entire legislatures,
who pass their DEGREES with at least as much
readiness as the Parlaments used to pass en-
failing acts, such as the Newcastle, Shrews-
bury, Pembroke, and other acts, at the dicta-
tion OF potent mobiles. We do not hesitate to
say that Mr.. Vanderbilt, or Mr.. Drew, or Mr..
FISK, or Mr.. Sprague could get things done
by legislatures such as no English noble in
the worst days of the oligsrchy could have at
tempted; while as to their position, It is be-
ginning to be that Of the English county kings
number of the New York Tribune
in which three columns of close type
are devoted to an elaborate and
slightly admiring history of grand feud
which has been raging for years between two
families of Rhode Island, Sprague and Brown,
and which affects all the politics of the State,
and is not unfelt even in the politics of the
Union. The two families belong to the manu-
featuring aristocracy, count their property by
millions, and their "hands" by the ten thou
sand, and fight like the Cavendishes and the
Stanleys of old whenever they can get q
chance. The antagonism between them was
distinctly felt In the war, affecting the Rhode
Island regiments, to which the Browns really
appointed officers, who are now censured by
Mr.. Sprague, and is now affecting the financial
| policy of the Union, Senator Sprague de-
| nouncing initiation with immense effect, moved,
as be half admitted in his speech, by antago-
nism to the rival house. AS to the State offices,
1t seems clearly understood that the present
representatives are nominees of Brown, and
that MIR. Sprague, therefore, intends to turn
them out-an end he will effect partly through
his personal popularity, but chiefly
through his position as great employer of
labor, he driving 250, 900 spindles, employing
1000 men in one only Of seven sets of mills,
and being master of nine immense companies,
chiefly engaged in iron, the control of any one
of which would make first-class man." In
| tnlS very ACCOUNT, WHICH ppearS IN 4 Journal
at variance with him, he being suspected of
free trade proolivities, he and his rival are
treated exactly as great mobiles were a hun
dred years ago, their possessions are described
with sort OF awe, the confidence of their r9-
tainers in them is eulogized, and their family
ramitications are shown to be- matters of grave
political importance. The positions of Mr..
Brown and Mr.. Sprague are in fact held up as
ideals to be attained, and as they can be at
tanned only by money, money in masses be-
comes the one thing sought, and its posses sion
is held to extenuate almost any act, breaking
open safes, buying judges, and bribing or
controlling" Legislatures included. Such
acts are regarded as the purchase of seats was
once regarded in England, as Theoretically
in the use OF power; and we are not
not extend to those who take the
money. We declare, strong Northerners as
we are in sympathy, we begin to doubt if this
thirst for wealth will not undermine the re-
public and its first cause Is the dignity which
American opinion begins to give to cash, the
legitimacy with which it bagins to invest its
political and even its violent use. 1t ia this
tone which our aristocracy it seems to us, are
openly ready to foster, and it is one which may
yet produce mischiefs greater than that mer
camille readiness to swindle which has in tn,
past five years created such terrible amour
of suffering. II money ever gives dignity il
England, we may rely upon it that the tolera
tiOn always accorded in this country to tn
offenses of the great will be extended to thos
of the plutocracy, and then it will take
national bankruptcy to bring back our mora