The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-05-20
THE PR ESS.
Civic Pensions.

We rejoice to see that the Senate Commit
tee, to whom the subject was referred, have
manfully performed an exceedingly disagree
able duty in reporting adversely upon the bill
to grant pension to Mrs. Lincoln.
We bear no ill-will to the relict of our late
lamented President, but think her case a good
opportunity to settle the principle determin-
ing this question of civil pensions; and her
petition presents the precise issue we should
wish to meet. She says that her income, de-
rived from the 100000 TO $4,000 which fell
TO her as her part of her late husbands estate.
is totally insufficient to enable her to live in
Europe or at home, in the "stye" BETTING
the widow of the Chief Magistrate of great
halon. What she wants is what naturally
results from the establishment of a civil PEN
sion list; namely, the creation of privileged
class enabled to live in "style" superior TO
that of the very large majority Of their fellow
citizens, and assured OF being permanently
supported in this exalted station at the ex-
pense of their less fortunate countrymen;
and asking that the privileges and emolu-
ments of rank may be perpetuated beyond
the period of the incumbency of the person
filling the high offices to which they are at
tached. This is hostile to the whole theory
and spirit of Republican government and
an innovation in this direction now tends to-
wards and invites consequences that will per-
il If not destroy its existence. That those
who upon the perilous edge of battle, or on
the Keeling deck" have sacrificed life or the
means of sustaining it and their families,
should be guaranteed a support at the nation
al expense for themselves or those who were
dependent upon them is only right and rea-
sonable; though in the present burthened
condition of the country the danger is that
even this laudableleelng will carry us too far
rather than that it will be restricted within
too narrow limits or aid be too penuriousy
granted. But the danger and evil of this
class of pensions, however widely and lavish
ly bestowed, are only of financial, and not
OF a political, character; since there is little
cause for apprehension that the order of no
bilty of which the empty sleeve or shattered
limb is the only badge or emblem, will be so
greatly multiplied as TO create social arts
tocracy or be reared into permanent and
hereditary establishment.
But the class to which Mrs. Lincoln belongs,
10 wit, Of those whose protector and head oc-
cupied high station in civil life, is Lot entitled
to be distinguished by this perpetual hold up
on the public treasury. Because man died
in an Office, the perils, duties and emoluments
OF which he fully understood when he accept
ed it, is no more reason for giving social supe-
riority to the surviving members of his family
than though he had died from over exertion
in the ordinary, honorable pursuits of private
life. And in this view we deem the act pass
ed year ago allowing large salaries to the
judges of the United States Courts. after they
lave retired from the bench and ceased to ex-
ercise judicial functions, extremely unwise
and anti-republican. In our judgment such
salary should be attached to every Office as
VIII secure competent men at adequate COM
pensation, SO that they can maintain their fam
lilies in respectable way and properly educate
their children and still lay by something from
each years income for the time when they no
longer have the inclination or ability to work /;
and in fixing this sum it would be proper to
have in view the nature and requirements of
the place and the sums which those privately
engaged in similar labors were receiving for
their service but to go beyond this; to pay
a large sum annually for duties performed and
then TO continue the payments after there
ceased to be any equivalent rendered for them
is an anomaly in our administration of re-
publican government among equal citizens
that ought not for q moment to be tolerated.