Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-05-10
MONEY VS.. PUBLIC VIRTUE.


MONEY vs.. PUBLIC VIRTUE.
The accumulation and concentra-
ton of wealth has always resulted
in antagonisms dangerous to liber-
| ty. Efieminacy aud corruption
the offsprings of wealth-undermin-
ed and destroyed the ancient Re-
publics. Greece, the mother Of hui
man freedom, ia her poverty con-
trolled the world. When she became
enervated by wealth and corrupted
by avarice. she fell, like an apple
over-ripe, and was devOured by her
rapaeious neighbors. In the sges
before Christ the word Greek was a
synonym of virtue and learning /;
but, in the ages after, it was synO-
nym of duplicity, avarice and cow
ardice. Rome, in her poverty, de-
fed and conquered the world, and
yet, after enriching herself with the
spoils OF nations she voluntarily
surrendered her liberties that she
might enjoy her wealth in idleness,
or pursue, undisturbed by the duties
of patriotism and honor the fascin-
ating but fatal paths of avarice.-
The dangerous influence of wealth
upon free institutions, was well un-
derstood by the old philosophers
and statesmen. Amid the classic
groves OF Athens and from the fo-
rum, the Greek and Roman youth
were taught to despise wealth q love
virtue and so long as such teach
ings prevailed the people Of those
great Republics were free and in
vincible. So profound was this
conviction in the days of the first
Republics that Lycurgus, the great
Spartan law-giver, prohibited his
people all commerce with the luxu-
rious but despotic nations around
them, and TO more effectually en-
force this law, he made iron the only
legal currency throughout Lacede-
monia. Indeed, the most inestim-
able advantages derived by modern
youth from the study of the "dead
languages" is the sound doctrines
taught by the ancient philosophers
and statesmen upon this subject.
Take our own country as an ex-
ample. From its foundation, thro'
a period of forty years, there was
honesty in the administration of
public affairs, and high and healthy
patriotism that defied contamina-
ton. During this period the Re-
public was comparatively poor
There were no rings in nor out of
Congress. Men of the humblest for
tune were called to positions of
trust and pOwer-and they 1eUer
abused them. To serve his country
with ability and honor was the
highest ambition of the American
youth. Money was not the stand
ard of intelligence, but talent and
public virtue were the only stepping
stones to office. The standard of
American craftsmanship was mo-
deled after the ancient Cato's, and
the Republic was indeed the beacon
light of civilization. Contrast those
golden years with now. The gov
eminent now luxuriates in its bill
ions. Official salaries are doubled
while the perquisites of Office are
princely. The question now in re-
gard TO Office is, "l0hdt can it be
made TO pay ?" Money is the stand
ard of intelligence and respectable
ty, and hence legislation has become
] n matter of commercial speculation.
Wealth has accumulated and con-
centrated and now controls and
governs the country. The highest
aspiration of the age is, to get
money. Avarice has corrupted
every incentive to ambition and
mems opinions even measured by
the length of their purses. The re-
suit is rings to buy legislation, to
make more money. Railroad, man.
ufacturing and commercial monopo-
lies all purchased with money
Credit Mobilier swindles by which
the servants of the people corruptly
grow rich; Congressional salary.
steals all eminating from high pla-
ces. Only the other day the Repub-
lie was disgraced before Europe by
the discovery that our Commission
ers to Vienna had been specializing
in their awards of space to Ameri-
can exhibitors. In short, the
"Grand Republic' is the most cor
rupt government in christendom,
and is in danger of repeating the
history of other Republics who, be-
coming slaves to money and its
thousand wiles, sacrificed their
liberties on the altar of mammon.
Hence the reason that accumulated
wealth is dangerous to liberty is OBJ
viOus. 1t removes the few from all
sympathy with the many. 1t fosters
an exclusiveness that leads to as
sumptions of superiority. 1t Gre
ates an aristocracy that arrogates to
itself superior privileges in govern
ment as we'll as society. 1t sets
itself up as the only standard OF
merit and responsibility. 1t be-
comes arbitrary and interruptions,
and reckless of the means employed
to accomplish its ends. In the ma
jcsty of its fatal power it forgets
the source from which it sprung,
and rapt in the contemplation Of its
own grandeur is deaf to the wrong
and misery and despair that gathers,
dark and darker, in the political
and social horizon. The ancient
philosophers understood all this and
taught against it. Our forefathers
and our early statesmen understood
1t and Numbered against it-but,
alas, where are the philosophers or
statesmen in these times TO teach
the rising generation by precept and
example, to beware of the corrup-
tions of money and to practice strict
virtue in public as well as private
affairs, if they would preserve their
liberties.
ANOTHER PUBLIC SCANDAL.
1t will be remembered that the
United States Commissioners at the
great Vienna Exhibition, headed by