The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-02-08
FROM MICHIGAN.

WEST CAscu, Jan "a, 1873.
To me Editor y thy woRErseSAss Aryo,Ar.
II seems that Congress has already be-
gan the series IF reform, We are W I'll
pect under this administration tirst. 20
reform the Presidents salary by doubling
1t next, To extend the same reform to the
Cabinet then 10 Congressman lastly, ID
every clerk ID the department. ann before
the reform Is done with the whole expense
Of the Government will be doubled. and
the tax needed to sustain it. A great re-
form, which will be very sensibly felt by
the laboring classes, who pay all bills /
DO not know what Gen. Bank ideas we're
VI the meaning NJ the word I" reform
when LIZ joined the party which ~ loudly
demanded Il but | tta know that the bone
and muscle Of the country had very little
idea that it meant doubling their taxes
What is wan,oe of this money Every
northern President who has preceded
Grant, has saved half the amount u his
salary $50, OOO in the whole four years.
and that Is enough I'd make out III the
people, more than retired officer ought
to spend A president who cannot sup
port himself and family. in a house built
and furnished for him at public expense,
on 1000 year, q not tit for the office
tie cannot set the example of republican
simplicity, ~ greatly needed, if he spend
more. Let Grant. Vanderbilt, Gould.
Drew, and other gamblers and robbers,
spend in 'stentatisus display the fruits of
their kuavery. The consideration, the
respect, the dignity, accorded to the Presi
dent, IL founded On the power IL the
American people, not VA his money ur
clothes. II We are ID have the trappings.
the tinsel. contemplate follies 81 royalty.
let us know 1t, and we will prepare for
revolution, for it IS not far off Are we To
learn nothing from the history Of the past
Where in the annals Of the race DO We find
a. instance ~ people ruined because
they would not pay salaries high enough
u support their rulers And where dO
we hnd an account If ruined people who
were not ruined by the ostentation, and
display, the greed and selishness Of their
prominent men. The simple frugal manners
% Aquillous compelled the respect and ad-
M. atom Of the Persian mobiles, who prided
themselves on their display but the gold
that Aquillous despised, III the hands "
his SUCCESSORS, ruined sparta
What il the money wanted for To
double the salaries and the competition
for offices which now are so bounteous. or
to nearly turn the country upside down
every few years in the squabble for the
possession Of them.
IL Is instructive rs we'll a. amusing ~
note the contrast exhibited by our news
papers, sometimes In the same issue IN
reference to these matters In one column
you will see the editor rejoicing in the
simple republican manners and appearance
Of our President and public men in anotb
er he will urge princely endowments and
expenses. Take for instance the followipy
from the Independent " Grant STROLL
quietly down Pennsylvania Avenue. biu
cigar in his mouth, and IL lost in the croul
He and his wife have lived simplv apd
plainly all their days 50, with a minority
exception, have all the principal men IN
official stations, at Washington. How
much more credltable t. the country their
government and to themselves. when they
thus practice simplicity and common sense
rather than u assume airs, and CONT
etiquette that can never Ne carried wv.
and Is, m ITS loudest attempt Only a IRE.
tence and farce. In another c,llmn
Is the following A nation Of forty
million ought 10 be ashamed To nav a.
mean salary As go, 900 to the incnmIent
Of the highest office IN its gift We cali
Il mean, and 1t ~ 40. The expenses 81 M.
PrtsIdent are large, and his salary orght
70 be 50 liberal that he can save lsurpina
We would sooner make 1t $lOO. 900 than
rave It at It's present stlnted, stingy, con
temtIble smallness What a contrast IA
here presented. One is the promptin0 ~
a tue republican heart the other. the M
q rance Of DemagOgue fishing for spoil.
The editor talks very ghbly Of meannesp
stlnglness, &c, &c, and perhaps u Al W.
itor who succeeds in gougng the public II