The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-05

DemestheneS himself, the orator of
all time. could not rohse the Athenisns
against: Philip. They were so far given
over tothe pleasures Of luxury that it
was made capital crime to use the
money designed for theatres in the mil
! itary service. though necessary to de-
fend the. life of the Republic. The7
dreaded Philip, not as the enemy at
their Liberties, but as the enemy of
their pleasures That same Republic,
which, in the days Of her ancient vir-
tue, defended Greece against the mil
lions Of Persia, at Thermopylae, after
the loss of her public virtue made but
feeble resistance to Philip, and persisted
at Ch8ronse.
Once more: When the Republic of
/ Carthage had lost her virtue, and Han
nibal sought to hinder public officials
from plundering her treasury, what do
We see? Instead of rousing the citi-
zens against the p!underers. they com
planned of Hannibal to the Romans.
They e1nploraG the dcstroyers of the
country to save them their riches, to
save the means of gratifying their
pleasures, at the price of losing their
Liberties
III fares the land, TO fastening ills prey,
Where wealth accumulate and men decay
Oh, my fellow citizens of Wisconsin
am kepeful by nature. AS a matter
of duty, also, strive tc look upon the
bright side of all things. But should
be falset to you, and to myself, if ! did
not declare. in the Iaost earnest man.
ner, that the growth Of extravaganza.
luxury. and corruptiaa, in public and
private life, within the last fifteen years.
fills me with
MOST SERIOUS FoREBoDINGs
for the futune Of the Republic.
When first ! went to Washington, in
1867, there wss no such thing there as
An aristocracy of wealth. Men were
respected, not for their meney, but for
! their worth.
So great has been the increase of lux
ury and extrasagance at Washington,
that the late increase CT salary of mem.
bers of Congress and of the President
has been urged as necessary. As the
increase of the salary Of the menbe
has been repealed, will confine myself
to the question of
THE PRESIDENT SALARY.
which was increased from $25, 900 to
$4,000 per annu1n, upon the plea that
it is necessary to support the dignity
! Of the position and the Inequalities Of
/ the Executive Mansion.
Such an increase was, IN my judg.
ment, as unnecessary as it was unwise
and evil in example. Let me state
| some facts to show this:
The Presidents house, gardens, con.
servatories. and stables, are all furnish.
ed, and kept in perfect order in all
their details, at the public expense
stewards and door.keepers, and band
of music for all public receptions, are
furnished without one dollars expense
to the President. All the furniture,
carpets, beds, tables. to the minutest
thing which convenience or luxury can
desire, are furnished by the Govern.
mcnt. The whole establishment is also
warmed and lighted throughout; all
, this at an expense t. the Public Treas.
ury Of 100000 or $4,000.
But you may ask me, what, then,
DOES THE PRESIDENT PAY
out Of his salary!
He pays his cooks, the walters upon
his table, and the driver of his carriage
and the servants who wait upon his
family and his guests; he pays for
what is eaten and drank at his table
By custom. it is expected Of the Presi
dent to give several State dinners; and
in the course Of the year to entertain
each Member of Congress, the Judges
of the Courts, the Foreign Ministers
his Cabinet, and occasionally dis
tinguished strangers,-iu all, pro-
badly 500 persons. If such
dinners shonld cost $40 for. each per
son, $500 would cover that expense
Of the $4,000 remaining $4,000 ough'
to pay his other family expenses. Tha
would leave him $4,000 per annun
clear.
Now what does experience show
Let me state some instances: Mr.. Poll
of Tennessee, land. while Mrs. Polk
that accomplished lady was in tn
White House, it was never more pobu
lar), saved about $4,000 out of fou
years salaries-about $4,000 year
Mr.. Pierce did the same. Mr.. Blu
chanan did nearly the same. Mr.. Liu
coin. when elected President was wort
about $4,000, and his estate. upon hi
death, was about $4,000. 1t must
borne in mind. too. that Mr.. Lincol
received his salary in greenbacks, whe
they were not worth over 60 cents i
gold. and when prices were highest.
MIR. johnson saved from his salary
in three years and half. $4,000 q
, O.OO0. and that too, when greenbacl
were still at discount Of Is per cen
And, it must not be forgotten, none {
, these Presidents ever accepted present.
DISPENSING WITH NECESSITIE.
The Philadelphia Public Ledger. j
its obituary column, contains the 70
lowing gem:
: ADDISON the Goth instant, JOSEPH
! ADDS, son Of Amos T. and Lizzie Add
aged years, month and 9 days.
, Put away those little pants and jackets,