The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-07
THE MONEY POWER IN POLITICS.

THE MONEY POWER IN POLITICS
Tho reverence conceded, the Differences
paid and the influence yielded to the posses.
sors Of wealth, is the proximats cause Of the
crimes committed to obtain it The young
men of the Republic are educated to the doc
trine that nothing in public life succeeds SO
we'll Is success, and that the surest way to
gain success is to buy it. As soon as citi-
zen has reaped harvest of wealth men make
room for him in all public places; his advice
is sought and followed on all notable occa-
sions; his admirers look up to him with
profoundly respectful attention. and every
utterance of Dives is treasured as the re-
Spouse of an oracle. The wealth possessed
commands an inflow Of more and more. with
an always increasing proportion. The man
with million can double his capital far more
easily than the man who has but tenth part
of that sum. Wealth does not, strictly speak
ing, create wealth, but it commands il and
smooths every road by which it can come. It
does not multiply upon itself otherwise than
by the slow and legal process Of interest or
money hire, or else by the more rapid but far
more dangerous practice Of spending money
freely in speculative schemes. Schemes for
changing one dollar into five do not always
succeed, but when they do the multitude sp-
plauds, and the world looks on with gaping
admiration. There are solid advantages
attending upon it's possession which can
not be overlooked or denied. It
gives to him who masters it the privilege of
doing as he pleases within the law. Of com.
manding the service which he needs with the
money needed by those who serve him, OF
being the master of his own time and actions
and of compelling conformity to his wishes.
Money is power, and where it is employed
with judgment to good ends. it is lawful
rious to its citizens. Money in the hands Of
the worthy strengthens them for usefulness
Wealth, honestly and honorably amassed, in
the legitimate course Of commerce or by
system Of judicious investments, may be
made benefaction to the public even
while in the hands of him who brought
it into single fund controlled by him
SELF None will severely criticise the rigid
maxims and exacting policy of Stephen
Girard. when they consider the monum entail
and imperishable benefcence which grew out
Of it. The course of George Peabody must
always be contemplated along with the mag
ui6cent legacies which he has left to the
homeless poor and to children who lack the
means of instruction.
To cases like these We need not here refer
except with a passing tribute Of respect. The
bane Of which We complain is wealth dis
won and dishonorably employed;
the wealth which is fortified in its own strong
hold and employs its vantage ground to secure
new conquests; the wealth that makes itself felt
10 the halls Of legislation and within the sacred
precincts Of courts of justice; the wealth that
Is debauched and debauching; the wealth
that is divorced from honor and alienated
from integrity; the wealth that repudiates all
consideration for the good Of society or Of the
State.
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n which the money power presents itself is
hat assumed when it invades public office
md the halls Of legislation. 1t is bad enough |
vhen it is managed with the selfish purpose
# adding to its gains by process Of absorp-
ion and monopoly, bnt worse when it is
Employed by INSCRIPTIONS and selfish per
ons to cause laws to be made for the |
vident and notorious purpose Of putting
money into the coffsrs of men already
ich. Political speculation and jobbery for
money is the invention and development Of
he latest years in this country; yet We have
cen enough Of it to fill the minds and hearts
+ honorable patriots with apprehension and
erious torebodings. INSCRIPTIONS men in
'ower, eager to possess wealth and wholly re-
ardless of the means Of getting, or the
Methods Of uAing it, in all respects sensible of
he accretions which combined money power
An always gather to itself. form the most
angerous element in any State. This power
nd this combination now thresten the over
brow Of our institutions The meanest Of ell
ossible dynasties, moneyed oligarchy, is
,enacing the absorption of all forms of poll
cal power.
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