Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-30

U answer THIS qQeStlon colle0Uty oeeIho
to puzzle the brains of the wlsest of
the land. While some appear to see
the cause so plainly and because others
can't see it equally plain, they lose all
patience and fling bitter words, if
nothing more, because of the stupidity
of the rest of mankind. Let US look
at the past history of the world. Was
it poverty or great wealth that render
dercd Rome so powerful? the mighti-
est of all the nations on the earth.
Her great prosperity begat luxury, and
luxury efeminacy, followed by loss
of honor. To crafty an unnatural
taste for pleasures born of great wealth,
corruption did its perfect work. Off
ces were bought and sold. bribery the
universal rule, = to riot III extravaganza
and style was the only ambition and
to accomplish it the vilest means were
resorted to; the end was the ruin of
the nation, mentally and physically,
although possessing the finest soil,
ample production, all that ought to
make nation prosperous and happy,
Yet she fell into ruin and obscurity,
she could not stand prosperity, riches
ruined her people. The same holds
true of Athens and Babylon, and
many others that have gone to ruin
and decay, because they had too much
of this worlds goods Apply this
picture to our own coantry. Take
Washington, where money has been
lavished with an unsparin9 hand for
years past. Who does not know that
extravaganza born Of style and fashion
ruin almost every honorable man and
woman drawn into its whirlpool of
frivolity and vice? Few men can be
found to refuse d cabinet appointment,
to be leader cf the reckless ton, but
when once installed in Office, finds his
salary Of 5000 dollars totally made
quate to his wants; hence Offices are
sold, money must be had, the manner
Of getting has little to do with the
greater idea-style! Hence salary
grabs and many other disreputable
means are resorted to crafty the soul
destroying love of notoriety, These
things are net done by one party more
than an other, the mania for fast liv-
ing, putting on airs, pervades all classes
of society. We have been too pros
porous, the means Of gratifying our
desires for luxuries, for Sightseeing,
for extravaganza of every kind, has
beeu SO easily obtained, that reckless
determination to sake advantage of it
has taken hold Of all classes; few can
SAY Il am guiltless.
No nation in all the earth, can
boast Of richer soils, of more varied
climate, bringing forth in its season
every herb and plant good for man or
beast, Of a people more Intelligent, en-
terprsing and industrious, the fruit of
whose labors have been more amply
rewarded for these many years past,
than our own. Why are we not now
prosperous? Possessing all that ma
ton ought to possess, yet why do we
anguish and complain? But one an
swer seems to me to explain it. We
have perverted the good and bountifiul
gifts God has SO amply bestowed upon
us. We could not bear prosperitv, we
have forgotten the prudence and thrift
of our forefathers who, with lnoiety
of the good things we posses, rapidly
increased in wealth and happiness, be-
cause they were not blinded with a
passion for fast lives yet we honor
them for their prudence and virtues
Now what is the remedy FOR our woes?
Is more wealth needed, or more a7is~
dom in properly using what we have?
Would greater increase Of wealth in
Rome or Athens or Babylon have saw
ed them noon the contrary it would
have fastened their downfall with IN
creased violence? Will a very large
increase of salaries Cat the peoples
EXPENSE at Washington allaY the
thirst Of the sharks that thirst for
your money? Not will only in
crease their appetite for more. As in
all times and all nations, an increase
OF money only increases the thirst for
more. We have increased salaries at
Washington repeatedly, and now it IS
Gtatt-S