Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1876-01-27
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE

paper COuCciuiuB tnC pioPoSS
ductlon of salaries in the diplomat
ic service. stated that many Demo
cratic members of the House who
are in full accord with the retrench-
ment sentiment, would vote against
the bill for the reason that 1t is
necessary to give the ministers and
counsuls good salaries in order to
enable them to live in "proper
style" and to keep them from en-
gaging in questionable specula-
tions."
We are not of those who dis
parage the present time in order
to ldealize the past. Bnt we can
not think that such a shameful re-
lection upon the character OF those
whom we delight to honor with
office could have been true of the
men fine past. Our government
was intended to be simplicity's
self. Low salaries and untitled
offices were the rule and implied
q confidence in human nature
which, while excessive, was, as
history revealed, not misplaced.
Our simple dignities were open to
all, but it was very seldom indeed
that they were unworthily bestow-
ed. To seek office was then an
honorable ambition, for the man
himself was supposed to be honest
and the office honorable But ff.
teen years of radical maladminis-
tration have changed all this. We
must now hedge about our officials
with a wall of gold or they will re-
sort to questionable speculations'
and downright stealing in order to
Give in proper style"
Prompted by curiosity we asked
a friend, whose mind runs back
over a goodly number of years, if,
twenty-five or thirty years ago,
there was heard as much talk
about corruption and extravaganza
in our high officials as we hear
nowadays. His reply was very
emphatic in the negative. The de-
fa!cation of Swartout was the only
instance of corruption that he
could recollect, while it was dur
ing Mr.. Van Buren's administra-
ton that the first cry against ex.
travagance was raised. Gen. Tom
Arnold, who then represented oul
district in Congress, made a speech
from q dry goods box on the street
in which he described and de
nounced Van Buren's style of liv.
ing. "Why, gentlemen" he ex'
claimed, "when you step upon Mr.
Van. Buren's carpets they tickle
your shins as you sink ankle-deer
into them, Brussels carpets, gen.
tlemen, and great heavens! think Of
eating your hog and hominy with
silver folks and gold-handled
knives, from dishes made Of
china and precious metals!' Dem.
ocrats openly acknowledged thai
no party could keep in power wher
it had such extravaganza to excuse
Yet what a difference from to-day
Mr.. Van Buren's aristocratic habit:
were pure simplicity compared
with the luxurious style OF living
now in vogue at Washington. Sen
ators and Representatives must al
be able to expend far more thar
their salary if they would enjoy
the benefits Of social life. They
must live in $4,000 houses, drive
$4,000 turnouts and give $4,000
entertainments or sacrifice socia
position, and that now involves, tt
a great entent, personal and oflcla
influence. Personal ability, bow
/, ever great, goes for little if it b.
not backed by large private for
tunes. The Northern States sent
their miilionaires and speculatori
and their false social ideas ant
castoms have gained the ascendant
This is the secret Of our nationa
degeneracy.
~
The trial of Mckee, one of tn
p%roprietors of the republican organ