, 1876-05-06

nty Oh our rcpnDlCah theory. we nave
made no provision to erect and magnificent
" maintain any federal ruilerics, Windsor
castles, or Po,sClams We are ut least theo-
rcicaly proud to asSevcr0tc that in the royal
ty of our simplicity we rulcgate all suclr vain
extravaganza to the hereditary usurpations
of Europe, Egypt, and Hindoostan. Prt';i'
caly, those whom we invest with brief au'
thority, are less simple than our admirable
theory. They can see no good reason why
the rulers of America should he less fortunate
in imperial grandure, or less ostcntations in
impressive personal assurance, than the petty
princes of the pctticst European or Asiatlc
states. They are, however, brought face to
face with tins practical question; How to
make the annual salary of $4,000 to which
each may be legally entitled sustain the
/ royal assumption that demands 100000.
/ Not to he nhc to control the last named
sum is to continually suffer intolcrable NOR
| tiicaton. There are tew fortunate Mmi,
lies among the American nobility whose
| private wealth enables them, without mate
| rial sacrifice or official dishonesty, to be mu.
niicent in personal expenditures hut only TO a
small portion is this royalty of fortune grant
/ ed These, however naturally and easily
take the leal in initiating the prodignlity OF
royalty, and social woe hetidc the ,unlucky
official who cannot keep up. A few are
willing to endure social ostmcism that they
may keep inyioate their integrity, hut the
majority prefer impressive display to purity
of conscience. The republican noblcmNn,
with the aspirations OF IN imperial CrGsus
and the actual poverty ola ruined Frederick,
is indeed in n sorry plight. His opportu
nifty is to continue with mOurnful brcvity
Already the brow of some powerful rival
feels the delightful pressure of his forfeited
crown. Constituencies are so tickle and in
npprcciatiyc. What is done ut all must he
done quickly. He cannot resist the tempta
ton to cXtort from the patronage at his dis
posal the funds which neither his salary nor
his private fortune are adequate tc afford
TIE blood and prerogativc of royalty he
cannot possibly inherit, but he can steal sim
liar means. This attempt to crafty oneself
and to impress ones friends with the costly
and absurd pageantTy of royalty, it the
| chance should he offered by the partialIty Of
nuc's neghhOrs is not suitably characterized,
when in the poverty Of human speech it is
pronounced contcmptibc. 1t is, however
one Of the leading political vices to-day
The Eastern display our republican officials
are selling their honor to copy, will not al
ways last. Gods avonging providence is
already upon the heads of this folly, nnd His
rrtrbutve arm is ready for the final stroke
Turkey and Egypt are to-day in ruins be-
cause OF the extravaganza OF their admins.
trations, and the culpablc inopportune use
of the public revenues to force upon an un-
enlightened people the arts of advanced ci-
vilzation. Every nation on earth is, l sus-
pcct, bankrupt to-day, if the collection of
what they owe were forcibly attempted.
Government is nowhere self.sustaining.
The people are taxed to their utmost, they
will bear without revolution, und yet the re-
sources are insufficient until increased by the
destructive resort ot personal and official ne
cGssity-debt. Not even the annual interest
on some of these fearful national incumbcr-
anccs is paid from the annual receipts, but
borrowed There is no failure more marked
than general politics The sixteen satires of
Juvenal may continue to be esteemed master
pieces Of that kind of writing, and yet each
is in reality almost infinitely less satirical
than the political government of mankind.
Official extravaganza is the cause OF the
trouble. Republican and monarchical rulers
are Just alike in supreme ambition to so lay
hold of the resources Of the state Us to make
them command the prcicrment of the lndi-
! vilual who chances ut tho time to be invest
ed with civil sovereignty.
Numerous theoretical, but so lar as |
know, no practical remedy can bo named,
The official conccits and corresponding
cxtravagances OF royalty are an incuabIe
complaint. The incumbents OF office cannot
he brought to feel that they arc indeed pub
lie servants. III our own land it may do for
Christiln ministers, and other impractIcsblc
philanthropists to dwell upon any nice the
Ores Of retOim that may occur to their mex
pericnced and impressible Conscicnces, but
well informed men Of the world clearly know
the simplicity of republican politics is myth
ical and absuId We are still in theory re-
publican in simplicity but in fact we are
regal in our official and personal eApendi'
lures.
Cannot the patriots Of our age be reinsta-
4 ted with the simplicity Of their iathers'
May not all men cease to look upon the
state as merely an excellent implement with
which to gain personal preiermcnt: Can
there not be devised som, charming way oil
making official economy irrcsstihly honon