Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-18
Aarlcaster fntellgemrer.
THURSDAY EVENING, NOV. 1e. 1890
Not 4 Taking Idea.

NVt . AOAA1S AVC0s
The New York Tines does not seem
to have advanced a taking idea when it
proposed that the people should raise a
fund, the interest of which should suf-
fee to keep the Oldest ex-president in
clover during the remainder of his life /;
and it is not strange. 1t would have been
very strange if such an idea had found
sufficient favor to make it successful.
The first suggestion that it causes is that
if this grace should he extended to the
Oldest ex-president, it should be given to
all the ;ex-presidents in equal proper
tions. We can conceive of no reason for
pensioning the president who has been
longest retired from the Office. The pro-
vision is proposed to be made because of
the dignity of the Office that has been
vacated, which is supposed to keep the
ex-president from pursuing any ordi-
nary business avocation. He is sup
posed to have occupied so elevated po-
sition in the worlds eye as to make it
becoming that he should not therefore
he obliged to labor for his living. What
ever there is in the argument obviously
applies even more strongly to one who has
just left the presidency than to one who
has been retired from it longer time.
The scheme of the Times was. there
fore, so obviously prepared for the benefit
of one man that it practically appeals
only to the particular friends of Grant.
Those who desire to contribute to his
support have All opportunity afforded to
do so. There are but few thus inclined
Is the fund does not yet reach fifteen
thousand dollars after week of solicita-
tion. The particular friends Of Grant
are not yet, however, seen on the sub
scription list. They have been waiting
probably to give the general public a
chance, feeling that their names
would still more strongly advertise
the scheme rs 4 Grant benefit. They
might rs we'll now, however, step for.
ward. Ifthe money is raised it is evil
dent they must raise it. The people are
not in the humor. They say that if it is
good thing to do Congress should do it.
The country is rich and can afford to
pay its servants all that it owes them. II
it is right that it should keep our eN-
presidents in afiluence, there is album
dance of money in the treasury with
which to do it, 1t is said that vOlun
tary subscription by the people would bt
better than 4 forced levy such as an ap
preparation by Congress would be. The
error here is in supposing that the money
expended by Congress is not the people:
voluntary contribution; and in supposine
further, that it is not just the fittest way
in which the peoples money shall be ex
pended for national objects. The money
is raised it is true, by taxation but take:
are the voluntary offering of the people
for national protection, collected in this
way that the burthen may be as equal a:
possible upon all. 1t is flat contradic
tion to urge a collection upon the ground
that it is national necessity OF
propriety, and to object to tax
alton as the best method of rails
ing it, when it is not alleged to b,
outside the legitimate power of Congress
to make the appropriation. There is NJ
question that Congress has power t.
pension ex-presidentsjust as it has power
to pension ex-sOldiers. The only ques
tion is as to the propriety Of its being
done. And this is so clear, that the mel
who have proposed this pensioning O
the Oldest ex-president by voluntary sub
scriptions must be assumed to have il
their desire only a gift to Genera
Grant. if We would not charge them
with being altogether silly.