Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-29
A Strong Government for the Rich.

George Tcknor Curtis, in Harpers for June.l
we hear great deal about the desirabieness
OF strong government" for this country. 1t
Is time to inquire what this means It. is time
TO mark the tendencies OF opinion or feeling
which indicate dissatisfaction with the DO
Httcal Institutions that for a period OF nearly
ninety years nave carried this country on In a
course OF development, prosperity and happi-
ness quite pled-inSritutionS which
have Withstood the strain Of civil war, and
capacity to fulfill the purposes OF their crea-
ton. There is one particular phase of this
vague hankertrg after what is called strong
government to which 1 wish to invite the at
tent1on OF as many persons as I can reach. l
have lived to period of life when a diSoO5i-
t1On 10 adhere 10 the Old ways might be tenn
peIed by consideration OF benefits that may
possibly accrue from changes to those who are
to come after us. While we may ourselves be
content with what we have always known and
Venerated, we naturally desire for our Child
Ten all that improvements can give them. Bat
as iCOk back upon the past, and contemplate
what the Constitution OF the United States
really Is, am amazed at what seems TO NE the
snort slghteaness OF certain men ana classes
who indulge In themselves and others this
Kid or dlsparagement OF the present form OF
our political system, which Is plainly Implied
In the desire, more Or less distinctly expressed
lof "hat Is called strong government. 1t is
Sald-aDd believe with some truth-that this
desire is prevalent among the rich: that the
feeling Is coming to be somewhat common that
property Is not so secure n Ter our present
form or government as its pOSSeSSorS think IL
ought TO be; and that although no one Is as yet
prepared to point out what are the further
guarantees or projections that property needs
| and could have yet that the Underlined seati-
ment that something more is wanted for IFS
protection Is seriously making its way among
men OF large possessions, whose influence and
means are afforded to a class OF politicians
who openly use the 'cry" for Strong govern
ment. hope It will not be inferred from the
special attention which propose now to pay
TO the interests of property that I look ,IDon
objects Of
ment. hope have not lost sight OF The great
trinity which Magma Charta first, 50 far as |
Know; united In one tndisSol4ble connection
Lille, Liberty, and Property. But In country
like this, where property is within the reach of
all who have the requisite industry and skill TO
acquire it, but where wealth is liable 10 be
and actually Is gathered in great masses, 1t
may properly be subject OF distinct consider
alton whether our political Institutions are or
not weak In respect to the protection which
they afford to accumulated capitals
have often asked myself whether the rich of
this country know what they are talking
about, OF what others are talking about,
strong government. try to put myself In
their lice and TO ask myself whether, know
ing what my studies and observation have
taught me, should sympathize in this feeling
In case belonged to the class to " hich / now
refer. Do people who talk thus or feel thus
ABOUT our present form of government know
what the Constitution OF the United States is?
DO they know that our complex system Of
government, with its checks and balances, is a
government OF great strength? Do they know
that nowhere III the worldly. not even ex-
CLING the interests OF liberty with the inter-
ests of property been so successfully met and
answered as In these United States? Have
they ever tried to measure and understand the
number and force of those guarantees and pro-
tecttOns OF property which have been incorpo.
| rated into our fundamental law? Do they fm-
agine that it would be possible in this country,
II great organic changes should take place. TO
the extent OF substituting some other govern
melt IN the place OF that which has des Tended
10 us nom the far-seeing patriots OF 'S1-that
they could ever get another, call it what YOU
Will, under which property would be so safe as
1t Is now?