Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-11-18
A NATIONAL ALMSII0USE !!
Proposition for an Ex-Presi-
Dental Pension Fund,
PENNIES FOR POOR OLD GRANT
A KEROSENE CALAMITY
A Life of Protracted Crime Ended
by the Rope of a Wig
lance Committee.
DEATH OF LUCRETIA MOTT
New York Times. Rep, OF yesterday,

New York Times Rep. or yesterday,
For man who has once occupied the
position OF the first citizen of the Republic
a return to the comparatively humble posi-
ton from which he emerged is, thereafter,
impossible. Ia proportion to the value OF
his services ond the lustre of his career will
it he difficult for the people to regard an
ex-President OF tho Uaited States as
entirely divested of the authority which he
once exercised or M entirely devoid of "a
certain representative character which it
touches the good name OF tho Nation thai
be should adequately sustain. For man
30 circumstanced, who is neither public
officer nor private citizen, to whom the
fact of havll filled the highest position
in the country is positive barrier TO the
acceptance of any humber responsible
iiies, the problem OF earning living is apt
10 become both embarrassing and difficult
As the country grows in wealth and popu-
lation, as its relations with other lands
become more intimate, and its place
among the nations gains in dignity aud
elevation, the demands upon the inmates
of the White Honse become more eZecting,
while the chances are decidedly Increased
Of any President who fairly meets the
social responsibilities OF his position lesv-
ing it poor man. Poverty and dignity
are by no meaus Incompatible, but it is
extremely questionable whether the people
of the Ualted States consult either the
dignity OF their country or the successful
working of their institutions by failing to
make some provision for removing their
eX-Presdents above the temptations or
the dscomior,s incidental to genteel
poverty.
Moved by such reasons gs those which
we have briefly summarized, number of
gentlemen of both political parties propose
10 appeal through the Times for national
subscription to provide a perpstual fluid
whose annual income shall be enjoyed
uuring life and non. holding of Federal
tilice by the oldest ex-President of the
United States. The minimum capital of
the fund shall be $3.50, COO, and its prob
able income not less than ST., 800. The
details as to the management of such y
trust are matter for after consideration /;
the immediate questions are, Can the
money be raised and will such O move
ment commend itself to the support aud
approval of the people Of the United
States? While not presuming to give an
authoritative reply 10 either question,
Inquiries made on bt half of the Times
would lead us to answer both very con-
iidently in the Affirmative. Already sub
scrptions to the amount of $4,000 have
been guaranteed in neighborinR city,
and there is no reason, beyond the des ra-
bllity of making the movement a popular
one why the whole amount should not be
subscribed by % wealthy citizens of the
United States. But it il very obviously
desirable that movement like this should
be participated iii by the whole people,
that the quarler-duliar of the laborer
should go to make up the fund rs well Us
the $40, 600 of the millionaire. We fully
expect 10 see the aggregate subscription
reach $500, ,000 and We trust thet the
number of those giving small sums will be
10 less remarkable that the munificence OF
those who are able to give large ones.
Ii may be ue oessary TO explain that the
phrase, the "oldest living ex.Ptesident OF
the United States" means the ex-Presi-
dent whose incum beucy is most distant in
point of time, aud that the plan we have
outlined does not, for the present at least,
contemplate the enjoyment of pension
BY more than one ex-President at time.
The fact that Gen Grant would, in all prob.
ability, be the first beneficiary of the con
tempiated trust does uot, in the least, make
it "A movement in his special interest. Ii
fact, one Of the reHsous which hay.
weighed with those who desire to see the
movement assume distinctly nationa
character il tu be found iii the off l-repeatet
proposals to raise II fund which should b,
purely personal tGetmuIlsl to G.nera
Grant Without having any authority t,
discourage ihtsh proposals We imagin,
That tl9 ht4Is. HtA nf "a fattnAul - nb ANS
as We have outlined could be accepted by
Gen, Grant, or any succeeding recipient
without either the feeiil of personal obi
CATION or impaired seIf-respeot which
might attach TO II merely personal gift
Our columns are open for such discussion
of the sch me as may be profitable, ant
Tor the recoid Of oil subscriptions to ii re
ceiyed at tie Times Office or elsewhere.