The Portland daily press., 1881-10-18
Careers in Two Countries.
Opportunities and Obstacles in Public
Life here and in England.
uondop Spectator. I


Within tie last q years three American
Presidents have attracted English attention to
such degree that their histories, their char
acters, aud their faces have been as familiar in
this country as those OF any Cabinet Minister'S
Englishmen know Mr. L ncoln, Gen Grant
and Gen. Garfield as they know Sir Robert
Peel, Lord Clyde, or Mr.. Forster Not one OF
the three has been man of fortune, or has
indeed, possessed anything like competence,
while two have died poor men. Mr.. Lincoln,
until mis- election, lived upon his earnings as a
lawyer; and when he died, after six years OF
the Presidency, he left his widow so little that
a subscription was raised for her by his friends,
and an application was made to Congress for q
pension. Gen. Giant, when he was called to
active service, was far from prosperous-had,
indeed, scarcely anything except his income
from a small business-and thoagh he has re-
ceived large gifts and has enjoyed the highest
sa aries given in the Union fer eight years. ne
has still to supplement his pension by work as
Chairman of corporations. Gen. Garfield
when he died was found to be possessed OF
$1,000, consisting chiefly of farm, probably
over-valued, of 100 acres. which he cultivated
himself; out of his salary az President he had
effected an insurance for el0C00 The facts
are interesting, for two reasons. They show
that the pursuit of politics in America, even
whe1 the politician is successful, is not for an
honest man paying profession, and that Ca
reess are really open in the United States, not
only to the lowly born, but TO the poor
A very large section of American politicians
live on their salaries. There is no more pres
sure on them in Washington to live expensive
lv than there is ON Irish members in London;
their salaries are not liberal, mileage being
taken into account in that country Of magni-
ncent distances and they have, we presume,
that fearlessness of the pecuniary future which,
more than any other popularity, differentiates
Americans from Europeans. Society such as
they wish does not care about their means, and
does not consider that poor man is more like
~ to be- bribed than rich one. 1t trusts
Garfield, indeed, before Gould. In England
the member cannot live without money of his
own at all, as there is no salary for him to re-
ceive; and practically if very poor man and
married, finds the position inJolerable. More
or less, in spite Of character or ability, and
even success, If he has not 81 200 q year from
some source or other, the rich distrust him
and the poor despise him, and he ia hampered
at every turn. His want OF means IS not
thrown in his teeth, as want OF birth is, but IT
is quietly reckoned against him, like an unsafe
seal or an old political escapade. 1t would In
practice be impossible for man in Gen. Gar
fields pecuniary position, with wife and two
sous, unless he we're an Irish member, to re-
tain his seat in Parliament without office TO
any length of time. With only ESQ Year,
and house TO keep up, his nerve would break,
down under the cab difficulty aud the worry OF
knowing that dissolution, which even we'll
TODD members feel keeDly, might be fatal to
him.