Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-10
AMBITIOUS WEALTH

Calvin Brice, citizen of New York,
elected to the United States Senate from
Ohio, by means all too common in the
election of United States Senators, has
purchased the Indianapolis Sentinel, the
leading daily journal of the city of Indi-
annapolis, Indiana. Mr.. Brice owes his
wealth to the great trust known as the
Standard Oil Company, and he is ambi-
tious to be President of the United States
We are slowly evolving an aristocracy in
| America In addition to marrying the
rich daughters of our country to the titled
nobility of Europe, there appears to be a
rage for official distinction on the part OF
the possessors of great wealth. We re-
gard Calvin Brice as very formidable
candidate for the Presidency. Politics is
fast becoming trade in the United States.
1t is an occupation in which great fortunes
are amassed. 1t was recently clearly
shown that Christopher A. Buckley, a
local boss, had amassed fortune of $780,
000 In the accomplishment of this task,
he has far outstretched the great mass OF
those engaged in the legitimate and hon
orable professions of the country 1t may
be safely said that no physician in
America, out of his practice, has accumu-
lated that amount of money. There are
instances of lawyers who have become
millionaires in their practice, but the in
stances are extremely rare. Political
bossism in America is rapidly rising to the
position of distinct profession, and the
rewards of skill in this new field of pro-
fessional activity are rapidly becoming
almost fabulous. There is scarcely vii
lage or town in America without its boss,
who makes politics and the distribution of
the honors and emoluments of office pro-
fession, and it is rapidly becoming very
lucrative. Now the profits of the boss
business are necessarily large in proper
ton to the ambition of wealth. A candi-
date worth S50,O00,000, aspiring to a
United States Senatorship, or the Presi-
dency, is able to pay good sum of money.
He therefore becomes the preferred can
didate of the professional politician.
There is absolutely nothing in campaign
to the man whose only recommendation
is his craftsmanship, his talent, or his
character. For what are these to the
men who make a living in politics? We
hold in our minds three candidates for the
Presidency of the United States, the first
worth S10,000,000, and willing to spend
half that sum for the satisfaction of his
ambition; the other two worth from
100000 to 100000 and willing to
invest sum in the prosecution of sue.
cessful campaign equal to the entire rev.
enue of this nation when the Constitution
was adopted. Mr.. Brice has acquired a
great fortune, great even in this day Of
colossal fortunes. He seeks official dis.
LluCtlOu- lHe pOsstsSlOu vi great WEALTH.
appears to be rapidly becoming an ex-
citant to the desire for power, and since
in republican government, power re-
sides in the acquisition of great Office
millionaires appear to jostle each other
in their race for official distinction
In the better days of the Republic
the great standard of qualification was. Is
he capable? Is he honest? This is the
only standard possible, consistent with
democratic conceptions. The govern.
ment of democracy should be committed
to the hands of wisdom, honesty and
capability. Whenever it leaves this chan.
mel, the places of distinction will be
monopolized entirely by the rich, and since
all the avenues to distinction will be closed
to all except those possessed Of great wealth
it is easy to foresee the spectacle which
will be presented. Talent will be absorbed
in the accumulation of wealth, and wealth
will be engaged in the achievement O
political distinction.