The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-30
A WORD FIFTY SPOKEN.

A WORD FIFTY SPOKEN.
Bishop Potter, of New York, startled
the president out of his self-complacen-
cy when he preached to him about the
virtues Of his grandfather and George
Washington on the occasion of the cen
tennial celebration of the constitution
in New York year ago. The good
Bishops words were bold and blunt, but
that they were true the whole country
recognized. The Bishop has again per-
formed notable public service in dis
cussing with startling outspokenness OF
speech some of the political evils that
menace our country to-day. Coming
from high dgnitary of the church,
man of fervent patriotism and loyalty to
country, Bishop Potter's denunciation
Of the pension policy Of the republican
party, in his Grafton before the Phi Beta
Kappa society of Harvard university,
should command and will receive the
thoughtful attention of all intelligent
men. We reproduce this passage from
the address as the most striking and
memorable utterance on this question:
Mr.. Lecky in his History of European
Morals" has drawn an impressive picture
of the decadence of Roman greatness, I'M
der the deteriorating influence of Roman
conquests. Enriched by the wealth wrung
from her barbaric neighbors, with domi-
nant class flushed with success and debili-
<ho; al N01icv
soon became one pre-eminently of profuse
indulgence. 1t was easier to bride the un-
employed to silence than to devise efficient
methods for their employment, and power
full citizens provided for their trains Of de-
pendents by largesses of corn and of
money paid directly from the public trea-
sury. There was thus secured to them a
docile and subservient constituency, and,
as Gibbon shows, the time came when the
mercenary spirit prevailed over every other
that when, after the murder of Pertinax. of
the Pretorian guard, Sulpicianus undertook
'tto treat for the imperial dignity, the more
prudent of the Pretorians, apprehensive
that in this private contract they should not
obtain a just price for SO valuable a COM
modify as the crown, ran out upon tho
ramparts and with a loud voice proclaimed
that the Roman empire was to be disposed
of by public auction to the highest bid
der.''
With us there is you will say, no throne
to be bought or sold, and no Pretorian
guard to claim the price or deliver the
scepter. But we may not forget that the
events of our recent struggle for national
existence have left behind them condition
of things which makes possible a situation
only less scandalons because less open and
notorious. The honorable provision fo
those who suffered and were disabled il
their country's de1ense threatens, un
der the selfish and unscrupulou
manipulation of those who see in tn
degradation of their fellow-citizens
short and easy road to political supremacy
to become a pauperizing system, who's
least and most innocent consequence is tn
ruinous burden which it is destined, soone
or later, to saddle upon the public treasury
Never was there phariseeism of phil
anthrophy in which personal aggrandize
ment more impudently masqueraded in tn
garment of grateful patriotism than on
halls of congress have lately presented; an
the unmanly silence with which schemes s
grotesque that they should have long ag
been laughed out of any intelligent as
,sembly, amazes US. As far apart in time a
are Rome and America, we must needs ow
that the Resemblance of history are at one
tragic and significant. 1t was huge mill
2 tary organization, remember, which ono
put the Roman empire up at auction IN
proposed to knock it down to the highes
bidder. To-day it is in the air that it is til
party which bids the highest to precisel
similar constituency that is to pc rewarde
with the symbols of national primacy an
authority. And out of this it has come
pass that not alone some SCARED and homo
able veteran, not alone some brave an
MANNED survivor of an heroic charge; M
alone the widows or orphans of those WI
fell dead on the field or hospital and lie
penniless: but every skulking camp follow
and deserter; every fraudulent and tainte
claimant who has tho etfrontery to denar
his br ibe, can have it, if only his vote sha
thus become commodity within the col
troll of partisan dictation, and he himself
lackey to do his political masters biddin
Ihave nothing to say of those who have d
vised this infamy and baptised it with Il
name of civic gratitude but for the maj
hood which it is destined to corrupt and d
grade, no honorable man can feel, l thin
any other than the most profound syr
pathy and sorrow. This is surely syste
of government that deliberately conspir
20 degrade men, and no delicacy ought
consent to excuse or condone it.
And these singing words were uttert
just twenty-four hours before Benjam
Harrison signed the dependent pensit
bill, taking forty millions more from Il
treasury.
FOREIGN CAPITAL.
Tho British capitalist is wide ava
to the opportunities for successful al
profitable investment in this countl
The meagre returns afforded by hor
securities, contrasted with the rich b;
vests ripe for the sickle of the money