The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-11-23
TENDENCY OF THE AGE.

III fares the land, to Fastening ills prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay.
That the accumulation of wealth in the
United States during the last quarter of
century has been something remarkable,
goes without saying. The progress has
not been slow and gradual either, but is
better described as having gone forward
by series of leaps and bounds, until
boards beyond the miser's wish abound,
And rich men flock from miles around.
So general, indeed, is the prosperity of
the country, so large the class that can
now indulge in luxury, which to men
century ago would have been esteemed
princely, that plain, frugal people are
looked upon with contempt. Reckless
prodigality is the spirit of the times;
and those who refuse or are unable
to Join in the mad stream which
is rushing on to-GoD only knows where!
are sneered at as inferior people. In the
late general election throughout the states
Of the union, we had recognized leaders OF
great political party-a party which AFRO
gates to itself the title Of "the grand old
party''-we had them f1ippantly deriding
cheapness and economy within American
homes. "a cheap coat" said they, "makes
a cheap mani; "a cheap dress makes
cheap woman; ''the Cry of cheapness is
un-American"; ''cheap and nasty go to-
gether, and this whole system of cheap
things is a dodge of poverty"
costly thy habit as thy purse can buy"
may be good advice to courtier to whom
it was addressed, and in general way to
buy the best is the cheapest; but there are
all sorts of conditions and circumstances
which modify this truism. 1t is also true
that loft the apparel proclaims the man.
and then it as often does not indicate the
character of the man, though it may his
ances-circumstances too, which
he did not make and cannot alter.
Notwithstanding The vast accumulation
of wealth within the time we have indi-
Gated, the majority of Americans are still
numbered among the laborinR classes, and
cannot afford to indulge in the general ex-
travagance of the times. Men have to buy
such coats for themselves and such dresses
for their wives as they can pay for; and to
have their more wealthy fellow citizens
sneer at them because of these circum-
cStAACSS 10 AOO a uCdlbuy SlBu III Gut lie OIL
the great republic. 1t means that wealth
is being esteemed more than men; that
appearance is looked for instead of char.
acter; that as wealth accumulates men
decay. 1t startles every lover of his coun-
try and makes him ask: Is our splendid
government destined to walk in the foot
steps of so many others that have gone to
decay and ruin under the burden of cor
ruptlng luxury! The history of the world
is before US, where we may read the fate
of ancient kingdoms, empires and repub-
lies; and on every page of that history
may be read the fact that wealth leading to
corruption, to luxurious living, 10 pride, to
neglect OF Con, to oppression of the poor,
has been more destructive TO nations than
war. famine, pestilence and treason all
combined. An English historian, over
fifty years ago, in speaking of the con-
temptible opinion that CICERO and his con-
temporary Romans entertained of Great
Britain, said:
From raileries Of this kind ION the bar
barity and misery OF our island, one cannot help
rejecting on the surprising fate and revolu-
tions Of kingdoms; how Rome once the mis-
tress of the world, the seat of art empire and
glory, now lies sunk in sloth. ignorance and
poverty, enslaved by the most contemplate of
tyrants, superstition and religious imposture;
while this remote country, anciently the Jest
and contempt of the polite Romans, is become
the happy seat OF liberty, plenty and letters:
flourishing in all the arts and refinements of
civil life; yet running perhaps, the same course
which Rome itself had run, from virtuous in
industry to wealth; from wealth to luxury:
from luxury to impotence of discipline and con-
tempt OF morals; till by total degeneracy and
lack of virtue being grown ripe for destruction,
1t fall a prey at last to some hardy oppressor
and, with the loss of liberty, losing everything
that is valuable, sink gradually again into its
original barbarism.
With these considerations before US. we
need make no excuse for reverting to the
tendencies Of the times as manifested in
the remarks of leaders in the Republican
party during the late political campaign, or
for saying word in defense of the plain
people of the land. In this growth of
wealth in the hands of the few there is
danger to the institutions of our country.
1t leads to class distinctions and conflicting
interests, to overbearing pride on the one
hand, and envy on the other. 1t means the
destruction of fraternity, equality and
union. and with the destruction of those
conditions falls everything worth presery
ing in American institutions.
But our words on this subject will be
read chiefly in Utah, and TO her people.
therefore, we address our remarks. Utah.
30 unfortunate in many things. is most
fortunate in this: That whatever of wealth
exists, is more widely and more equally
distributed among the people than in any
other commonwealth in the union. In the
great bulk of her population there have
been no class distinctions. Up to within
a very few years at least, the richest
were poor, but the poorest lived in abund-
ance;" and if the people of Utah are wise
they will do what they can to preserve
that happy condition Of their affairs; for
upon that depends the peace, the pros.
perity, the happiness of her community.
Nor will the imputation that frugality is a
badge of inferiority, of meanness of spirit,
tempt them to indulge in the reckless ex-
travagance of the times.
The character Of the individuals in Utah
has also been the character of their GOV |
ernment-its affairs have been econo- |
nlically administered. The number of Of
ficers has been limited to the actual neces- !
sites of the state, and the salaries so light |
that ofice-holding in Utah has been no sin