The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-06


ans, apprehensive that i'm this private
contract they should not obtain a just
price for so valuable a commodity as
the crown, ran out upon the ramparts
and with 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 DO bought or sold, and nc
Bretorian guard 10 claim the prize OF
deliver the sceptcr. But we may not
forget that the evidences of our recent
struggle for national existence have
left behind them a condition of things
which makes possible situation only
less scandalous, because less open and
notorious.
The honorable provision for those
who suffered and were disabled in their
country s defense threatens, under the
selfish and INSCRIPTIONS Manipulation
of those who see in the degradation OF
their fellow-citizens a short and easy
road to political supremacy, to become
a pauperizing system whose least and
most innocent consequence is the ruin
GUS burden which it is destined, sooner
or later, to saddle upon the public
Treasury. Never was there pharIsa-
ism of philanthropy in which personal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT more impudently mas.
queraded i'm the garment Of grateful
patriotism than our halls of Congress
have lately presented, and the unman-
ly silence with which schemes so gro
tesque that they should have long ago
been laughed out of any intelligent
public assembly have been received, is
one of the most amazing facts of our po-
litical experience. Indeed, far apart in
time as are Rome and America, we
must need own that the resemblances OF
history are at once tragic and signih-
cost. 1t was huge military organlza-
ton. remember, which once put the
Roman empire up at auction aud pro-
posed to knock il down to the highest
bidder. To-day it is IN the air that it is
the party which bids highest to pre-
cisely similar constituency that is to be
rewarded with the symbols OF Natioual
supremacy and authority. And out OF
this il has come TO pass that. not alone
some Scared and honorable veteran
not alone some brave and medaled sur
vivor of an heroic charge; that not
whom death on the field or in
the hospital has left berefU and peDni-
less, but every skulking camp follower
and deserteI; every fraudulent and
tainted claimant who has the effrontery
to demand his bride can have IT, If only
his vote shall thus become commodity
within the contract Of partisan dicta-
ton. aud he himself a lackey to do his
political masters bidding. l have no.
thing to saw of those who have devised
this infamy and baptized it with the
name of civic gratitude; bat for the
manhood which il is destined to corrupt
AID degrade no honorable man can
feel, think. any other than the most
profound sympathy and sorrow. This,
surely, Is a system of Government that
deliberately conspires to degrade men,
and no delicacy ought to consent TO
excuse or coudone 1t,
Happily, a situation so grave has in
il elements of alarm which cannot
easily be barren of some good results.
We are not at the extreme, wise men
tell us. of a drift which became well
nigh inevitable as Iesult of the vicious
forces generated in connection with
orr great civil war. And if the nation
is strong enough to survive that inner
most deterioration which has threaten
ed. and which is threatening, the tOun-
dations of character among Us, II Will
be stronger still, because OF the victory
which it has won over its unwOrthler
self. For one. l rejoice TO believe 1t;
but. if il is to be, am no less persuaded
that it will be because those whose are
the best gifts among us, the Stewardship
OF the highest truths, and the ability 10
translate those truths into a language
in the old English phrase-'under-
standed of the people'-have recog
nized their great trust and their obllga-
ton TO discharge it.
The community of the Phi Beta
Kappa is supposed to represent the
flower Of our American colleges. For
now more than century il has en-
rolled among its associates those whose
gifts and attachments have earned Tor
them, during their college life, the
| highest recognition. Surely such dis
tinction ought to illustrate itself in un-
selfish service for the State. From this
no preoccupatiOn with other cares can
wholly excuse any one of us, and 1t II
impossible not TO own that in such a
trained force. if once it should arouse
itself TO its opportunity, the highest in
/ terests of the nation might rightly look
to find their best defenders.