The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-26
THE MILLIONAIRE GRoANED.
He Groaned because of the Political Disa-
bilities of Millionaires.

He Groaned because of the Political Disa-
bilities Of Millionaires.
New York sun.
A millionaire groaned as he read the DO
litlcal news OF tue times and thought of the
glorious riyalries and splendid prizes of po-
litical life. I'm politics." he remarked be-
tween groans, this is the most unpromls-
ing country In the world tor an ambitious
millionaire. Such O man has no chance at
all of getting elected to the highest office
IN the country. and has sncb a poor chance
OF being elected TO any great office that 1t
is not worth his while TO try TO get q noml-
nation.
suppose. for xampie thai any one of
the principal mllliOnaires OF New York
were TO be a candidate Tor the office of
President OF the United States, just think
OF what would happen. There would DO
hn uproar and an uprising against hlm
from Maine TO Texas. The most opprobri-
Gus epithets would be applied to him as .
millionaire. the most disgracefcl accusa-
lions would be brought against him. The
Farmers Alliances would shout themselves
hoarse In denouncing him; the working
men would organize 10 defeat linn. and the
general run of people who have not much
money would vote a, eInst him sure. The
cry of millionaire would be fatal to him.
There would be anti-millionaIre songs,
anti-milliOnaIre stump speeches, and anti
millionaire brass bands.
Yes. have not forgotten that Mr.. Til
den, who was rich, became q candidate
for President; but the fortune that
he possessed was never in evidence,
as the French say, before the public,
and was an incODsequentlal factor when
compared with his Overshadowing re-
nown as q politician and statesman. His
political predomiDance had no relation
whatever to his wealth. He did not figure
in the list of those towering millionaires
whose prominence before the public il con-
sequent upon their millions. and whose
names every body is acquainted with. 1t
is to these men that ! am referring; There
| executive ability which they would GLADLY
use in the service of their country. They
would like to run for office and get elected,
but which of them would nave q show of
eleetionf Has there been one millionaire
among oil the Presidents of the United
States from Washing ton to HarrIsonf
Il know three milliOnaires who would
mako frst-cless Presidents, but there IS not
q party that would dare to nominate any
of them. One of them has his investments
in real estate. another in railroad stocks,
and the other IL something else; and there
is not q doubt that the fact that they own
large amounts of such kinds of property
would give the demngogues the opportunity
of assaulting them in ways that would
tell upOh the masses of voters. In fact. q
millionaire has hardly any chance of get
ting into any high office, the candidate for
which must be elected by popular vote. A
very few milliOnaires have been sent
to the senate by State legislatures,
and a few millionaires have got places In
the diplomatic service by appointment of
the President. and a few m~illionalres ave
been appointed to office in the Presidents
Cabinet; but what l am complaining OF is
that hardly any millionaires would think
of going before the people and asking for
an election.
Nearly all our Presidents have been men
of small means. and not one of them has
been q millionaire. In early times Wash
ingtOn and several of his successors were
we'll of. and in later times Buchanan and
Grant were well of; but this is all that can
be said about their fortunes. | repeat that
IL would be no use for any of our great
m~illionaires to run for the Offic of Presi-
dent. sAsasS
1T is different in other countries. In
England, milliOnaires play a great part In
politics and elections. Lord Salisbury, the
Premier of England, is worth millions, and
SO are several OF his colleagues In the gov
eminent There are plenty of m%lllionaires
III the House OF Commons, and you will see
plenty of millionaire candidates for mem-
bership in that House as soon as the cleo
tions are held-LIberal and Radical
candidates as we'll as Conserva-
enjoy the popular elections Just as
they enjoy field sports and fashionable
life. In England q mar who Is q mill
ionaire is not disqualified from going
before the voters and asking them to elect
him TO Parliament or to any elective Office.
Then there IS that ancient and peculiar
institution. the House of Lords, which
represents British millionaiIedom in poll
tics. In France. also. and in other con-
tinental countries, the milliOnaires have as
fair a show as other men have In political
life. The people elect milliOnaires to the
French Chamber of Deputies and various
high offices. l do not know how rich
President Carnot is. but / should not be
surprised If | were told that be is a mill
ionaire, as was his predecessor. President
Theirs. In Italy, Germany and other
countries mlllionairs run for Office.
Now, think of the names Of the ten or
the twenty leading millionaires of New
York. and tell me which one of them would
have any chance of election to the Office of
President of the United States. His mill
Ions would preclude the thought of his
nomination. and would make it hard for
him even TO. get q nomination to Congress-"
The millionaire groaned.