The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-26
WICKEDNESS OF AMERICANS
Bad Morals. Anarchy and Corruption.
as Depicted By an English Journal.
The Mckinley Tariff Law, and Blaine. Sulli-
van. Tweed and Hill-A Speedy Return to
British Sovereignty 0ur Only Rescue.



into fewer and ever fewer hands; In
violence, murder and rapine most OF
her States are below Sicily; her working
man has far higher wages. yet Is far worse
off than ours; her administration IS hope
lessly corrupt; her cult of the golden calf
Is exclusive and unashamed. And things
are getting more and more desperate still
Not q problem that has vexed our older
civilization but Is re-emerging within her
coasts, and no way of dealing Herewith
seems feasible. What, confronted with such
o future, is the patriotic American to do!
Had he better not confess himself failure
and return TO the allegiance he so upright
seously discarded a century agof
Policies. like other things. are judged by
their success. and for long the. natural re-
sources OF these States seemed so inexhaust-
lble, while their progress appeared so as
tonishing that writers on both sides OF the
Atlantic felt to justifying a most UNI ustina.
bic rebellion. Now that the nand on the ula!
Is pointing backward the facts of the great
secession will teach their real lesson. The
seven years war ended ll163l with the
peace of Paris. a chief emu had been the
defense of what are now the United States:
and it seemed but reasonable that the col
Onists should pay their quota. We did not
set very cleveriy about the task OF making
then; we were too considerate, too hesi-
tating; and the colonies were thus encOur-
nged IN most factious opposition. That
wOoden-headed aphorism. mo taxation
without represeD tation," was COM
mon blind. There always has
been taxation without representation
and there was much more of it then than
now. The device. in truth. is supremacy
Irrelevant. Justice. according to the old
Greek definition, Is to tell the truth and
pay your debts, and Justice was not OH the
d. - nj End
with platitude will not advance the ques-
ton; but. IN effect we had spent blood and
money In their interest and at their asking,
and they ought cheerfully to have
managed the war as badly as the taxa
tion. Ever faint-hearted. the rebellion
was half q dozen times at cOllapsing point.
and not until hostile Europe interfered had
happen TO have q tolerable general, ana We
always shrank from decisive measures; so
in 1852 accepted the Declaration of In
dependence of 1776. and these States went
their own way alone.
A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
In what respect are they better for their
departure7 How would their DEVELOPMENT
have prospered had they remained with usi
Canada and Australia are hampered and
hindered by soil and climate and the ques-
tion of distances. but in no sense by the
fact of their government. With US. in
deed, many of the greatest ills these
States have been heir to had
been impossible. Here are instances.
IT'S an economic axiom that slave
labor ruins q country. We got rid of slav-
cry and the slave trade while IL was yet
time, and In the end their secession cost
these States q tremendous conflict, an ex-
bausted South. and the proba bilIty of q
racial war. Again. all the turbulent sDir-
its of Europe have made these States their
home; they never go To Australia or
Canada, because they have natural
the distribution of wealth, what DO
These States exemplify, if not the triumph
of Ilutocracyf Your plutocrat has the
command of all the motive power; his busi-
ness training makes him past master In
the art of using that power; and he grlnds
the faces of his workmen down to the liv-
ing rock. He so controls the Legislature
that he can make il pass what laws seem
day by day his hirellngs are
found calling God and These States to
witness that said laws are for the common
veal And the wretched hand believes.
the only result of Mckinley tariff is to
worsen and send up the cost of everything
he eats and drinks and wears. The brutal
truth is that every body Of men will turn
what power 1t possesses to its own ad-
vantage. With ourselves suoh forces
are checked and controlled by our
balanced Constitution. our manners
and customs. our traditions, and
ideals. and ways. In These States there is
no feeling of reverence for anything. ex-
cept. perhaps. for foreign titles. British for
choice. The ideal is there-not the true.
not the just not the good. but the senti-
mental and the smart. Hes q smart man.
Scadder." was the national theory of the
creation of New Eden. And you may
change the name to Blame. or Hill. OF
Tweed. or John l.. Sullivan and the eulOgy
shall remain unaltered.
HOLDING OUT HOPE.
Some of those lost ideals we might re-
store. The Virginia gentleman would
make very decent working noble: the
great names in what IS politely called
American literature" would be better
placed in house of peers than in 'lega-
tion" on the Tagus consulate
on the Grand canal; an Established
Church would dignity and refine the ma
tional faith. and the MOodys and the Tai
images would be appropriately seated in
the outer darkness of dissent. London
would be an infinitely better and more
wholesome center for soft society than
Paris We that have cleansed the styeS
OF Egypt might reasonably hope TO as
slst IN the return OF common honesty,
competence and decency In the admin
stration la-bas. We shoot not, neither do
We bride; but we might be trusted to make
Gaels. And there would be no shame but
much glory In q peaceful return to allegi-
ance; and ourselves might do much to help.
Our old nobility is already more or
less American by marriage; there are
promising shoots that would transplant
excellently WE'LL some of the younger roy
alties would cheerfully go into residence,
and people so generous and so wealthy
would make no bones about endow-
.ment; We could make shift to spare
them q bishop or two with SAY the
whole Free Kirk AS u pattern of Dissent.
IN art,-well. they have given us MIR.
Whistler, but we should not mind present
lag them with the Royal Academy AS for
Journals The Times might be Published
alternately, or simultaneously. or month
about. in New York and London: The
Star they have IL already in
q higher state of perfection; the
would not have talasD at any price. And
literaturei Mr.. Oscar Wilde. if il were
made worth his while. would doubtless
prefer New York before Paris. and. as long
as he left London. it would not matter
where he went. Our historical monuments
are better than they are; but we might
transplant all the statues erected In Lon
don during the last ten years; and. In
return. we should not object. in
ated by the consciousness OF an excess OF
medioorIty. to do homage In stone to George
Washington and his little Ratchet eth gles
OF which Twain might appropriately point q
moral and adOrn a tale IN front of Exeter
Hall. Asfor ourselves. q graduated income
tax would DO an experiment worth trying in
n community of Nanderbllts and Goulds.
Or IL any were Jealous 10 distribute his
hard-earned wealth. a knighubood even q
h. ascu NH oil ha H.