The morning call., 1893-11-05

tions which are now TO be decided by the
United States Senate demand a we'll
equipped mind. They are not abstract
questions, beginning and ending IN the
theories of government They are busi-
ness questions, and upon the decision OF
them depends the welfare Of an empire.
When the first Senate met we had 100000
people in the Union, ana the country
over which they legiSated was narrow
strip running up and down the Atlantic
coast. Now wet haveSnearly twenty-five
times as many people and we are bounded
by the Pacific. We have country Of vast
resources, divided into sections, each of
which has its own interests, and the Gov
ernment must be for the good of the
whole. We have an enormous revenue to
raise. When Buchanan was President one
of the chief arguments against the admin
istration was the immense expenditure
which 1t made. 1t took $50, ,000. 900 TO pay
its bills Now we spend over S400, 900, 900
every year TO run the Government"
Does not the growth tend to dissolution,
Mr.. Vice President" | asked "Will
not our country and people eventually be-
come so rich and so great that lt Will be
divided into sections? Win the Union
continue?"
Il think the Union will last" said the
Vice-President, Though in the centuries
TO come. who can tell? Our chief safety
lies in the patriotism of our people. We
are at the bottom a nation of patriots,
and l want to see this part of our nature
developed to the full. Yes. am in favor
of Fourth of July celebrations. | want
all the national holidays we can have. In
the future we'will have our troubles, but
this love of country, added to a good
government and good constitution, Will
be our salvation"
How about the anarchists?"
There is no danger from them. They
form drop in the bucket of our national
life. We do not fear them. Public Opln-
ion is greater than parties. and the moment
the anarchists threaten our institutions
public sentiment will arise which will re-
suit in the destruction of whatever imper-
lis our free institutions"
rs there not danger from the corruption
which exists in our pOlltics?'
II don't think much corruption exists in
politics to-day" replied Vice-PreSident
Stevenson. Il suppose there is some, but
if so il Is found chiefly in the large cities.
Politics are purer now than they have
ever been, and they are growing better In
every way from year to year. Our cite,
are growing better; vice Is being con-
trOlled, and this is an age of churches aud
charities. Millions are now spent in edu-
cation where thousands were not known
few years ago; fortunes are given daily TO
institutions for the betterment of the
people. aud we are making giant strides In
the right direction. It is the same in poll
ties. The people have an idea that there is
corruption and bribery here in Congress.
l vas four years in the lower house. and
L have had large acquaintance with men,
berS of Congress. | have never heard of
a mem ber who had been approached In
that way, and | do not know of one to
whom you would dare offer brbe. Look
back over our history. What laws have
ever passed by corruption >"
There is the Credit Mohilier," said L
Yes" replied the Vice-P President, land
that is the exception that proves the rule.
And look at its results. 1t was the politi-
cal grave OF every man who had anything
TO do with 1t. case happened many
years ago lG which Congressman was
expelled for selling a West Point cadet
ship. At present there is little if any
corruption about the Capitol. Think of
the hundreds of millions which have TO be
disposed of by Congress. Think of the
billions which are affected by legislation,
and it is one Of the wonders of history
that Congress is so pure. | do not believe
that there is another body of Legislators
one hundred years old which can show
such clean legislative record as can the
United States Senate and our House of
Representatives. No, politics are not
growing worse. They are growing better"
NOulQ you duNlS6 a young man 10
adopt politics as a profession ?''
mo, l would not" replied the Vice
President. "We have no profession of
politics, as has England. [ believe, how
ever, that every young man should take an
interest in politics. Every American
should know what bis country is, how il is
governed and take part in its government.
If be does not he shrks his duty, and
sponges, as 1t were. off bis fellow-men.
As 10 political leaders, | sometimes think
they are born, not made. Some men
naturally take TO the management of their
fellows, and such make good politicians.
The game of politics is an interesting and
a fascinating one. and the men who play
it best become known as statesmen. | see
ex-Speaker Reed or Maine defines the
word statesman as a successful politician
who is dead He is to certain extent
right"
You were brought up on a farm. gen.
eral. What do you think of farm life for
upon a farm? ?"
81 don't KNOW" said the Vice President,
with a laugh. IF a boy could decide
where he is to be born, the farm is as good
place as any. l sometimes think it is
better than the city. A farmers boy
comes into close contact with nature. He
gets strength by having to fight against the
elements. Pure air and hard work give
him good muscles, and he starts life with
purer blood and better brains. AS to his
character, this depends more upon his
home training than anything else. If he
has the right Kind of family surroundings
there is little more danger of his going
astray in the city than in the country"
here asked Vice President Stevenson
to give me his ideas as 70 the tariff and the
silver questions. He laughingly referred
me to his letter of acceptance. in which he
said his views had been expressed IN full
and approved by more than 5000, 900 voters
at the time of the late election. His posi-
ton on both questions is well known. He
believes in tariff reform, and he thinks
that there should be dollars worth of
gold and silver in every coin that is
marked with the name of dollar. He un-
questionably would like to see both gold
and silver used as money, and be believes
that every dollar in the United States,
whether gold. silver or paper. should be an
honest dollar. and that all of our dollars
should be OF equal and exchanged bic value
and OF equal purchasing power.
FRANK q. CARPENTER.
RICHARD ANTHONY PROCTOR.