The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-09-29
A PRETENDED ARIsrocRAcY.

Second. We also see the power of
money in the pretended aristocracy
Of the day. Say what we will, Amer
lea has fostered an aristocracy more
damnable than the aristscrEcy vf
Europe. Not blooded .ristocracy.
We do not believe in that, or, at
least we say so. Not an intellectual
aristocracy, because we know from
actual experience that some of these,
are the most complete ignoramuses
in the world.
For Instance, heard of man
some time ago who had by chance
fallen In with good luck and had OBJ
tanned very rapidly a snug fortune.
He desired that his daughter should
be educated at one. OF the very best
musical conservatories. He sent her
there and she remaiced for tvn or
three yeaIs, but finally ,he president
OF the school, being an honest man,
man, wrote to her father, asking him
to come and take her away. saying
that it must be done imm ediately.
The father, incensed, came on the
next train and demanded reason.
The president proceeded to give him
the exact reason for the ;reatmont.
Said he, "If you must know the facts,
she has not the capacity" ''The
capacity" replied tho man. Yes,
the capacity" We'll, why in the
name of the earth. did you not say
so? Don't you know that l am rich
have plenty of money? What will
the thing cost? I am able and ready
to buy it,"
This bot gives us an illuSt ration of
what we find making up our modern
aristocracy. So say IL is not bas, d
on intellectually, but it Is an aristoc-
racy Of money, to the total disregard
Of merit or worth. The man today
who robs a railroad, or gets the
agency Of some corporation and steals
5000, 600 or S4O0 900, and comes
home, builds him a handsome resi-
dence, buys Il handsome turnout and
very fine clothes, though he may
previously have been obscure and un-
known, yet Immediately he and his
family are ushered into the very
highest circles Of so.called society.
Again, it is also seen in the young
man whose father may, perhaps. have
few extra thousand dollars. He
can wallow in the cutters of the
streets Saturday night and all day
Sunday, and Sunda, night he will
spend in houses Of ill-fame or some
other den Of infamy, and then goes
out the next week, sobered up and
accompanying the best girl in the
city, and her father and mother think
she is fortunate.
Yes, we are set of Mammon wor-
shippers. A man. for instance, who
by some means cheats his neighbor
out Of fortune is honored, while the
man living in the back alley, his wife
and children starving for something
to eat. slips out in the dark at mid.
night, enters my smok ehouse, steals
side of meat and Is placed behind
prison bars. Yes, and more still, IL
we are not worshippipg today the
moneyed aristocracy to the disregard
of merit, why is it that a man can
serve for a brief length of time in the
southern army, win for himself the
title Of general, come home and ac-
cept service in the Louisiana state
lottery, and then gamble aud defraud
his fellowmen out of handsome for
live in open adultery and shame,
and then when he does have the
whole South pay him honor?
MONEY AND POLITICS.
Third. 1t dominates and controls
the political world of day. We want
no better illustration of Mammon in
the United States than when we look
at what Is termed politics. See it
first showing it's dirty hand in the
primaries and conventions. The
man who puts up the most Doodle is
the man who gets the plum. But,
perhaps it's dirtiest work is after tho
politician has secured his right of
election, for even then the standard
Of justice is entirely measured by the
money that is behind him.
Some years ago, when the Mormon
question was being considered in
Congress, New York, which lis the
head center Of Mammonism in Amer.
lea, telegraphed to Congress, New
York sold 100000 in Utah last
year. Hands off," 1t Is needless to
say that hands were off, and were off
to stay.
Another example: A few years ago
those of US who remember anything
at all with reference to the campaign
will recall how Robber Tariff and
Free Silver was preached from every
Democratic platform; but silver has
been adversely decided. Tariff is yet
undecided. Why is this? 1t Ia sim.
ply because the goIdbugs and Nam
monites Of the North have come down
to the capital Of our government and
placed their dirty hands upon the
very throat of the administration
from the President down, and dare
them to move. We are a set of