Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-09
Is Our Republic Destined to En-
dura9

Perhaps IL is the natural tendency OF
old people 20 become pessimistic IN their
thoughts. especially as to what the fu-
ture will. bring but a blind man can see
that the drift in the United States Is to-
ward the worship OF people OF wealth,
and OF the titles and honors-which the
world holds dear. A very rich man may
ne a very good or a very bad man, out
the populace viii always run after aim
70 see how he looks-how he amuses hirn-
self ana the gaping crowd adores or
hates him. according 10 the size OF MS
possessions in lands and stocks, nue
houses and fne eQuipages-
A young woman was 90 be married In
New York city some years ago, whose
father ranked as a multi-mtlhonaire, ana
the waiting crowd al the church door
encircled her so. closely-ano stared AZ
her 80 nxidly-trod on her train so heav>
IN etc that the police had 10 open
way tor her to get inside the hne church
building
Her prospective wealth was the charm,
and the silly crowd longed 10 see her
clothes and her jeweIs-in perfect adora-
ton OF the signs OF riches. The girl
might have been intelligent, or she might
have been an ignOramus, but she was
profoundly interesting 10 gaping null
titude because her father had heaped up
riches and was spending thousands on
her adornment They worshipped wealth.
pure and simple.
Multftudes win crowd around the very
rfch whenever they are recognized-sim-
My because our fool people are willing
rs become gaping idiots In the presence
OF the display and glitter OF gold
There are plenty OF poor men who make
themselves unhappy over the luxury OF
the rfch-out give them a chance 70 see
sh~e a rich ones
euuip themselves with. and they just run
20 feast their eyes on the glories OF NAM
mon-at every possible opportunity
And the world OF very rich ones. hav-
ing amassed a great lot OF money, then
turns TO titles as the goal Of its ambi-
lions. A shabby little count came 70
Georgia a good many years ago, ana al
though he eventusted into progressive
scamp and swindler. his supposed title
save him the entree into fine homes
among intelligent people right here in our
midst
Europe has many such. and the nil
iionaires OF the United States make
business OF bringing up these titles 10
nut a handle 10 their daughters names
after marriage. and although the history
o. such matches are almost universally
written In divorce courts as nnale OF
SEQUEL 20 this title craze. the foolish title
hunters are always running wild after
some fellow who belongs to the efrete
nobility Of Europe by the accident OF
birth.
AS Il was in the days OF Samuel 50
n Is In our day. The populace worships
the power OF mammon. even while the
mob is consumed with envy-of those VINO
are surfeited with wealth.
The danger 20 the republic lies In the
mammoth fortunes. which have been
heaped up IN defiance Of the rights OF
others; Yet Il Is a singular fact that the
display OF great wealth seems to cast
SMELL upon those who cry out the loud
est against its inequality and Injustice
Unfortunately our legislation is more or
less tainted with the influence Of money.
Rich men procure the passage OF laws
intended TO still increase their own
wealth at the expense OF their fellow
citizens. A senator or congressman who
yields 20 such influences generally has
a fun pocket and a smooth road TO re-
election, but the legislator who resists
the entertainments OF wealth on the laws
OF the country may congratulate himself
AZ he escapes with his good name, from
the unequal struggle. The harpies that
will hound him are constituencies and
rurchasable- -
The danger 10 the republic lies in This
direction. Money gives power 70 I'M
scrunulous men, and IL is the very rich
people who govern the country-and II is
the infatuation Of wealth that leads US
20 national ruin