Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-22
NO RICH PRESIDENTS.
nfounded Contrasts Between In
coins Time and Ours.

(From the Philadelphia Record)
I. s a great pity to have the Lincoln
anniversary msused by unfoundcd c =
trasts between his time and ours charges
Of he political deca dence OF the people
and absurd exaggeratlons Of the present
Influence Of wealth The statement that
1--WE would in all likelihood regard 1t ~
a reflection on our nation TO select Tor
our president a man as poor as Lincoln
was is wholly without excuse. Lawyers
fees were smaller then than now. but
so were most other forms 81 conpensa-
ton. Mr.. Lincoln was a successful law
yer, engaged in some large cases, and he
was no pauper even II IT may have been
convenient for him TO borrow some ready
money at the time of his inauguration.
Mr.. Taft was orn to a competence, but
not great FOL me. His wife Is under
stood t. have had some fortune, but ~
practiced his profession until he went on
the bench, since which time ne has gem
orally been In receipt OF an official sal
ny. Mir Roosevelt ia nearly II not quito
the only president who never earned h!s
own living He was born to something
better than n competence. and he has
on business. lie has written a good deal.
and probably made some money by his
books He has also held office. but on
moderate salaries until elected governor
Of New York Mr. Mckinley had very
little EXCEPT his congressional salary IN
til elected president. Mr.. Harrison was
long NJ the head Of the Indiana bar, but
when he died HIS estate was little more
than 10000. and probably good deal
of this was acquired after he retired from
the presidency, when some valuable cases
came to him, rs they are apt TO come 70
a lawyer who has been conspicuous in
public life For example, II is said that
Gov Black OF New York has made a
million dollars out Of his profession since
he retired from office.
Mr. Cleveland was a lawyer in moder-
ate practice, and needed the salary which
was paid to him for several years as
n trustee OF the Equitable company. His
wife had n moderate fortune, but he did
not marry until after his inauguration
Mr. Hayes inherited large fortune, but
rot until after he became president. Con.
Grant didn't have cent except his SAL
airy and his presents.
UnQuestonably the profession of
great fortune would be regarded to-day
as d!squalfying man for the presiden-
tial nomination, though he might be nomi-
mated for vice-president with the eXpec-
lions cynically expressed by Senator
I1ge'ls, that he would pay a large part
of the campaign expenses.
Nor is 1t true that Mr., Lincoln was
elected by the people IN any sense d.
ferent from that in which a president
will be elected by the people this year.
1t Is grotesquely untrue that then the
people go erned themselves now We arc
larGely ruled. often dictated to-" except
IN so far as present-day issues fall 20
interest the people enough to arouse tn II
20 action. The republic has not change.
The people are aot the victims or an
oligarchy or plutocracy or anything ex-
cept their own indifference. When the
issues were slavery and the integrity
Of the nation people felt intensely ana
acted generally. The tariff and conserv-
atism and corporations do not move the
people as the Issues Of 80 or 60 years ago
did. and they are too apt TO leave mat
ters to the professional politicians. But
there were plenty Of those In Lincoln
time, and some Of them were no better
than hose that we have to deal with,