, 1862-08-04
The Rich Men of Chicago.

a lme has arrived IN our national attAlf4
when it is not injustice but each mans right
to know what his neighbor is doing for the
common cause. There are men in the city Of
Chicago with prince1y incomes who have not
yet given dollar. So great have been the
opportunities in America, so large the benefi-
cence and 80 light the burdens Of our gov
eminent, that with very moderate natural
abilities they have accumulated great wealth,
and now, In the hour Of their country's need,
they maintain cowardly prudence aud hide
themselves in their palatia1 homes to su1lan1y
deplore some paltry loss or perhaps decrease
Of income, tenth OF which suf1ced every
want.
Gentlemen, you shall not be allowed to thus
evade your obligations. Do not suppose that
in the confusion and excitement which per-
vades the land you can escape. The people
know and mark you as you glide along
through the street In eager pursuit Of that
which has hardened your affections, consumed
the love.ofy our country, and which In Its abun-
dance shall curse your children still mora
Would the just demands Of the public disturb
your plans Of aEarice with thought Of fearg
You turn to the Laws and institutions Of your
country for !proteetion; yet you are found
unwilling to contribute 8 dollar to preserve
those institutions and maintain those laws.
With miser's infatuation you refuse to sup
port that by virtue of which alone you hold
whatever you have.
During the past week Chicago has pre-
sented noble spectac1e-a cessation Of
all ordinary pursuits-fhe shop has been
quiet and the voice Of traffic still, while a
great people have come up to attest their de-
votion to their beloved country. The man
| on small salary, he who sweeps Offices aud
| stores-the hardy day laborer, have all
| brought their pittance and laid 1t upon their
country's altar with tears that 1t was SO little,
but up to this time very few of the rich men
| Of Chicago have responded. O, the infinite
! callousness Of the miser.
Damned to the mines an equal fate bet1de8
The slave who digs and the slase who htdes.''
It seems as if God reasoned with the world
| by example in this way. You desire riches.
1ou think that with them must come happi-
ness. Look at your neighbor-I have made
him rich. have filed his houses and barns,
but emptied his soul, and there you see him,
mean in private charities-pusillanimo in
| public matters; the richest in what Is per-
ishable, and the poorest fn what is imperisha-
ble Of all my creatures,
Like the sailor on the wreck who filled his
pockets with gold, you are busy in trouble
some times loading yourselves with that
which shall certainly take you to the bottom.
poes 9oas do ae5 ask fS1 S ys IN
that you never do this. They have learned
long ago that the benevolent enterprises Of
the world are not maintained by the rich !;
that American society is very much as Vol
taire: sald Of the English that It resembled
froth, the bottom all dregs, and the middle
pretty good.n That It Is upon the hearty
earnest middling class that nation must lean
but they do ask that now In this exceeding
crisis you do something to refute the old Qua
ker'e crying that God shows his estimation
ot riches By the kind Of men he gives
them tor
John Hook sued American soldiers for a
COW they took when out Of food. Patrick
Henry describes Hook as disturbing the sleep
American camp hoarse1y brawliug 'sBeef
becf, beef" So one Of your number sat down
few days since With deep sadness pictured
on his countenance, complaining that the war
had taken away tteo of his tenants,
crossing our beautiful lake, F. F. ". Peck,
p. Foster Judge Dickey, Tut4ill
KiBg, Carpenter and whole load of out
wealthy citizens were embarked with four OF
five sailors and O storm should arise, when by
the superhuman exertions Of these hardy fe1
, lows all should be saved, and after the voyage
those gentlemen should insist that fifty cenit
: was The fare agreed upon. and although in
, | stead of half day they had been tempest
> tossed 8 week, and that in all its days ani
nights those sleepless men never torsooE
their Posts, yett fifty cents was the fare ant
they would pay no more.
, Freight that vessel with our wives AMI
: little ones, our friends and kindred, our fam
ily heirloome, our mothers gifts, our fathers
: = Bepulchres and then tell those who came will
= = the life boat through the eud and watched al
the night on the beach that it Was pleasur
excursion they. were invited on, and the lifl
= boat that saved them Was government prop
,, !, erty, and therefore no contribution could b
expected Of them for the families who's
; fathers found Watery grave In the rescue.
= H.: Some OF the rich men In Chicago have re
sponded nob1y, and the people have writtel
!, theif names. Others, and BY far the most
hare done nothing.
In MMt;ee Mt:.ee VILE :a,5 war will be over. Yo
4 wln be getting old, and need more than eve
= the good opinion Of your country; but 20
= Will nnd that those who we're deaf to hervoic
4 IN the hour OF her direst need have no plac
- In her eraHectione-that through life "the Slow
unmoEing finger Of 6corn'' shall bs potnte
can erect shall shield your resting place an
memory from deep and permanent cloud {
1nfamy. JUa1Us,
?. s. As the subject Of the citizens duty t
his government iB an Interesting one you ma
5 conclude, Messrs. Editors, that your column
il are well occupied II this artic1e shall be follov
n ed By Others reheartfng the course Of OF
q Morris aud Bowditch, who pledged their pr
3 vate property for army supplies. Those woul
e be Inspiring "reminiscences and would -ale
: furnish the rich man of to-day an easy IN
= exact measure OF bis degeneracy.
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