Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-08-20
CIRCULATION UNRIVALLED
IN ELIZABETH.
HOMAGE TO WEALTH.


None will deny theoretically that intense
desire for wealth, so manifest in the present
generation, is great national evil. From
it, more than from any single cause, spring
the speculations. large and small, which so
often bring ruin and disaster the dishones-
-ty that creeps insidiously into the daily la
bors of every trade and profession, staining
the character of thousands who might other
wise preserve an nnblemished conscience,
and the heart-burnings, and jealousies and
envyings that turn the choicest sweets of
life into bitterness and gall. But though all
admit this fact, yet the struggle goes on, and
every muscle is strained, every nerve is
strung, all mental power is exerted, and the
full force of will is brought to bear upon the
one great object of attaining wealth. We
can by no means sympathize tn those
persons who, seeing the evils which spring
from this engrossing desSo proceed forth
with to decry all wealth, and to throw con-
tempt upon all those who possess it. Such
extremes only strengthen the evils they aim
to subdue. Wealth is normally the repre-
sentative of industry, frugality, and mental
and physical power, and as such is deserving
of real respect. In proportion to the true
worth of the individual, whatever property
he may have gained will thus be the sign OF
these valuable qualities, and will rightly be
honored as such. But unfortunately the
sign often exists without the thing signi-
fed. Wealth is too frequently gained by
other ways than those of honest industry,
and can by no means be universally
1t is where the honor passes from wealth aS
the sign of character, to wealth for its own
sake, that it fails in truthful appreciation
and gives rise to the countless evils daily
witnessed. The intense desire and struggle
to obtain it are caused more by the respect
universally accorded to it than by the direct
pleasures it confers. 1t is the eclat and con.
sideration which follow the handsome dwell
ing, the sumptuous furniture, the carriage
and horses, and the expensive entertain.
mems, rather than the increased comfort OF
happiness to be derived from them, that
urges the business men to trade on borrowed
capital, or speculate in fancy stocks, OF
DIuCtlCG tliChS VI cAtuIblOH W luCIt3Sc his
property. Not commerce alone, but every
occupation is thus permeatod with this
anxiety for the homage which money brings
and long train of evils follow which may
well threaten the prosperity of any commune
ty.
1t is not, then, only those who are strug-
CLING to obtain this homage, that are re-
sponsible for the wrongs thus inflicted.
Equally are those to blame who accord re.
spect and consideration to wealth, rather
than to character. This is the root of more
of the evils of civilized communities than can
readily be conceived, yet it creeps so insid-
ously into all our social relations, that we
scarcely detect it. How many, even of the
best of us, show the same respect to good
ness clothed in seedy raiment as to those
clothed in costly apparel? Or who does moi
excuse the follies of the rich young man,
while severely reprobating the same in his
poorer neighbor? The women of the age
have much to answer for in this respect
Each sex is naturally and rightly anxious tc
gain the esteem and goodwill of the other
and rs long az human nature lasts they will
aim after whatever is likely to secure it. i
the young lady pays the Differences to
wealth gained by trickery and meannes'
than the enemies to virtue in humber garb
the young man who desires her smile wi
surely risk all, even his character and con
science, to obtain wealth. But the true wo
man, who throws all the weight of her infu
ence in the scale OF virtue, who honors char
acter first OF all, and wealth only secondarily
as far as it truly signifies character and NJ
further, is comforting the greatest boon il
her power upon the community where she
dwells. tits worse than useless to declain
in words against wrongs that we continue tC
reward and to cherish by our actions; ani
it is only when public opinion gives wealth
either honor or disgrace, according to tht
means by which it has been acquired, ant
the way in which it is expended, that the de
sire for money will yield to the desire fol
virtue, and that the energies of mankind vii
be consccrated for the noblest ends