Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-08-21
HOMAGE TO wRALTH.

my single cause, spring the specula-
ions, large and small, which so often
bring ruin and disaster /; the dishonesty
hat creeps ipsidiously into every
trade aud profession, staining the char
aeter of thousands who might otherwise
preserve an uublemished conscience,
aud the hcart-burnings, ~jealousies and
cnvyings that turn the choicest sweets
of life into bitterness and gall. But
all admit this fact, yet the
struggle goes on, and every muscle is
strained, every nerve is strung, all
power is exerted, and the full
force of will is brought to bear upon
the one great object of attaining wealth.
can by no means sympa.bize with
those persons who, seeing the evils
which spring from this %engrossing de-
sire, proceed forthwith to decry all
wealth, ard to throw contempt upon
those who possess it. Such extremes
only strengthen the evils they oim to
subdue. Wealth is normally the repre-
sentative of industry, frugality and
mental and physical power, and us such
is deserving Of real respect. 10 pro-
proportion to the true worth OF the IN
diyidual, whatever property he may
have gained will thus be the sign Of
these valuable qualities, and will right.
ly be honored as such. But, un'
fortunately, the sign often exists
without the thing signi6ed. Wealth,
it is true, is too frequently gained
By other ways than those of honest in
dus,ry, and can by no means be univer
sally accepted as a proof Of worthiness
It is where the Encompasses from wealth
as the sign of character, to wealth 10
its " sake, that it fails in truthful
appreciation, and gives rise to tn
countless evils daily witnessed. Tn
intense desire and struggle to obtain l
arc caused more by the respect univer
sally accorded to it than by the direc
pleasures it confsrs. It is the eclat ant
consideration which follow the hand
some dwelling, the sumptuous furniture
the carriage and horses, and the expen
.ive entertainments, rather than the in
creased comfor. or happiness to be de
rived from them, that urges the bust
ness man to trade on borrowed capital
or speculate in fancy stocks, or practic
tricks or e1tortion to increase his prop
er,y. Not commerce alone, but ever,
occupation is thus permeated with thi
anxiety for the homage which none
brings, and q long train Of evils follo'
which may we'll threathen the prosper
ity Of any community. 1t is not, ther
only those who are struggling to obtai
this homage, that are responsible TO
the wrongs thus inflicted. Equally or
those to blame who accord respect an
consideration to wealth, rather than t
character. This is the roo. of more o
/, the evils Of civilized communities tina
can readily be conceived, yet it creep
: so insidiously into all our social relt
| tions that We scarcely detect it. Ho'
{ many, even of the best OF us, show tn
0 same respect to goodness clothed T;
: seedy raiment ms to those clothed
costly apparel? Or who does nc
h excuse the follies Of the rio
# young man, while severely %reprobatin
y the same in his poorer neighbol
The women Of the age have much
answer for in this respect. Each sex
d naturally and rightly anxious to gal
the esteem and good will Of the othej
aud as long ms human nature lasts the
Il will aim after whatever is likely to S
cure it. II the young lady pays Il
Difference to wealth gained by trucker
and that she denies to virtr
in humble garb, the young man VII
desires her smile will surely risk al
even his character and conscience, {
: obtain wealth. But tho true womal
: who throws oil the weight of her il
hueuee in tho scale Of virtue, VIII
8 honors character FIRST of all, and wealt
only secondarily, as far as it truly sis
t mites character and no further, is col
ferring the greatest boon in her powt
to the community where she dwell'
It is worse than useless to declaim !
words against wrongs that we continu
to reward and to cherish by our at
tious, and it is only when publ
opinion gives wealth either honor Q
disgrace, according to the means b
which it has been acquired, and th
way in which it is expended, that tn
r desire for money will yield to the desir
for virtue, and that the energies Of mar
kind will be consecrated for the noble.
ends. EctsG