The Hawaiian gazette., 1869-06-30

COLOSSAL FoRrUxRs.-The inequalities Of
fortune have constituted the theme Of countless
effusions in all ages and in all climes, and men
are but little better for all that has been writ
ten. When Senator Wade let of q few COM
monplace remarks on the subject, property
owners sensitiyely took the alarm, and raised
such clamor that the Senator was frightened
at his own words. But we doubt if any ordi-
nary person can contemplate without serious
misgivings the announcement that Baron Roth
schild. who recently died in Paris, was worth
1000 ,0O0, 900 of francs. or S400, 900 900. It
was observed at the time that he was a chari-
table man, and that the poor Of Paris deplored
his loss deeply.
Yet during all the long weary years that he
| was engaged in amassing that stupendous for
tune, men and women were starving to death,
or committing suicide from want and suffering,
in that very city of Paris. Who can tell the
multitude of unfortunates who, wrecked in for
tune by the changes on the B0urse wrought or
controlled by this man, have plunged into
eternity to escape suffering and reproachf Who
can tell how often the loaves of the baker have
been reduced and the poor punished because
some of Rothschild's operations had run up
the -four market? Who can tell how many wi
dows and orphans have had their little all en-
quilted in the maelstrom Of fiscal operations
that brought ruin to thousands and fortune TO
him?
Charity How many millions did he give to
the poor? In order to be truly charitable he
ought to have devoted about half his fortune
to such purposes, for nothing else would have
relieved him of the responsibility for the evil
he wrought in seeking to pile up such tremen-
dous boards.
Stephen Girard achieved a colossal fortune
in commerce, but he left the bulk Of it to ed
ueate the orphan children of the poor. John
McDonough Of New Orleans followed his ex-
ample. George Peabody has not waited for
his death-bed to warn him Of his duty. He
has given his millions to the needy.
But these are American millionaires, and in
spired with the American ideas Of the greatest
good of the greatest number. How could any
one expect such things of men like the Roth
schilds 1t is related of this one, who died
worth S4O0 900 900, that when Audubon. the
great naturalist, was about to publish his fa-
nous work on ornithology, he waited on the
millionaire with letter of introduction, was
treated rudely, refused q subscription, ordered
to send his book when printed, and when Il
was SO sent refused the price. 1t perhaps re-
quired such soul to amass such fortune.
He could not take his money with him into
the next world. In fact, all he carried with
him to the grave was a wooden box. But he
still contrived to let the evil Of his system sur
vive him. For the wealth Of the Rothschilds
is jealously guarded against division by pre-
venting the children from marrying out of the
family. Even to the day Of his death he man
aged to keep those nearest to him ignorant Of
half his wealth, by opening great number Of
accounts to false names.
How often have the schemes of this great
Rothschild produced embarrassment in the
markets Of America? How often has he not
spread ruin over thousands Of our countrymen
by means of influences centering in his house in
London and Paris, over which no American
could have any control2 There have been times
when such men were supposed TO have render
ed great public services by the command Of is-
cal resources. But the present Emperor Of
France has emancipated Governments from
dependence ON this class, by means of his great
popular loans raised by appeal to the whole
mass of the people. That invention has ex-
ploded the bubble on which the regulations Of
men like Rothschild have been resting. In any
age, in any country, under any circumstances,
such colossal fortunes are nuisances. So far
from benefting the people in any way. they in
crease the downward tendencies of the poorer
classes and all the benevolence the millionai-
res can achieve by their gifts or bequests, will
not atone for the misery they infiiet upon mil
lions of the human nrace.-PhiLadelphiG North
American.