Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-02
Wealth IL Power.

NJ 6hItA - -
The life of q human being when viewed
in its higher relations, presents an object
of grandeur, commensurate with his noble
powers and divine afinities. The spirit
Of man is infinite in durability. A true
conception Of human life therefore is a
sublime idea, and when we consider that
the accumulated wealth of the world, Is
the result of millions of human lives; the
exponent of their existence it is invested
With an Importance which does not CIR
ectly attach, which does solely belong 70
materiality. 1t is not simply so mucn
gold and silver, SO many ships and build
iuys, but the representative OF worn out
and exhausted humanity. Wealth has
not been so universally honored 10 all ages
without sufficient reason. There must
be an adequate cause for every phenomena
In human action az we'll a. in the mater
ial world. s-.s
Tue man who possesses wealth honestly
acquired by himself is entitled to respect,
not simply on account of the possession OF
40 much wealth. but for the possession
aud exercise of those powers requisite TO
obtain it. For as rule mans success
Is the measure of bis ability, and the man
whose SUCCESS 10 business has made him
rich, gener lily possesses powers common
surate with his wealth.
He who develops the resources or
nature creates and accumulates wealth,
adds 20 much 10 human happiness. For
he increases the supplies of human want,
and the meeting of the demands of human
needs prod aces happiness in society. The
hard working man, therefore, who &C
oumulates wealth is benefaotor OF the
race, boarding up supplies for the future,
sequeathipg happiness to posterity, while
he who produces less than he consumes
uoes out of the world with balance on
the ledger side against him.
intellectual workers are included and
.ank first in the class of producers for
that labor is the most valuable which
produces the most beneficial results
which requires and employs the greatest
amount of intellectual power. The master
of ship is worth more than the foremost
hand, simply because he exercises high
or degree Of intellect. Newton and Ful-|
ton have each produced more for human
ity than millions Of common men. We're
physical power the standard, man would
rank below the OK.
There is wide distinction to be made
between the possession Of wealth acquired
by his own labor and exertion and OF
wealth otherwise attained. The only
credit in possessing wealth consists in
having acquired it ourselves. Wealth in
herited, which depends on our being heirs
of John Jacob Astor rather than of John
Smith, contingency not within our con-
trol--entitles US to no credit, for it comes
through no merit Of ours. If one patient
ly toll all day and earn a dollar, he de-
serves credit, but if one accidentally
finds dollar in the street he deserves no
credit. ....
There are portion of the community
sccidently occupying positions that ex-
empt them from the necessity OF labor
and being exempt they by no means be-
come volunteers. By a law of our nature
such persons are physically and mentally
weak and puny. They dwarf down the
race in mind, body and soul. The lady
becomes splendid advertisement of her
milliner and the gentleman a fine suit OF
clothes containing thing in the shape o.
man. These popipjaya, who live in the
sickly light Of fashionable circle would
be scorohed and blown to atoms in ths
outdoor sunlight Of thought and intellect
nal contests. Such fancy individual
never feel manly emotion, regiment o.
them would not make one energetic
whole-souled man. They live and die
mental paupers, are supported in the men
tai atmosphere of society. They perform
nothing, attempt nothing, acquire nothing
and 20 out of the world as near nothing
as they came into it. Therefore wealth
acquired by ones own labor is power, and
in a majority of cases wealth received by
inheritance and without exertion is an ele
ment of weakness IN society.
Young men, envy not the millionaire.
The same avenues to wealth and distinc-
ton are open to you as were t him, when
sweating, he swung his sledge hammer
by the forge, or trudged into the metropo-
lie poor stranger boy from the country.
There is fair field and fight before
you. II you have not strength or
courage to fight the battle, yiold the
contest to the powerful and the brave.
II you cannot scale the height of success
and distinction, do not complain that
some burly, broad shouldered bystander
does not help you along. Ii you are wise,
you will earn wealth aud distinction by
your own labor, and then will riches be-
come an element of power in your hands,
to be welded in the pusuit of human
happiness, and for the benefit of the race.
New JERSEY SENATOR - The New