New Orleans Republican., 1871-06-27
CAPITALISTS AND THEIR MISSION

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lists over lavish spendthrifts Every soci-
ETY. has in it these two classes, and are
benefited or injured as either the one is
greater than the other. 1t is principle
of political economy that the capitalist
who employs the most labor is, to that
extent, conducting to the prosperity and
increase of the peace where that capital is
so employed. The spendthrift or free liver
who pours out his money without any spec
ial object or purpose other than to crafty
some personal whim or caprice adds
nothing to the wealth of the community,
as his investments are for those things
which perish with the using
An Astor and Vanderbilt, says the
Nation, receive for salaries only their fam
lily expenses, and for this moderate sum
form and increase the resources of the
country The one was large landed
proprietor, and from his lands received
great revenues, while the other controls
the largest railroad interests in the world.
Both have shown great shrewdness and
sagacity in their investments, and the dis
tribution of their own and the wealth Of
Others, who are controlled by their ex-
ample, far outnumbor those mere spend
thrifts who scatter their substance with
out regard tc the benefits derived in the
manner that it is done. These men, in
their operations, employ thousands of la
borers, and thus supply whole communi-
ties with the means of support, and to
very many, who are prudent and frugal,
with surplus beyond such support. Such
men look beyond the limits of the place
of their local business operations, and are
constantly in search of new and grander
schemes in which they may invest and in
crease in worldly prosperity. Such is the
career of A. I. Stewart, the merchant
prince of New York, who, with the touch
of his golden wand, causes cities to be
built and peopled around the city
where he has amassed his fortune He
is true to his purpose of disposing of
his large wealth for the benefit of the
thousands of his fellow citizens who have
not been so favored as he. His brain is
still active in the work of the distribution
of his wealth, not as prodigal but as
wise and faithful trustee of that which is
entrusted to him for administration by
the Giver of all Good. Thus does he with
all others such as Astor, Vanderbilt, Pea
body, Cooper, and numbers who might be
named, add more to the wealth of the ma
ton than the multitudes of selfish spend |
thrifts who, though they may possess for
tunes, throw it broadcast with an aimless
purpose that does no good to themselves
or those who gather it, no more than if it |
were buried in the depths of the ocean, or
concealed in some unknown cavern. The |
great object of civilization is not alone
the accumulation of wealth. 1t is the
education and improvement of each indi-
yidual. In this respect tie comparison
between such philanthropists as Cooper,
Peabody, Cornell and Vassar, and Astor,
Vanderbilt or Stewart is vastly in favor of
the four former, because in the distribu-
ton of their wealth they have sought the
true object of civilization, while the
three latter have been laboring for
she sole selfish end of accumulation.
Each one of the small capitalists
Of the country is better for hav-
ng his own little property to manage,
even if he lose a portion of it. 1t is said
hat the most intelligent and powerful
class in this country, who saved it in
,ivil war, and will always be the most
element of the population, are the
mall, independent proprietors. They are
he true wealth of the nation The large
capitalists are too powerful, and by their
money and influence help to control legis-
alton and corrupt the people. They de-
'auch the minds of the young and igno-
ant by tempting them to commit crime
n the hope of the acquisition of sudden
wealth. The questions that are now agi-
ating the people of the old world have
eference to the more. equal distribution
# property among the many and the
prevention of its accumulation among
he few. This is the earnest desire of the
est minds of every civilized community.
he laboring classes are seeking its solu-
ion, and it is to be hoped that whatever
) done in this direction will be through
be calm and peaceful channel of reason,
ather than the destructive torrent of
orce, as was attempted by the French
In England it is a question
the distribution of land and the aboli-
on of those laws which prevent its
by small, industrious proprie-
ors instead of the rich and idle nobility. {
hen too the wages of the labor are not
all commensurate with service per-
,rmed. This is also the case in all
European countries. Emil |
rants come to our shores and
'rm part of the population Of our country
ecause of the high wages paid to the
borer and the opportunity of enjoying
lie benefits of free institutions Many of
lie largest manufacturing establishments !,
the North have changed their system \
defined compensation for labor to that f
industrial partnership, in which the o
borer participates in the profits as well \
the employer. The experiment of CO.