The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-02-15
War QDho.
From .sai1ner'. Naga.ine for February
NEGLECT OF THE RICH.

If any of the millionaires of the city of
New York have felt grieved because we
have not called upon them, or because we
do not even know their faces when we
happen to meet them, we beg their pardon.
We have had no intention TO slight them,
or to count them out of the circle of hui
manity by reason Of their comparative in
dependence of it. We do not blame them
for being rich, unless they have procured
their wealth by oppression of the poor
Some Of them have become rich because
they were brighter and more industrious
than the rest of us, and recognized quicker
than we the elusive faces of golden oppor-
tunities. We can find no fault with them
for this, but rather with ourselves. Some
of them inherited wealth, and have no re-
sponsibilitics concerning it save those con
nCcted with the spending of it. Some of
them acquired it by accident by the
rise ofrcal estate that they had held, per-
haps, unwillingly, or by an unlookcd-for
appreciation of the value Of stocks. How
ever their wealth may have been acquired
always excepting that which has been won
by immoral practices--we wish to have
them understand that we think none the
worse of them for their pleasant fortune.
We regard them still as men and brothers,
who delight in the sympathy of their fell
lows, and whose hearts are warmed by the
popular confidence and goodwill
We confess that we have never been
quite able to understand why it is that
those who have been fortunate in life should
be compelled in consequence, to sacrifice
their friendships and their old friends.
Two boys begin life together. They may,
or may not be relatives but they are bo-
som-friends. They confde to one another
their plans and ambitions, and start out on
the race for fortune, neck-and neck. One
outstrips the other, and relches his goal
gladly and gratefully. He has thrown no
hindrance in the path of his ffiend.-
He has, on the contrary, encouraged
him; and, SO far as it was proper for
him to do so, given him assistance.
Finding at last that he hopelessly found
cred in the way, or that he has tripped
and fallen, he goes back to him to exchange
friendly word, but he is met by cold
looks and ayerted eyes The successful
man has committed no sin except that Of
becoming successful He has lost none of
his affection for his friend. but he has lost
his friend. Thenceforward there is be-
tween the two great gulf fixed, and that
gulf is fixed by the unsuccessful man. He
has taken to himself the fancy that the
successful man must hold the unsuccessful
man in dishonor, and that he cannot pos
sibly meet him again on the even terms
which existed when their lives were I'M
tried plans.
There are few successful men, we mag
Inc, who have not been vexed and wound
ed by the persistent Misrepresentation and
distrust of those whom they loved when
they were young, and whom they would
still gladly love If they could be permitted
to do so. They know that they have done
their duty. They know that they have
not entertained thought or performed an
act of wrong towards those who shun them.
Their eonsciences are clear, and, at last,
half in sorrow, half in anger, they consent
that the knot that once united two harmo-
NOUS lives, shall be severed forever.
There are many men who cannot bear
prosperity when it comes to them, but their
number is small compared to those who
cannot bear the prosperity of Others
There is no finer test Of true nobility of
character than that furnished BY the effect
81 'ne gOoa fortune o. friends Inc poor
isn S"0 re''''es =, .ne prosperity OIL ms
ne'snoO,' anu meets nun always WITHOUT ais-
'lus' anu wa, uus""Asn se17fesps''' De
which king might envy. To such man
every rich man bows with cordial rccogni-