The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-06
Commodore vanderbilt's Death.

Commodore Vanderbilt's Death.
The death Of Commodore VANDERBILT
was announced 10 yesterday kilograms in
the Dispatch. And very remarkable mar,
he was. He rose from poverty to wealth..
to wealth greater than was ever acquired
BY any other man in the land. AsToR's and
STEWARDS property Was Of a more solid
character, vANpERBILr's being much-in-
deed, the most of tin railroad stocks.
The history OF t,,tsvast accumulation would
not be uninstructiyc. The energy and sa-
gacity that were displayed in it were extra
ordinary; bat equal amounts OF integrity
and justice from 1t we could hardly expect.
We may safely assume that millions are
hardly ever accumulated by one man in
manner altogether guiltlcss. Money is too
apt to inspire disposition not consistent
with even-handed justice, nor with kind
ness and literally towards employees. Es-
pechlly in the speculative enterprises
through which Commodore VANDERBILT
acquired his immense fortune are the arts
and schemes for gain liable to trench upon
right and honor-upon the proverbs "Do
"unto others as you would they should do
"unto you"
We rather think that JouN JACOB AsToR's
wealth was more properly amassed than was
that Of any other Of the millionaires. He
was an enterprising merchant. and bis gains
from the foreign commerce and from the
intrepid hunt for furs afforded satisfaction
and kciat. His great source OF wealth was
the enhancement OF his real property IN
New York. STEWART also acquired much
in the same way; but, then, he was grasp
ing monopolist and an unrelaxing creditor.
VANDERBILT was y civil sort Of pirate on
the waters and on the land-a great "run-
ner-off'' OF stcam-lines-a great receiver "
OF bonuses to let men alone in their enter
prises-a great "cornerer OF railroad
stocks-and he is remembered for some de-
structive wars upon steamboat enterprises,
MANY hard bargains that wrecked some very
cnterprising persons, and shrewd cornerlng
that by turns Stayed both "bulls" and
"bears." His defence might have been
that, the waters and the stock-boards were
free, and others had the same right to IN
lure him. This is tlleargument Of the gam
bier, that he is sharper and plays better than
his antagonists.
1t is hard for life OF speculation and
speculative adventure to be guiltiess Of
moral transgression, and we do not suppose
that the Commodore stopped long to think
about this matter. Like the man in the hen.
house, he considered that ga great moral
question:" and called for another chicken
He was IN impctuous hero, who was not to
be impeded by "trifles."
Commodore VANDERBILT, in the war,
made munifcent present to the Govern,
ment--a steamboat valued at 100000; but
we suspect that told the story Of how q
sharp steamboat-captainh had proftted by the
Government. 1t was not wholly the im'
pulse Of patriotism.
The Commodore, til just to say, displayed
the virtues OF frusality and energy in q
very high degree. In the evening OF his
days he manifested jovial disposition and
.credltable instances Of liberality, which
showed him to be infused with goodly
share OF humanity. Indeed, we think his
better nature cropped out in even his dissi
patton, his dishabiAc and geniality around
the euchre- and brag-tables. But he was
still the hero Of financial wars and steam
boat wars, in which disasters were great
and from which distresses were wide
spread.
He had ga better nature" evidently, anC
the feeling for his memory is more kind thar
that towards STEWARDS. But, after all
what lesson the death Of such a mar
teaches the world. He meets the common
fate, and carries OF all his wealth no more
out OF this world than is buried with tht
body that has lain in the morgue for that re
cognition which never came. His career
ends, and his contemporaries and his com
pettors all go to the tomb with him. Is il
not the honor, the integrity, the justice o.
men only that "sn,ell sweet and blossom il
the DUST?