The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-09
Our Rich Men.

Within about year the three richest
men in New York and in the United
States-AsroR, STEWART, aud VANDERpILr
have died. SO far III the public is cou-
ceIn,d. all goes on apparently IA well
without them us with them. Neither Mr..
Aston nor Mr.. VANDERBtLr took any part
in politics municipal, State, or national,
though toward the end of his life Mr..
STEWART had a nbition in "a political direo-
ton.
Mr. AsroR did something for the Aston
Library, but he never lent IA helping hand
in any movement for lettering the condi-
ton of the people, bore no part conspcu-
Gus or quiet, III the fight az INST the old
city Il ny though he was our largest land
holder, aud was not felt otherwise as an
active social factor. Ho collected his
rents. went through his daily aud monoto-
nous routine of work, as If he was a clerk
ON living wages. in the care OF his great
property. and that was all. Nobody ex-
pccted to see him prominent in any phil
anthropic enterprise, either with sugges-
ton or with money. lie was personally
little known by the people aud did about
rs little for their benefit rs n man could do
with his possessions. lie was simply
very rich man, who managed his property
solely with IA view 10 his selfish benefit,
improving his lands or leaving them unim-
proved according only rs he thought his
Interests were the better served, adding
nothing 10 the architectural beauty OF the
city, aud never bethinking himself Of
schemes for employing Labor or encourage
in. taleut. But IL 50 happens that "A Iieh
landh olders selfish advantage requires
that he should make work for others. aud
therefore Mr.. AsTOR's money helped 10
pay the wages Of some OF the industrious,
ana TO furnish dwellings for Tho people ut
such rents rs The so-cllled law Of supply
and demand might fix. Still, he was not n
valuable citlzsu, priced and honorcd during
his lifetime and regretted when he is dead.
The AsroR estate continues 10 be man
aged just about as il was during Mr. VIII
LIAM Is. AsroRs life, and the family con-
tribute very h,tle directly to the improve
ment Of the city or TO tue welfare Of the
citizens They may have right to 20
on in the Old way, but they are not enti-
lied to honor or admiration. They are
only rich people.
Mr.. STEWART ut times took very active
interest in public affairs; his capital was
so used as to give employment to thousands
OF people; he started "A suburban city, aud
built and improved it, not for Immediate
profit, but for the sake OF establishing q
new centre of industrious homes, out of
which his future giin should come; and he
planned his still unfinished hotel for work
ing girls. lie was u laborious man; and If
the account ltion OF II vast fortune in the
hands OF an individual is over to the adj
vantage of Tue public, it seems to have
been 10 o iegree 20 in his ease.
Mr.. VANDERBILT did nothing directly for
the people of the city, except, perhaps, the
giving of small church building. He
eschowed politics as an active woIk er or
ndyiscr, and was not interested in any OF
Jhe projects for improving the condition of
the public But he did n work for the city
by his successful management OF his great
railroad, upon which our commerce so
largely relics Ills gift Of n million dollars
10 found a college in Tennessee was his chief
benefacnon during life Whether that was
the best use 10 which the money could have
been put may be questioned, but Mr.. VAN
DrnBILr had right TO use his own judg-
ment IN the matter. lie was. in his way.
useful man, and he has so left ms prop
erty that il will continue in his railroads
aud chiefly in the hands OF his oldest son.
VINO come next after these men in the
order Of milliOnairesf We must drop
down the scale Of millions number OF
degrees until We come 10 Mr. MOSES TAY-