Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-13
How Far are We JustiAed In Accunu-
latinR Wealth.


I have to breaking my word, or giving
up what l undertake, induces me to at
tempt saying anything. The question
How far are we justified in accumulatine
wealth, seems easily answered by saying
that in so far as we accumulate honestly,
and use to good purpose, there can be nc
wrong. Ideas differ widely in regard to
honesty of purpose, or good intention
At least, Judging people by their actions
We can only come to this conclusion
The good book says, The love Of money
is the root of all evil" and there IS SO
much to prove its truth, that l think no
one can doubt it. The daily record OF
f0rgeries. embezzlements, robberies and
murders, committed in the hope Of gain
all show the strong hold the love Of mon
ey has upon poor weak human nature
From the saving Of pennies in childhood
to the possible competency of old age
life is often at best a atruggle with diff
cul,ies, a perseverlng effort toward the
attainment OF the filthy lucre. True, the
needs may be few, but the wants are
many, and to crafty them we spend ou1
lives in an insane race after wealth
Wealth, We say, brings US friends; wealth
brings us influence; with wealth We can
do what we please, be what we please.
1t is not strange that seeing the power
that money wields in the world, we should
think it the one thing needful. How far
are we justified in its accumulation, is
perhaps puzzling question, and one
which I, at least, find hard to answer. If
we say that we are justified in 50 far as
we accumulate honestly, or rightly, I
can but think that VIC must often look
higher than mans laws to find the right
l believe mans laws to be often antag.
onistic to Gods laws. We must give to
the word, honesty, a higher meaning
than our laws give it, to realize its full
import. The rich too often live upon the
IN istortunes Of the poor. An instance OF
this may be found in our high rates Of
interest, and the discount at which notes
are bought and Sold I can but think we
need our eyes open TO see the wrong, in
many things that are called right. There
is such wide field for the use Of the
wealth accumulated, that it is hard not
to find some good to which 1t may be ap.
piled. We have given US tastes and de-
sires which money only can crafty. We
toll day after day to obtain the where
withal to spend in the various ways which
these tastes dictate. Our desires for pleas
ant comfortable homes, our appreciation
Of the beautiful, our love Of good read.
ing, and the desire we have to improve
our minds, and fill our lives to the full
measure with all that can bring US nearer
the perfect pattern, I believe to be Cod
given. 1t is right that we should accu.
mulate wealth to crafty these tastes. The
beautiful picture which adorns our wall,
the interesting book which lies upon our
table, any object of beauty which graces
our home, or brightens our life, is help
toward the complete manhood, or woman.
hood, which We should strive to attain.
To accomplish this end, wealth is needed
and we are justified in its accumulation.
There are many deserving objects of
charity, aud the poor we have always
with us. We are certainly justified in
accumulatlng that we may add our mite
tC further the good cause, or to relieve
the suffering, and the destitute. By and
by, old age will come to US all, when the
strong hand will be weakened, and the
step feeble. Are we not justified in &C.
enough of wealth now, that
we may not then suffer for the necessaries
of life, OF be burden upon our friends?
1t is getting to be a serious question,
whether people arc justified IN accumu.
lating that they may leave wealth to their
children. So many a memory which
should be sacredlv cherished is disgrace
ed in home quarrels, or dragged through
the mire of lawsuits. While the parent
lives, there is too much of the feeling ex.
hibited by certain "Joe," who lived
with my father many years. Once when
speaking of his property in Germany, my
mother r'sa;d to him, "Why Joe, didn't
know you had so much money" 80 yes,"
said Joe, "when mine fader die" You
have perchance worked hard for the pos.
sessions which are yours, and your child
rem may make better, nobler men and
women, if Obliged to toll for their daily
bread. But "The love Of money is tho
root Of all evil" Not so much the love
of the blessings which money can bring
to ourselves and others, but the love of
money for its own sweet sake. To de.
prive ourselves Of so much good, that we
may hoard the precious pelf, and have it
to worship and gloat over, seems to me,
wherein lies the SIN. 1t seems to be a
question Of imp ortance, how much pros
perity we can bea:. 1t is said that none
of US know ourselves, until we are tried,
and with prosperity should come a care
that we are not tried and found wanting.
The miser boards his gold that he may
count it over in secret, and leads a lite of
miserable suspicion, lest some one de.
prive him OF his precious store. The
wealthy Vanderbilt has no property SUBJ
ject to taxation. The richest man In our
county offers you seventy.five cents on the
dollar for his road tax.
o, the filthy ]ucre! How we love It,
and how we cling to it, and how we dread
its loss, and what power it wields over
poor weak humanity. Wealth brings in.
fuence, and is power in the land, but
if it reward our exertions, let it not rob
US of our better selves. The influence
which flows from sordid, grasping no
ture will never he blessing. It is hon.
esty of purpose and action, and q right
use of the wealth, which justifies its &C.