Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-12
Rich Men.

To acquire surplus Of wealth honestly,
implies high and valuable qualities in the
person who so acquires it. In the first place
it indicates the power of persistent self
denial, which is the foundation of manhood.
Secondly, it requires and develops mental
power, not of the highest order, but of a
very useful kind. Thirdly, adherence to the
rule of honest acquisition requires and de-
velops moral power. Thus the man who
makes himself rich without wrong becomes
noble citizen, worthy of honor in any com
monwealth. Such men are highly useful to
their fellow-citizens and to the state. 1t is
they who gain for us the means for great
enterprises, and in acquiring the means &C.
quire also the ability to carry out such enter
prises successfully. We may all pray for
the multiplication in unlimited number of
such rich men. They are continual bless
ing and worthy example to the rest of us,
those who may lack the qualifications for
such MISUNDERSTANDING here and there
those minute deficiencies of intellect and
character, or perhaps only of opportunity,
necessary to the like success-but who do
not lack the power of generous admiration
and hearty sympathy for our more fortunate
brethren In state and church alike such
rich men are power for good. May their
race be multiplied.
But of that race of rich men who set out
in life with the parental admonition in their
ears, "get rich honestly if you can, but at
any rate get rich !" and who scarcely hear
and never remember more than the two
words that begin aud end the sentence
what shall be said ? To succeed they will
require, perhaps, as high mental capacity
and as stern power of self.denial as the
others. But otherwise they are as ravenine
wolves. These are the rich men of whom
David and Christ alike spoke, and in whose
dull ears sound unnoted the most fearful
denunciations of inspired Scripture.
1t is the duty Of every good citizen to
watch jealousy all such rich men. 1t will
often become duty to withstand them
They constitute the greatest danger Of
church and state, for with their money they
corrupt both. To increase their own riches
they do not hesitate to impoverish theil
country. They debauch legislatures, they
corrupt courts of JUSTICE they silence the
voice of truth in the pulpit If they, witt
their money, are to bear rule over this re
public, then better, far better, for the peo
pie were "despotism tempered by assassi
nation" like that which rules the great EN-
pire of the northern car. Under such al
Imperialism good government comes wher
good man sways the scepter. But unde
popular constitution where the admins
tration is directed by spectators, aiming
only at the acquisition of riches, liberty il
aborted and justice is strangled in its birth
The honest rich man wants no specia
privileges. He has no interest in Legislation
different from the interest of his fellow
citizens. He needs no lobby, and never re
tains a " statesman in his employ. Neithe
does he sit as a sentinel in his pew, griml,
watching his minister lest, perchance, h
should read one of those miniatory chapters
or take one of their awful verses for text
He does not skilfully study the weaknesse
of the judges when he would use the courts
not to secure but to defeat the ends o
justice. He knows nothing of the subtitle
of bribery, by which judges son grow
rich and an unjust decision from the bencl
secures his ends. He sees no object in tn
purchase or intimidation of the press. II
hardly understands the mastery politica
strategy that puts ready-printed ballot int
the hands of every employee OF great COZ
poration on election morning, and has spot
tiers " at the polls to see that they are de
posted in the ballot boxes-electing men t.
legislative and executive office as servant
of the people" who are their servants. Tn
honest rich men do none of these things
They are with the people in hearty horro
and detestation Of them. Let us count then
up, and do them honor