The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-07-22
Tue STRUGGLE OF THE FUTURE

An estimate of the individual and col
lective wealth Of some OF the greatest mil
lionaires of the country is going the round:
of the press and receiving various comment
but there is one lesson which it seems has
not been suggested, a fact or warning Of
powerful significance as affects the future
These figures themselves, however, are
quite Interesting reading, and are set down
as follows: w. III. VANDERBILT is said to
be worth $3.50, 100000; LELAND STAMFORD,
$lOO. 100000; GOULD, $50, 1000, 900; HUNTING
TON, s50,000,0OO; CHARLES CRocKER, Si0,-
100000; Mrs. HOPKINS, Si0,OO0,000; Rus
SELL SAGE $i0,OOO,OOO; Ton Scorr's estate,
$50, 100000; CYRUS FIELD, Sl50O0,000; TIL
DEN, $l5000,0O0; ]. w. GARRETT, $40, Co.,
600, and a dozen others might be named
running up into the same tremendous fig
ures, but the eleven names are sufficient
for the purposes of the argument. Their
aggregate wealth, it will be found, is $780,
100000. This estimate, of course, is only
approximately correct, but We may safely
say that these millionaires control this
much or more money. What so much
money is to the trade and industries of the
country it is unnecessary for us to dwell
upon. 1t almost absolutely con-
trolls it. 1t may be stated
without lear. OF Succe &C
ton, that the Commercial and financial in
terests of the United States are in the
hands of dozen millionaires today, and
upon their operations depend the welfare Of
not only the labor Of the country, but the
entire fifty millions of people. There is, it
is true, no blooded aristocracy. With us,
all men are theoretically free and equal,
but the nobility of England and the CONT
nent never had a tighter hold upon the
masses, or exercised greater power
than the American kings of finance.
Men everywhere seek for power
and distinction, and the distnc-
tive feature or profession which realizes
their hopes becomes at once bond of
union as u class, 1t may be a garter, or a
peerage, or a fortune it constitutes the
title to membership of the class, and the
unfortunate, henceforth, becomes merely
the outsiders. In this country it is by the
organization of our society and institutions
left to money to control affairs, and create
the favored class, and we have only swap.
ped an aristocracy for plutocracy. There
is a general disposition from the facts
just referred to in those who suddenly
attain to wealth in this country to lmmedi-
ately begin to fancy that there is some
special difference or antagonism existing
between themselves and those without
money. 1t is in this growing spirit that
the danger to the country turks. There is
nothing wrong in the accumulation of even
vast wealth when legitimately done and
when properly used, it becomes blessing
of course rather than otherwise to the
world at large. AS to the wealth of these
eleven men referred to, two obvious reilec.
tons arise-it was gathered in an unjust
manner and it is being combined in man
ncr to work oppression. There is hardly a
dollar of it but has been accumulated in
quarter of century and through the foster
ing care OF the government by special priv
''cges to the few indeed which the many
have had to give up. Once obtained, the
spirit of ciannishness and the idea OF mu-
lual protection dictates combinations and
operations which are designed and do in
deed control the general markets and iinan-
ces, and create almost distinct order.
And in this fact is wrapped up what may
DO termed and anticipated as the struggle
Of the iuture-a struggle which must inev-
tably ensuo between the organized capt.
tai, or what may DO regarded as our plutoc-
racy, and the laboring masses There isno
active opposition to money or wealth, par
icularly, but the idea grows that the colos-
sal fortunes of the day have been improp-
orly obtained and are being used by an an
Iagonistic class for the oppression of tho
masses, and hence labor is organizing.
Each advance of the one must occasion fur
her precaution and stronger opposition by
The other until tho final clash comes.
What the final result, whether the reign of
terror or the cnslavement of the people
cannot be foresecn or predicted but one
thing is certain, that the vast accumu.
lations OF capital and the organizing
forces Of poverty, in the absence
of any vital differences rs TO the
form or functions of government, must rem
der the great conflict of the future with us
one of social character rather, the first
faint muttering of which are to be heard
now in various sections Of the country in
the rapidly increasing strikes, the deter.
mination of labor to have a division of the
spois and the equally stroag opposition
with which it is meeting, We can depend
upon the fact that the struggle will be long
and bitter, but We can also nationally hope
that its lessons and results will add to the
sum total of human knowledge.
ATTENTION is called to the article headed