Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-02-16
A MILLION OR NOTHING :

a MILLION OK NOTHING!
Scarcely a day passes that we do not read
or hear something in relation to "the poorer
classes" and "the richer classes" of this coun-
try.
Our hair has not yet been frosted nor our
step grown heavy, and yet we can remem-
Der when wealth was more evenly distri
buted throughout society, and the only aris-
tocracy which was not repudiated by our
people was the arlstocracy of intellect. With
the growth and development Of the country
and the increase Of speculation has come
the rapid accumulation of large fortunes
and an eager persuit of wealth regardless
of the means used in acquiring it, which is
daily setting up higher barriers between
the rich and the less fortunate.
Less than fifty years ago hundred and
fifty thousand dollars was considered a large
fortune, and John Jacob Astor when quoted
at a round million was put down as a modern
Crcsus In this day of progress the num-
Der has increased to many thousand of our
citizens who can count their wealth by the
number OF millions.
VITA the war the era Of reckless specula-
ton set in and has continued unabated ever
since. Men lost sight of the old-time bust
ness methods by which modest fortunes were
looked upon as the result ofindustry and COM
mercial foresight, and risked their all upon
the throw of die. "A million or nothing"
has been and is the cry on Wall street, echoed
from the corridors of the produce exchange
and carried into every great speculative EN-
terprise Capitalists with more cunning than
honesty originated gigantic schemes of cor
porate swindling Stock watering and con-
struction company profits entered into COM
mercial life on the wholesale. Great monopo-
lies sprang into existence through the absorb
ton of similar enterprises, whilst the con-
tinuance of a war tariff taxed the public tor
the benefit of the industrial barons who
grow fat upon the people. AS result the
United States has now large and growing
aristocracy whose claims for distinction and
exclusiveness rest solely upon the size OF
their bank deposits, or their immense landed
estates and countless number of shares in
some huge gold or silver mine. Their exhi-
billions Of vulgar display fill our newspapers
in every large city-showing that >the last
light had been put out and the last blush of
shame oblitersted. Every mornings press
hastens to write up in purple and gold each
new addition to their oriental palaces, and
with feverish haste devotes as much space as
can be possibly given to the most extrava-
giant viands and meats which are placed be-
fore these bsrons of wealth whose financial
triumph and splendid fortunes have been
made by species of gambling which is re-
voting to every honorable and moral sense.
1t is well-known that the great monied
kings of this country, the Goulds and Van
derbilts, Keenes and Crockers, Fields and
Canmacks, and a host of others have not
secured their immense fortunes by honest
industry and legitimate transactions. II
3sey had, no man could be found who
would raise his voice against them. They
have become the owners Of millions by an
utter disregard of all interests save their
own-by levying tribute on the people they
have directed the currents of wealth flow
ing through the channels of trade so as To
augment their own possessions.
The growth of privileged classes is dan
ger which seriously threatens the prosperity
of the country, and the day is not far dis
tant when the great social problem of check
ing this dangerous tendency of the times is
forcing itself upon the people Of the United
States.
We care not how soon or how fast man
may realize fortune by economy, industry
and fair dealing, We rather applaud his well
earned success; but when fortunes are ~.
allied in the space of q few months in ii spe-
cies of systematic gambling which reaches
and covers everything that We eat and wear
and these sei-same spectators continuing
10 Hiljc and oontroi The Commercial, cen
tres az 10 further enlarge their fortunes
and extend their influence, then we think il
is time that laws should be passed for the
protection OF society from the moral social
and political course of such class vi people