Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-11-23
MORAL POWER or WEALTH.

No one can deny the social and material
power of wealth, the influence it exerts in
the world, overcoming all obstacles which
obstruct its path. Even the great and good
sometimes bow down to it and acknowl-
edge its sway, while the poor and unstable
absolutely worship it rs the panacea for
human wants and frailties, and regard il as
the lever which can raise them ont of any
stage OF detection.
With money, weighed against character,
uprightness, fame, the good will of fellow
man, 1t will make them all kick the beam,
for its possession will, in the eyes of the
world, supply the place and rank which
those other moral and material possessions
give us. So 1t has been thought in all time,
and there are reasons for the popular fall
lacy, but the power of wealth in itself has
been vastly magnitied, and we stultiiy our
selves In our age in enunciating any such
theory. With all our natural love for worldly
possessions, with our greed of money getting
and proverbial worship of Mammon-it is TO
ourcredit that wealth does not occupy so high
a plane or exert so potent sway over our
minds and actions as we would fain believe.
The moral power it wields, apart from
character, liberality, intelligence and the
other qualities essential TO true manhood, is
OF but relative value, and is insignificant
except when true worth and high traits of
character accompany it. We have instances
OF this fact in our own time, which show that
almost unconsciously the popular opinion
measures man by some higher and more
durable standard than the money he may
possess or may have accumulated This Is
the case where the reputation Of those who
are held in high esteem is also based upon
wealth. The manner in which it is gained.
the use to which it is put, stamp themselves
upon the public judgment and make an
impression which cannot well be obliterated.
Take, Tor instance, such men as Gould and
Vanderbilt in comparison with George Pea
body or Peter Cooper Great wealth and
the use to which they put it has given them
their fame. Intellectually no one of them
would ever have been known outside of his
own immediate circle of acquaintances.-
The first two far surpass the others in
amount of wealth and the business opera
tons of the world. The welfare of great
enterprises hangs upon their nod of an.
proval or dissent. They can make or ruin
the fortunes Of thousands of fellewm men by
the caprices Of speculation. But how much
moral power do they control In comparison
with the last mentionedy The means of the
attainment of their riches have been ques.
tionable and selfish, and the use of their
possessions has been marked by selfishness
and vain display. Their millions cannot
purchase the good will or hearty respect of
mankind, though they may command the
Difference and consideration which self.in.
terest dictates. Their acts and opinions
are of no moral force. Their wealth con-
tributes no theme 10 the fund of true great.
ness which carves its influence far beyond
the confines of ones life or country. Not
so with wealth used as in the case of the
other examples quoted. The true fame thus
attained is more lasting and more enviable,
though II may not attract the momentary az.
tention and be the subject of so much eyanes.
cent vain glory. TO the ambitious who seek
wealth and fame and toll TO have their name
live after them, the lessons Of the trnepowe
Of wealth should not be UNDECIDED.