The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-03
SEND 81 to the t"Relief Fund" and get
a chance in the $25o-pair of lots.
Concessions Of a Millionaire.

From John Sw1nton's Paper.
1 am a millionaire ten times over.
Half million my old fatherleft me, the
other millions made in Wall street and
elsewhere. The money is mine. Who
dares to tell me it is not? Well, some
would dare. l suppose, but that won't
help them. I should say to them:
If it is not mine, it is not yours; and
what can you do about it? You can cry
out loudly against us collectively and in
dividually, stigmatize US as robbers,
plunderers, plutoerats, or cormorants;
but what does this mouthing amount to ?
We can live under this infiction; and if
it affords you of the masses any satisfac-
ton, mouth away; the millionaires care
not. To tell you the truth, it rather
amuses us, and makes US chuckle to
think we are the millionalres, not the
masses.
The greater part of my ten millions l
made in Wall street, and the operations
we're large. 1t has been said of me that
1 am lucky-one of fortunes favorites.
Let it 90 at that, as won't lay claim to
any shrewdness, enterprise or daring.
1t has also been said of me that am
unscrupulous in the matter of money
making. Let that go for what it is worth,
with the other saying. 1t may be true
for all you know, and you will believe it
is true. Do so, if you like. One with ten
mlllions-or one million for that matter
need not care what is said of him. He
can laugh the whole incarnate world to
scorn, and laugh last, as he who laughs
best.
You know how 1 am estimated on my
right and left, as it were. On the one
hand, am held to be "lucky dog" on
the other, a rascal-I.might as we'll write
the hard word down boldly, for to be
utterly unscrupulous," as they say, is to
be about the size of a rascal, l take it.
Of the two estimates, have no hesita-
ton in saying the latter pleases me bet
ter than the former. To be called
lucky" is about the same as to be called
a fool-any fool may be "lucky"-and l
prefer being called rascal, waving the
less grating term, "unscrupulous." go
further, and say l would rather be ras-
cal than fool; and if am of minority,
it is very large one.
My occupation has not been that of
moral teacher-the style of probity is
not cultivated to any great extent in the
field l have labored in-but that of an
operator in "the street." speculator,
gambler if you will. You see l am-not
squeamish, and, being of and among
spectators, l do as spectators do; no
better, no worse. than many. l was in
the ruck to make money, and | made it..
If some of my operations looked off-color,
they did not come within the pale of the
law. l admit that the fingers of the law
have been invoked against me in some
cases-innocent men are often in the
laws grasp-hut l haYe beaten the law
in every instance, and come off Vindi-
Gated if there were those who declared
that justice had been hoodwinked, what
cared 1? l had my clearance papers.
The man who steers clear of the laws
penalties, who has money in his purse,
need nothing care for the harsh opinions
of outsiders.
l have got, as l said, my round, solid
ten millionS-gotten as fairly IS the aver
age of millions are gotten in Wall street
and am one of those whom the masses
hate. Why? Because l have the mil
lions and they have not. You say have
no right to my millions of dollars when
so many millions of mortals are sunk in
poverty l say that all this poverty does
not affect my right to hold as many
millions as l can get, and the best proof
is the fact that hold them in spite of
everything. Is there a man here who
would not have made these millions in
the way l have made them-remember,
l stand with those for whom the law has
no terrors-had he got the opportunity
Yet you growl and howl because have
made these millions and hold them.
You complain that the milllonaires
care nothing for the masses, and would
let them starve without rendering aid.
Well, are we the masses keepers? Are
we the shepherds of the poor? Must
we give away our own, that beggars may
ride horseback? 1t does not seem to be
the opinion of millionaires, as far as
know. This life is condition of affairs
where every one is for himself If we
are millionaires that is our fortune if
you are paupers, that is your luck. You
can't alter our condition, and we have
no call to alter yours.
NY advice to you is, stop growing.
You cannot affect us. Our house is built
on rock, and not all your rattling rain
can wash away its foundations. Though
you are multitudinous as the stars, you
are paupers or little better, and must do
as You can. Though we are few as the
planets, we are millionaires and may do
as we will A TEN-MILIoNA1RE.