The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-31
from robbery, even while they violate
the truth that mo man is entitled to that
which he does not produce.n

which he does not produce
A pirate may accumulate rightly
81, 100000 of the peoples wealth and
cause less misery in the process than
Vanderbilt has caused. The effect is the
same in both cases. Let some profound
moral philosopher explain on moral
grounds, the difference between the
two methods of gaining wealth. The
common argument is that one worked in
q legal way while the other did not, but
legal means may not be just means.
When the results from the two methods
are the same how can one be just and
the other unjust?
When the wealth of the elder Wander
bilt fell to the control of his son, no
change was noticeable in its influence on
the business interests of the country.
Regarding the methods used by the
younger Vanderbilt in enlarging the for
tune, the American people, individually
either indorse or condemn him. His
methods and also his motive should be
tried by the test of Christian principles,
for two reasons: First, because the COM
munity in which he operates is regarded
as Christian community second, be-
cause it is claimed that all material pro-
gress is due to the influence of Christi
anity. If Christians admire Vanderbilt
it must be because he succeeded by the
exercise of that moral code peculiar to
their doctrine.
Why cannot all Christians exercise
the same methods with the same results l?
Vanderbilt must possess great amount
of faith and zeal t, gain so much sub
stantial benefit. If, on the other hand,
his great wealth has not been gained by
the exercise of the golden rule, he
should receive censure instead of ap-
plause.
Can man obey the golden rule, and
at the same time appropriate the wealth
of others without returning an equiva-
lent? 1t cannot be disputed that all
wealth which can be accumulated, is
produced by physical or mental labor.
Some physical labor, however, may not
be productive, nor is all mental labor
useful. 1t takes long and careful study
to become able to profit by the doubtful
opportunities offered by the board of
trade and the stock market. A success
full gambler must make the necessary
amount of mental effort before he Is ex-
pert. Gambling and speculating are
pursuits based on nearly the same kind
of chance-the first on the turn of a
card, the second, the rise or fall of a
market. Operators in either pursuit
have in view the same object, viz: to
gain wealth without honest exertion.
Another kind of mental labor Is d.
rected to useful pursuits, as literature,
teaching, inventing or the professions.
To which class of mental laborers does
Mr.. Vanderbilt belong? Evidently to
the useless class, for his efforts yield no
benefit to society, and he returns to it no
equivalent for his immense accumula-
tions.
1t will be said his first earnings were
made by useful labor and therefore the
fortune resulting from such a beginning
is Justly his own. But his usefulness
ceased when he abandoned the useful
occupation. A burglar may, by honest
labor, acquire enough to purchase a set
of burglars tools, but that does not JUS
tifY burglary.
Every gain, then must be judged bv
the methods used in making it, not by
some previous gain, nor previous merit
Of the individual. Did the Vanderbilts
accumulate their wealth on Christian
principles? 1t seems useless to repeat
any of the precepts which, it is claimed,
govern the progressive world, for every
one knows them and can see that Van,
derbilt's career is condemned by any Of
them.
But it may be doubted that the Amer,
ican civilization is purely Christian
George Washington said: "The United
States government is not in any sense
founded on the Christian religion,
Some of the men who were most active
in the Revolution were openly opposed
to Christianity. These facts give rise tc
questions that puzzle the orthodox. If
our government is secular, does it not
Gin theory)give more credit to Christian
principles than the Christian despotisms
of Europe?
If our government is Christian whence
come such enemies to society as Wander
bilt, and the misery and want which
must result from unjust concentration of
wealth =?
If our government Is partly Christian
and partly secular, is the valuable fea-
lures due to Christianity and the evil to
secularism, or vice versa? ZENo.
The Lust for Gain.
CHICAGO, May 26.-The greed of wealth
is but the reflection of the fear of want.