The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-05-31
GRANTS PARsoN MoRALlzEs.


uEAPrNG THEOLOGICAL EXPLETGvEs ON
PARTNER WARD AND OTHER SMART
YOUNG MEN.
Parson Newman, in New York, last
Sunday preached about young Ward,
whom he visited at Ludlow street Jail IL
day or two previous. The parson rolled
Ward into a bunch with two other slip
perry young fnanciers whom he seemed
10 have known pretty well. The parson
refused to give names, but his dcscrip-
tion of Ward tailed SO well with that
given by General Grant, that all in the
congregation recognized it at once. The
parson put his observations on paper last
Sunday, departing from his usual custom
of talking away without any notes at all.
He read
"Threc panics have been caused by
three young men, two of whom were less
than 90 years of age. Each was the son
of minister, who had forgotten the God
of his father. One was banker, one a
broker, and one a confidential clerk. Two
died homeless and renniless in self-eXile
and one is now in Jail. Two died in
misery, and the fate Of the third is yet to
come. Each had a genius for finance.
AT the age Of % one of these smart young
men was the president of bank. lie
was financial prodigy, and the bank
was-a success His personal speculations
brought him large returns. The yener-
able directors encouraged him in his
career. He was esteemed a wonder in
the financial world but his aged father,
retired clergyman, trembled for the
future of his son. When the young
lanker had accumulated 100000, the
father begged him to be content and stop,
but the son was sure that he could make
million. Temptations multiplied, hon
csty was suspended, the golden bubble
burst, detection followed, and then adj
.yersily came, and hc fed from home,
friends and country, and died pcnniless
in strange land. Ills lie story, with II
few circumstantial variations, is the story
of the life of the confidential clerk. The
final story of the one. iii Jail is yet to be
told Let us beware of these financial
prodigies, these smart young men. Their
imaginations are their master faculties.
Listening to their glib, persuasive tongue,
the false seems true, and the fictitious
real. 70 them the money market is Il
multiplication table, fnlly at their COM
mand. They are petted, courtcd, toasted
and trusted, and the Oldest inanciers
eoniide their fortunes 10 them. They
handle millions and their methods are
not questioned. Why? Their dividends
are facts. Therefore, ask no questions
for conscience sake Butthey become
audacious with success, these smart young
men, and when fortune turns the other
way they commit their first indis -reHon
Deception becomes their devil.s They
betray confidence, outrage honesty and
fall back on fraud. Then their Blacl,
Friday comes. The sherih's arrestand
the dungeon awaits them. Behold the
terrible results that overwhelm thest
smart young mcn-these financial prodi
gies They have sunk other people,
fortunes in Il bottomless pit-a fit type o.
hell. The widows staff is broken, tht
orphans heritage is wasted, the compet
ency of the retired merchant is swallow
ed up. These smart young men hay,
dealt deadly blow to trade. The recen
exposure of one of these young prodigie
has caused an estimated loss of 100000,
600 by the shrinkage OF stocks and secu
rites. In three years they have inflicted
loss of 100000, 900 upon business
more than the whole OF our nationa
debt" CD
After this fight, the parson unlocked
his fingers and, tramping about the horse
shoe pulpit, impressively said
But there is something better fol
men to live for than these swiftly made
immense fortunes. There is home ant
wife and children, an honest name, al
enduring character, and the smile of God
which will make lie one perpetual sum
mer. Go forth, young man, and multi
ply wealth, but get it and use ii so tina
you shall die Il benelactor to your race
That man is damned, and danned for
ever, who amasses money simply to graf
ify selfish ambition, lust and pride, anC
he deserves to be damned in this worlc
and the next. The rich beneiactor viii
be welcomed in heaven by the applause
Of the angels"
But what of General Grant, who lent
an honored name to bogus business?
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