New-York tribune., 1884-12-17
ruE non1N n1NNER

II Is rcpoited that Mrs. Howe, the woman
banker who ruined $, many people in Boston.
and was sentenced tothree years imprisonment,
has on hri discharga Immediately resumed her
old business. AMI boldly invites women to de
ro-it r,,n.y Viih her. promising them rate 81
n,.its ct which cannot be cirnel honestly hnt
tolnshe ~ have antihing rs dJ with mon. fhp
statement hat mn,t vshpn hiya responded iu
THE initiation has furnished ipyt ir s'tr'al
uitnala. aai utst ~ ihu commentators hrld
iml iha t,,t iNHlralps lhA lnN s'nta ~ lhe Atpi-
A4a tNdia Htiii,s,Hpt 80 ipsd,ls Wtitala pi
HuAnaa i'r,haus ,hl, itA iast iAiu'anen hHt -
sn u applrs with prun-llY lho saWn iuleu to
mau dt tn W0muH iaho "a illn5lwt'on ihe
Grant Nlrl ci,o. II WAS pnCIectif clear fran
iha lirsi lhlt tbs IRA named cluld nut obtain
ihe dividends II paid honestly. The oNplana-
tion given his been an effort II Nludl'atc the
business sousc of The investors at the expense ot
lhor integrity. Il is alleged that thcy invested
because they bclioyci Grant X Ward were
making immense profits by swindIing the Gov
crnment But further inquiry showed that the
business sense of the investors conld not bo
vindcatcd even by the sacrifice of their reputa-
tons ~ honest men; for IL was made clear that
nn such robbery of The Treasury rs they be-
Ncvcd to b going on WAS possible. and That
very little inquiry must have manifested this To
anybody. So IL appears IN the ultimate analysis
that the business mon aud experienced hnln-
cicrs who put their money into Grant y Wards
hands were in all respects a, foolish, reckless
and crcdulous ~ the women who inlrlst their
savings to Mrs. Howe
There is, in fact no substantial difference be-
tween the two cases. and the dominant motive
in each is the same. That motive is greed of
gain, and the facts only show that, given the
necessary temptation, and men and women can
to-day be induced to part with their money as
easily as in the days of the South Sea Bubble.
Nor have men any ground Tor assuming
greater financial shrcwdncss than women i'll
cases Of this kind Only let the induccmcnt be
strong enough-that is TO say. only let the in
tending thief offer such profits as make it GER
tain that he could not come by them honestly
and crowds will rush to him in the hope of
sharing the proceeds of his villany, and III
these crowds the men shall be no less forward
and eager than the women. Perhaps, however,
there is difference in the character Of the
arguments with which men and women per-
suadc themselves to embark in such enterprises
The former know that roguery must be at the
bottom Of the business, but hope to profit by it.
The latter, in their ncyperiencc, may some
times honestly believe it possible to earn sixty
or a hundred per cent legitimatey. If this
difference exists it is plainly not ilattering to
the men, and they can have little object in
maintaining or seeking to demonstrate its ex'
stence.
The truth is that however many impost0rs
there may be at any time the supply OF dupeS
is always still larger, and this because greed Is
one of the strongest of human motives and be-
cause those who utilize it may always count
upon its obscuring the intelligence OF many
people. And in practising upon this prevailing
motive adventurers and swindlcrs certainty de-
rive far more of their gains from men than from
Mnnnpn.