The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-04-18
-He INCARNATION OF BUSINESS.
Alexander T. Stewart and His Dealings
with His Follow Mon.

Alexander T. Stewart and His Dealings
with His Fellow Men.
Alexander T. Stewart was thought 70 be-
strictly honest, but he was the incarnation OF
business simply; be was selfish, hard and cold
in the extreme; he had no friends, Judge
Hilton excepted, and no companions. IL was
constantly said that 10 was devoid Of the
milk OF human kindness; that his body did
not contain a drop Of warm blood. He had
no children-he had lost two In infancy-and
his wife stool in such awe of him that afTec-
tion between them was impossible. Despite
his Millions no never gave her any amount
Of money, convinced that women did not and
could not understand its use The only really
humanity social thing he was guilty of was TO
provide an elaborate dinner in the nausOloum
on the Sundays Of the winter. Judge Hiltcn
was always present, and a number OF gentle
men for whom Mr. Stewart appeared to have
some respect. The guests varied very little
from month to month.
The great merchant employed his enormous
capital mercilessly 20 break down and ruin
smaller merchants. Scores Of them, it is said,
have been rendered bankrupt by his financial
despotisn, and the desperate condition and
death Of several have been laid directly at his
door. He hated those who attempted to com
pete with him; he seemed to think he had
right 20 monOpOlize the great dry goods trade
of New York, and he tried by every means In
his power 70 destroy opposition. This IS fire.
quently done, and is considered legitimate
all in the way Of business. But Mr.. Stewart
had the credit of doing more OF it, OF going to
greater lengths than others; and, being very
rich and generally dislikcd, he was regarded
as the sole offender Stories were constantly
circulated of how his sternness and cruelty
had driven men TO their graves. Many Of the
stories were piteous to a degree-so distress
ing that it was hardly Ineligible that they
should not have excited his compassion. They
may have been exaggerated, or oven false in
whole or in part. but they were believed, and
the rich merchant gathered more and NOR
odium the longer he lived l have heard
many good, upright citizen declare that Mr.
Stewards death, while he lived, would be p
public benefit; that his course of commercial
action was that Of an enemy TO the corr
munity. Nevertheless he commanded a verD
large custom, both in the wholesale and retail |
trade, not because people cared for him, but |
because they could buy on favorable terms
and felt sure of being fairly dealt with.
A. 7. Stewart, the man, hardly any one
knew; he was mainly a name, representing |
hardness, sordidness, material success at the
price of humanity, Had he been known he |
would have created aught but Favorable
impression, for he was a bloodless, cold |
severe looking Scotch-Irishman, whom !
neither children nor dogs would be likely to |
approach. In person he answered to his rep
utation, which was singularly unfortunate
The virtues attributed TO him-probitv. ius, |
tice, morality-did not count in his behalf |
nor were they accepted as palliations of hi |
hardness. If he had possessed a few amiable |
weaknesses, or been inclined to a few lovabls |
sins, he would have stood better in the eye |
Of the multitude.-"Worben" in Chicag. |
Navva