Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-04-14
POVERTY AND RICHES.

Gently upon the subject OF "Wcaith ana
Poverty. He began, says tho Herald,
by examining various popular deflni-
tons of wea! tn, pointed out their deficien-
cies, and then proceeded to say that
wealth is simply tho accumulation Of
objects Of human desire, for the measure
Of value was nothing else than the fact
that tho thing possessed and that was
looked upon rs having value was some
thing which great many people de-
sired. And IL they analysed that desire
they would find 1t only modification of
tho fundamental fact of hunger; antl This
TO tho highest spiritual aspiration. Is
wealth, then, asked Mr.. Savage, desir-
able thing? Would it be better if there
were no rich and no poor? Itsecms to me
most certainly not. For wealth-some
accumulated value beyond that which is
needed for the immediate necessities of
the community-is the very condition
of higher growth, Picture to your
selves q world in which every
man, woman and child has shell
ter, food, clothing-in which there
is no care for the morrow
would this be desirable condition for
the world? So far, yes. But if there
was only enough in the world to- give
shelter, food and clothing, we might be
well-fed animals, without care, for a
thousand centuries, but we could be
nothing else. II there arc to be higher
hungers, and II men are to grow to be
something moro than animals, then
there must be, in the hands of some
one and somewhere, food for supplying
these higher 'hungers. If men are to
think, to study, to travel, to exchange
ideas, have social intercourse with each
other, and be free from the grinding
toll needed for the merest animal neces-
stiles, they must have the means for
doing all these things.
Mr.. Savage then took up the question
of poverty. Defining the only poverty
really injurious to man as that which
took away from him the means of growth
prevented him from becoming what
he is capable of beComing-the preacher
considered the various ways in which
poverty originated. He thought that
we nad TOO much Legislative action,
and too little individual initiative.
Vice brought poverty, and there were
thousands Of people in the world
who, from one reason or another,
were incapable of emerging from
poverty, and were as much entitled
to our sympathy as were the crippled
and lame. believe, said Mr.. Savage,
that 1T Is possible to eliminate pauper-
ism from the world. If the community
has right to support those who, for
one reason or another, are incapable of
taking care Of themselves, then 1t
has undoubtedly q right to see
to it that its resources are not
lessened by the unthrift, the theft,
the dishonesty of those who could sup
port themselves if they would. 1t ought
to exercise that right-to take tender
and loving care of those who can not
take care of themselves, and then to
compel those who can to do one or two
things-to earn their living or to starve.
And now, said Mr. Savage, in closing,
what shall the rich man do with his
money? Or what shall he do with that
surplus which no does not need2
would have no laws touching
the matter. would have men
perfectly free to leave their prop
erty to wife, daughter or son, 80
far as they can be assisted to get
OH, though believe that, nine times
out Of ten, sons ore injured more than
they are helped by having too much
money left to them. would educate
the thought and conscience Of tho world
up to the point Of grand use of these
accumulated thousands. II had thou
sands Of millions of dollars would de-
vote it to good uses while lived, rather
than leave 1t to be wranglcd over in the
courts after my death. 1t seems to me
that should take q delight in helping
the world. can SEQ men and women
who are capable of doing work Of public
Importance, yet who are hampered and
tied down to the necessity Of simply
filling their stomachs. would be glad
to relieve these from tho necessity of
earning their daily bread. Such a use
Of riches, which l only throw on az n