New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-28
,oo r,,Sr,c CONTROVERSY.

The controversy excited by MI OafIlcSicS
cosroI If Wealth is continued in England on
lines which are constantly broadening Inc
current number of 1.-The Nineteenth Centur!
contains additional chapters OF rcmarRap'c III
tcrrSt and significance. II Is curious CIC"i"
stance that two OF the writers are ihduceu from
= desire 10 treat the subject OF lrre>pohSlp'o
wealth comprchcnsively to condemn the riNa'
economic systems of both England ana the
rnitod STATES. Cardinal Manning, while at
trimming the immense development oil com
morciol wealth in England to Free Trade argues
that if has been purchased at the cost OF equally
immense evils. both physical and moral. Free
Trade. he contends, has created lrteSpohNlpIc
vooltb and starvation wages the cheapest mar
ket being "thc market OF the lackIaldS' pen
njless and helpless" where traffic Is done III
the labor of men who have To choose between
food and no food TIE Rev. Hugh Price Hughes,
on the other hand. while speaking appr"NIhgIE
of Mr.. Carnegie rs man. ConicmplateS nm
with n feeling of adherence aS the aftihGaI
nroduct Of high Protective leglSlatlOn-one OF
hose social monStroSiticS" portcntouSy -four
ishng in the unhealthy forcinG->yStcm OF Amen-
can economies ut the expense OF paupcr labor.
This remarkable agreement Of two prominent
controvcrSiaiiSS that the economies OF either
branch Of the English speaking race are re-
SponSiblc in large measure for the accumulation
OF irresponsible wealth and the progress OF
poverty will compel rejecting mon 10 receive
their conclusions with reserve. The best civil
ization Of modern times /, that Of the Anglo
saxon race: and when il is contcndcd that both
England and the nitci states are committed
70 policies which are aggrayaiing the social
evils and Disturbances of the age. too large
tax is imposed upon human crodulity. 1t j.
evident that the controversy over wealth has
got altogether ont of hand when II involves
condemnation Of the economic systems OF two
nations which have contributed between them
the largest share Of the worlds current prog
rcSS is the question was originally raised 10y
Mr. Carnegie II Affected solely the responsibility
Of the individual for the administration during
his lifetime Of his surplus wealth. Both IN
England and the United states great fortunes
have been created and multiplied under the
general commercial conditions prevailing IA
each. II is Is unreasonable ~ condemn one
set Of conditions - the other on the fantastic
ground tha, the rich are made richer ana the
poor poorer through their operation.
such views oi national and commercial >y>-
tens are too narrow - b" seriously considered.
The expansion Of English commerce under the
conditions prevailing in a world-Vid" empire
has been one Of the greatest forces for good
in modern times. If immons" fortunes have
been amused in trade. and II the gulf between
riches and poverty Ia, been wdcncd. commerce
ha, been the most powerful missionary for
civilization and Christianity. In like manner il
,urfffftfDl
the natural course of the development OF the
resources Of the country. WORK Shop ha, been
opened in free land for men Of every race. "a
school in civic Virtues has been established Tor
he political refugee, and oppressed classes 81
the world and hom' has been provided for
oycrcrowdcd Europe whore the poor can hyo IN
greater comfort and have more opportunities
for improving their social condition than lu any
other quarter Of Chrl>iondom. he economic
and commercial system, have hccn radically
different bat the result, IN each in,'anc" ~"
overwhelmingly in favor 81 the superior civil
ila,on oi the rue>h-Spcaking race. England
and America between them are the hope of the
modern world.
The social questions involved in the dis
cI>sion of wealth and poverty are +" Doe pre-
cmncnIly the most important and searching
Of the problems Of the incoming ag'. The Ing
disappearing race doe, not need 10 condemn OF
abandon il, commercial and national systems
in order 70 work ont a solution. II, genius
has created one order and the Other. and each
is making powerfully for the civilization of the
world The gospel Of wealth for the midi idual
should not be converted into propaganda for
economic revolution.