The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-21
Eioh Men ana Their Money.


A day or two ago Mr.. John D. Rock
efeIler, the principal member of the Stani-
ard OIL Company, gave Sl.OOO,0OO to the
Baptist university of Chicago. He had
previously given it $500, 900. It is. therefore,
in lourisbing condition financially. With
the means az its disposal it will be able to
command the best instructors aud to pro-
cure everything that is necessary 10 make
the university complete 10 every depart
menr.
A little while ago Mr.. Andrew Carnegie.
the millionaire iron manufacturer Of Pitts
burg, gave very large sum of money for
the founding of a public library in
Allegheny City, Pa, and the people are
already enjoying the benefits Of his
liberality. Both Mr.. Rockefeller and Mr..
Carnegie appear TO be pursuing
the plan of distributing under
their own direction that portion
of their wealth which they intend shall be
devoted to public uses, instead of directing
the distribution to be made by trustees or
executors after their death. By their plan
they reap the satisfaction which comes from
having done good deed, and they are Ger
tain also of having their wishes complied
with
The late Samuel J. Tilden intended that
the greater portion of his wealth shonld be
devoted to the founding of great library
in New York City, but although he has
been dead several years the library is no
further advanced than it was the day after
his death. The courts are trying TO settle
the question whether his money shall be
used in the way he intended or be dis
tributed among his heirs.
A Philadelphia millionaire l. V. William
son, left several million dollars for the
benefit of education in that city, but comp
locations have arisen with regard to his will
and much of his estate may be wasted be-
fore it is determined what disposition shall
be made OF it. 1t would have been much
the wiser plan for both Tilden and William
son to have themselves carried out their
purposes with respect to the distribution of
their wealth. They would have found as
much pleasure in doing SO, perhaps. as they
did in accommodating their fortunes. BY
delegating to others the duty they ought
to have performed themselves they missed
much happiness that would otherw wise have
been theirs, aud their plans with respect to
their wealth may never be carried out
Men who have been fortunate in acquir-
ing wealth should use some of it, at least,
for the benefit of their fellow men. Their
heirs, of course, prefer to have it all, but,
as a general thing, children who are left
with moderate competency develop into
better men and women, and make their
lives more useful, than those who come into
possession at an early age of enough money
TO relieve them of the necessity for making
any exertion in their own behalf.
Rich men should spend their money gen
erously. During the recent strike on the
New York Central aud Hudson River rail-
road some Of the strikers complained of the
lavish expenditures of the Vanderbilts at
Newport. The complaint was an unreason-
able one. II is much better for the poor
that the rich should spend their incomes
than hoard them. The money that the
rich spend goes into circulation and helps
producers and workers. If the rich should
spend only a small fraction of their incomes
and invest the rest in securities the poor
would find it difficult to make living, and
it IS better that the rich should give en-
ployment to those needing it than to give
indiscriminately in charity, because unwise
charity makes paupers. There are worthy
charities, of course, and they must be sus-
tanned, but the poor should not complain if
the rich live up to their incomes