The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-26
A Mistn-a OF hIulionairas.

- MAzEA[6 o. 44A-A1Ld
Tho recent termins-ion Of tn, contest
which the heirs Of tha late Mrs. A T.
st wa segan for a larger share Of the
as, fortune which NsR Y0rs's greatest
merchant, = r. Stewart, accumulated,
slg ;ests the question whether rich men do
not mike = mistake in boarding their
wealth and devot ng all their time to in
creasing it, instea / Of using it wisely to ad-
vance the welfare AMI increase the hsppi-
ness OF their fellow men Mr.. Stewards
fortune at the time Of his deash
was, it Is believed, not IA from $40 900, 00J
He worked ste dbl, as long as he was able
to do so, TO Increase it. About the only
sati faction he got out OF it arose from the
kno Elelge that he possessed it and the
power which it gave him. That satisfac-
ton, however, could not have been of the
highest and best kind. Il was not equI TO
the happiness which comes from deeds
which tend 10 make men and worasn better,
increase the sum Of human happiness
lessen the amount of human suffering, or
lift the humaa race 10 a higher moral and
intellectual plans.
Mr.. Stewart labored a whole lifetime
toward one end, and that was to become
richer, aud what has become of the money
that cost him so N lch toll and wOrryl The
most of it has passed into the hands Of a
man in whose veins flows none of the Stsw-
art blood and who is using the we ilth not
TO promote any public good or charitable
object, but solely for his own qualification.
Doubtless even the hsirs, VIII got a small
part of the Stewart estate, are not burdened
with reverence for the mem lry Of the man
whose money enables them to have the luxu-
ries of life 1t can be sail with a very con-
siderable degree of truth that Mr.. Stewards
wealth did neither him nor anybody else
great deal of good.
If, instead Of no riding It, he had founded
libraries, colleges, hos 1itals, and asylums,
or had adorned the city in which he made
his money with parks, fountains, and stat
ues, be ould not only have had the happi-
ness which comes from giving happiness to
others, but his memory would have been
revered for many generations.
OF course a man has the legal right to do
with his money a. be pleases, but it is not
so certain that he has the moral right to do
so. He may have tale ITS for making
money. They were not given him for sell
fish purposes, The money he acumulates,
therefore, should be used in promoting the
happiness and welfare of others as we'll as
himself By this it is not
meant that he should distribute his wealth
among the idle and thriftless, because in
that way he would only make paupers and
increase the worlds burdens. There are
many ways in which he could use his wealth
SO that the world would be made better
Science, literature, the ar S, and religion
are always in need of helping hand. The
opening of new ways for making living,
and the preparing of people to make llv-
ing. are things that are worthy of the rich
mans attention.
The taking care Of surplus wealth is at
tended with as much trouble and worry as
the accumulation Of it, and no compensat-
ing benefits flow from it. In a majority of
those who inherit 1t spend it
recklessly. 1t having come to them easily
they do not appreciate it. If parents could
realize how much better Off their children
would be with only such fortunes as would
insure fair start in life, they would not
worry themselves into early graves in
their efforts to make great fortunes, and
they would SO use their surplus wealth that
it would brighten their declining years. The
if they could know what would
become OF their millions after their death.
would be lass proud of their fortunes, less
anxious to leave their children beyond the
nece 'sity OF making an effort in their own
behalf, and more inclined to uss their sur
plus wealth, during their lifetime, in good
works