The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-11-21
IS WEALTH A FAILURE.

is Wealth a Failure" is the caption
II an article in IA recent number OF the
Financial News. Without making out a
case the writer comes to the simple con-
illusions that its possession should be
the reward Of merit. not accident, and
that the laws Of inheritance should be
changed Concerning the first PROPOSE
ton it may be put down as a rule that
wealth - acquired by years of industry,
hard D.. IF mind or body. frugality.
euprr,o. intelligence, business tact and
self ~abncgation. Thus acquired wealth
is the reward Of merit for all these are
meritorious attributes. Wealth acquir-
I'd by accident is the exception to the
rule. Wealth gained by inheritance is
accidental wealth. The pcrpctuation
OF large fortunes" the writer contends.
lis eociety's most powerful menace.
This is to be avoided by IA change in
the laws of Inheritance 50 that no heir
ran receive over $4,000 while the widow
r.. : " be left with $4,000. The OBJ
REQ, 81. IT,, Limitation is To force the dis
tribution Of wealth, but where the sur
plus wealth of the dead millionaire is to
90 the writer fails TO tell.
The whole article seems to be based
upon the assumption that individual ac-
emulation Of wealth is a great mistake,
if not a crime which can be corrected by
statute. The assumption is a mischiev-
Gus one and is making mischief the
werld over. The pet idea of every com
nunist aud socialist is that wealth is un-
evenly distributed and their efforts are
directed toward dividing it UP SO that all
may receive some Of its benefits in a
lirect way. There Is something radi-
rally wrong in the mental formation Of
men who are engaged in this impracti
cable work. Yet as long as the devil uses
an idle brain for his workshop just 50
long will Missionaries of the classes re
fcrrcd to be found. But they are kicking
against an immutablc law.
From the days when Abraham and
the long line Of succeeding patriarchs
,ounted their wealth by their i!ocks and
herds up to the present day when men
cunt theirs in stocks and shares and
nank accounts wealth has obeyed a
natural law by flowing in oh tnnels dug
FOR it by labor. brainwork and economy.
and it will always obey il. As well may
one expect water to flow uphill as to ex-
poet wealth TO flow to the idle, the dissi
pated OF the improvident. They may
accidently obtain it but it's distribution
70 the industrious aud saving is only a
matter Of time. II gets there in the end.
/. In view Of these facts it would ap
pear foolish to complain Of the unequal
distribution Of wealth.
The writer evidently confOunds the
possession % wealth with the means en-
DlCyed by some TO obtain it. Wealth OBJ
tanned by expressing the poor, no matter
whether by mOnOpOlies or corporations
IS III gotten. TIE world, however. con
dynes the means in its admiration for its
ppssessorg. We mean the world as We
find il, not as il should be. And this
will always be 50 aB long as Manmon il
a worshIpped god. No law 81 inherit.
ance or any other law will change this
respect Or reverence for wealth. Man
must be made over again 70 bring al
people upon a common plane ofthought
But il wealth d failure: That is The
question ~ he disposed u. The answel
may he found in the uses 70 which
wealth is devoted. And q word abOu'
u uses. 1t il al un~disputable PROPOSE
ton that under the present order .
thugs il would De impossible ~ inSugu
rate great enterprises Or " complete ARG
aud ~importaG, undertakings withOu
The concentration ~ great individual
wealth. The long lines Of railway
which make q checker board Of th'
3.yyO.VVD square IuIles Of and in tn
United States, the vast manufactUrin;
establishments whOsr tall chimGeyH rls
above tAe cottages Of . thousand village
and towns and cities IN the union, AM
the huge business blocks and building
themselves which stand ar monument
10 mans enterprise and push and piucl
all owe their existence 70 the concentra