Omaha daily bee., 1892-12-18
PUBLIC BENEF4CTORS.

llC DenelaCJOrS JnlS age SurpasSeS any
that has preceded it, and in the list OF
philanthropists the United States leads
every other nation. The explanation is
to be found mainly in the greater diff
fusion of wealth, particularly in this
country, whose wonderful development
within a generation has multiplied the
number of very rich men an hundred
fold; but the increase Of public ben
eticence is in part due to sentl-
| ment of modern creation, which many
men of wealth share; that the accumula-
tiou OF riches is u trust in which the
public has an interest; that when a man
has amassed u great fortune 70 which
the public has contributed there is a
reciprocal obligation imposed upon him,
and while he is free to judge of the ex-
tent of the obligation it is in a sense his
duty to return something to the public.
1t is gratifying to believe that the inhu-
ence OF this sentiment i'd steadily grow
ing, and that wealthy men, at least in
this country, are moro generally than
ever before realizing their obligation in
this respect and devoting more thought
to the question of how they can best
| ineeJ III lot tne pubic BOOu
The munificent gift just made to
Chicago by Mr.. Philip d. Armour of
an institute for manuel training, science
and art; has served to again cali public
attention to what has been done in
recent years by men of wealth in the
way of public benefactions A spirit of
cynicisn may find fault with the record
rs being less extended than it should
be, yet it is a cheering one that
inspires hopefuness of the future. Tine
establishment andli endowment of
such educational institutions as the
Drexel institute in Philadelphia, the
Pratt institute in Brooklyn, and the Ar
mour institute In Chicago, indicates q
tendency in public benefactions which
cannot be too STRONGLY commended and
encouraged. The wealth that is devoted
to advancing popular enlightenment
serves the highest purpose for which it
can be employed. 1t is practical
philanthropy, the returns from which
it is beyond the power of man
to compute. The thousands who in the
years to come will go forth from the
institutions established by DreXel and
Pratt and Armour will exert u power in
the world Of science, art ana mechanical
production of inestimable value and i'm
portance. Other wealthy men have
shown a no less generous interest in the
cause of education. A few months ago
Mr. John d. Rockefeller gave 81 100000
to the University of Chicago and has
contributed to other institutions of learn
ing. Mr.. Carnegie, who is a most earn
est advocate OF the idea that wealth
, is trust and that its possessors owe n
duty to the public in disposing of it, a
few years ago established school Of
music in New York, provided for great
) public library in Pittsburgh, and has
in other ways shown his practical
philanthrophy. The number of smaller
gifts to educational institutions would
swell the list Of benefactors to hundreds.
Much more might be done in this direc-
ton. All wealthy men are not equally
generous, and some will not acknowledge
any obligation to the public, but 1t is
only just to say that there is great
: deal of true philanthrophy among the
/! rich men of Amerioa-far moe, un-
. questionably, than in any other country.
4 | L
with this subject is the growing ten
a dency among men of wealth intending
/ to make public benefactions to put their
purpose into effect during their life
time. One of our greatest philanthro-
pists, Mr. George w. Childs, has pur-
a sued this course, and in Il recent
| article he says, in reference to the
= principle: "As I have rarely in
j., nv life seen an estate admin.
,. istered as know its owner would hav o
/. desired, think that all rich men, par
Il tic llarly those who have no children to
q inherit their property, should spend
n their money themselves in order that
O they may be able to see with their own
@ eyes the good which the ju1cious
@ spending OF money upon others can do. ,
a The opinion OF Mr.. Childs IN this mat
o ter has the force Of expert testimony,
~ and wealthy men with designs of public
,r benefcence will bs wise to give heed TO
l. it. There is abundant experience tc
n vindcate its wisdom. The pubic bene
" faction that is left TO the care Of Others
"a after the benefactor is dead is in dangeI
ID OF failure, partial or complete.
is 1t would be gratifying to be able tt
say that the rich men OF Omaha have
8. shown an adequate recognition of thei
@. obligations to the public as the custo
of dians of wealth, but such is not the case
g. With the exception OF Mr.. Joho A
of Creighton, whose hberality as public
ly benefactor is not yet exhausted, none o
n. the rich men of this oity has shown an
il. broad or generous phiianthropc interes
,e in tho public. They may contemplat
d. doing so, but if they would act upon tn
SO advice of Mr.. Childs and have the graf
90 ification of seeing themselves the goo
ct which the judicious spending of none
c. upon others can do, they cannot safel
ne postpone much longer the carrying ou
so of their purpose.
or A NEW and interesting feature in tn
er Industrial life of Omaha is the chemica
-le manufacturing concern recently estal