Morning journal and courier., 1892-12-03
3n11tna1 aud Gunrfer.
The Oldest Daily Paper Pub
Iished in Connecticut.
J AY GOULD.

JAY GOULD.
In the old times, before the astronomers
knew all about comets, the appearance of
one In the sky made the people tremble
with wonder and terror. They did not
know what the strange apparition was or
what it would do to them, their crops and
their focks and herds. So in the old days
in Wall street when Jay Gould first re-
vealed his genius for speculation and
what is euphemistically called fnanciering,
those who frequented that place of mil
lions and manipulation gazed with wonder
and astonishment upon him. And as he
went his rapaoious, his ruthless and his
conquering way, leaving behind him
wrecks of men and corporations, fear was
added to their amazsment. That fear has
remained to this day, although Mr.. Gould
has had little to do with active specu-
lation for the last few years. 1t will have
Its influence when he is in his grave, and
until the mistrust with which his proper
ties have been regarded wears away.
But though Jay Gould has been mystery
and terror, nobody will be found denying
his genius. Like Cesar. he came, he saw,
he conquered. Small in stature, feeble in
health, unimpressive in appearance, unag-
gressive in speech and quiet in his ways,
he was giant on the battle field of specu-
lation. he planned his campaigns with
splendid wisdom and sure foresight, and
he carried them out with dauntless cour-
age and supreme skill. In the course of
his gigantic operations he drew upon him
self the hostility of all Wall street. 1t
would have crushed anybody but him.
Time and sgsin he routed his foes and
spoiled them Of their substance They
would be sure they had him in a corner
where they could demolish him, when he
would suddenly show them that he was
not in corner, but that they were in
trap. It is we'll remembered how
few years ago the rumor went
around all the exchanges that the terrible
Gould was at last caught and would GER
tainly be smashed. When he thought the
rumor had gone FAR enough he called some
of the spectators into his Office and show
ed them more millions in good securities
than they had probably ever seen together
at one time, and Wall street was again dis
appointed and surprised. Through all the
vicissitudes of speculation and the changes
In financial conditions he succeeded in
building up vast fortune. And he got
much of 1t in fercsr and more spectacular
conflict than has attended the career of
any of our great fnanciers. For many
years he fought the battles of speculation
with apparently the same feeling and spirit
that have animated the great warriors who
have made their mark in the worlds his
tory. Some of them waded through
slaughter to throne. So did he.
Mr.. Gould was wonderfully destructive
and wonderfully constructive. There are
those who have looked upon him only as a
pirate of finance, equally expert and ready
in plundering an individual or scuttling a
railroad. And when his early operations in
Erie, his gigantic and fsr-reaching Black
Friday plot, his railroad wrecking. his
limitless stock watering, his ruthless deal
ings with some of the men who came in
contact with him, and the great success of
his rspscity, are looked at alone, he seems
like spirit of evil clothed in the form of
man. But it is not to bs forgotten that
even if his life was ruled by an unscrupu-
lous genius of greed, and if the early part
of his career was apparently largely de-
voted to the destruction of that which
he thought it would pay him to
destroy, the latter part of it was largely
spent in the care and improvement of his
vast enterprises. He changed from a
speculator to an investor. Having fought
his fights and won he gave himself to the
development and growth of the fruits of
his conquest. It will of course be said
that the same selfshness that animated
him in his early days was with him in his
latter days, but it cannot be denied that,
sel6shly or unselfishly, he has for many
years bsen powerful factor in the coun-
try's growth and prosperity. Who can
tell whether his wonderful life has had
more of evil and harm than of good and
benefit in it?
It is a pleasure to turn from the intri-
cate and perplexing questions raised by
Mr.. Gould's business career to his unques-
| toned excellence and loyalty in his family
| relations. He was a good husband and
father. He loved his homo and those who
helped him make it. The breath of foul
scandal has never touched him. He was q
thoroughly temperate man. 1t is said by
some who knew him we'll that he was
much more benevolent than was generally
thought. And though he apparently did
not seek many friends he was capable OF
warm and true friendship.
Mr.. Gould left his millions before ht
reached even the three-score years allotted
to man. He was worn out with the labol
and care it took to get his vast wealth ant
keep it. His work, his genius and hi
character will be much and variously dis
oussed, and he will be remembered as lont
as any record of Wall street and of thu
railroad and telegraph lines of this coun
try exists. The fortune he accumulated
said to be at least SIS, 100000 But
"All he can hold in his cold. dead hand,
| Is what he has given away"