New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-21
AN INTERNATIONAL EPISODE.

A considerable number OF persons in this
country. most OF whom. we regret TO say, are
editors OF newspapers appear to De ignoring uhder
the dclason that Gcnun"ations OF Mr.. William
Waldorf Astor proper and edlfying. lh'y
do not specify the dclinquencics and misde-
meanors for which they bring him TO Judgment
apparently taking it for granted that Their
readers will approve the castigation without ask
ing 70 see the Indictment. In this we THINK
they are mistaken, for Americans curious and
like TO know the truth about one another. Ihey
are also fairmindcd, and prefer TO consider the
testimony before they accept verdict. All the
evidence that they possess is in Mr. Astors
favor. and they are not likely TO join in an
arraienmcnt which, so far they are permitted
TO see, is mere defamation.
IL Is difficult TO comprehend tho motive ana
purposc Of Mr. Astors ccnsors IL can scarcely
he possible that their hostility is due to the
fact that he is very rich, for many very rich men,
instead OF being held up to contempt, are rather
unnecessarily BATTERED and carcsscd by Mr.. As
tors bittcrcst critics. 1t certainly is not due
10 dsapproval Of an evil disposition and
pronigatc course Of life. for nobody has ever
venturcd to hint or can possibly suppose that
Mr.. Astor's personal habits and proclivitlcs are
immoral. We must assume that the aversion
which they profess is genuine, for otherwise they
would not take 80 much trouble to proclaim it.
But we are compelled TO believe that they re-
frajn from explaining their antipathy because
thcv arc conscious that IL is unreasonable and
that an attempt TO Justify it would make them
appcar ridiculous and contemplate. Indeed. it
seems 10 us exceedingly probable that If, for
Getting Mr.. Asor for the time being, they were
To draw an n scheme Of life for the guidance OF
voupo Americans born to wealth and opportunity
il would lie found TO lie almost exactly tho scheme
OF life which Mr.. Astor has steadily carried out
from bovhood Let us see if this is not fair
surposition.
Fc,v vounc men in this country have been sur
rounded with more allurcmcnts to ldlencss and
frivoli,v. lie was endowed with u sound con-
stitution and vigorous health, which gave him
no physical waning against dissipation. lie was
far removed from any necessity to work. and he
would have incurred no social penalty IL he had
surrendered his time and energies 70 Improbable
pleasure Being well aware OF this, he made 10
L;s frat bus;noss 10 secure n thorough education.
Returning from diIiscnt study abroad, he took
mll course in tine Columbia Law School, was
admitted 10 the bar and spent several years III
Ncwyork law Office, assduously lifting himself for
the RESPONSIBILITIES which were about to devol'e
mon him. Having faculty and II fondness for
artistic occuiremcnts he studied hard under IA
mons scul,,ors here and in Europe Realizing the
advantage OF possessing accurate and intimate
knowlodce or the great interests and operations
which he must cvcntualy control and direct he
entered his fathers Office, and when the trust
descendod IN him il found him competent To
assume H. These various private occupations
might have been deemed sufficiently cNactins TO
excuse some neglect of those public obligations
which young men OF character and inteIgence are
constantly urged to discharge. But Mr.. Astor
WA not satisfied 10 restrict his activities to hl