The Russellville Democrat., 1893-08-24
THE RAILROAD MAGNATE.
Outline of Mir. Hearon's Lecture on
 Jay G0uld.

Jay Gould.
 Those who heard the Rev. Mg Hearon's lecture at the courthouse last Weduszs evening heard an able and interesting discourse. The speaker gave every evidence of care ful preparation in the treatment of his theme, and easily secured the earnest attention of his audience from start to finish. Following is g synopsis of the lecture:
 Character is what we really are, Reputation is what men think we are. All characters belong to the world and their mighty influence. Youth is often the prophecy of the man MT. Gould came upon the stage at very corrupt time, specu- lation was rife and greed for gain rampant He imbibed the spirit of the times and entered the arena as a financial gladiator. He had no peer on fields where his battles were fought. In summing up MT. Gould's character he must be viewed from many standpoints. The charges of wrong doing made against him had their basis largely in truth, but was he more guilty than other men who did the same thingss Why then should one man be singled out and condemned exclusively while others are just as reprehensible? Mr. Gould was conspicuous product of the age in which he lived-an age in which to make money was of prime importance. The whiskey business, the Louisiana lottery, the war between capital and labor, the socalled social evil, are some of the fruits of this disordered state of so- ciety. Society therefore needs re- generation, purification. Estimat- ing his wealth at seventy five mil lions 1t would require IF cars to carry it at 10000 pounds to the car. His wealth is equal to one-half tn e property of the great state of Ark ansas. Money is power. Large sums of money in the hands of one person or few people, become dangerous. The accumulated wealth of the coun- try is becoming very real and B very great danger. Money is the best thing in the world when properly used, but the worst thing when improperly used. Money is something but not everything. There are some things more valuable than the almighty dollar. Mir Gould was not regarded liberal man, but made some contributions to worthy objects that indicated that he did not live for self only. His wealth is still intact and mil lions of it may yet be invested in institutions that will bless the race. At his death he owned and controll- ed 10000 miles of railroad and hisem- ployes numbered 100000, Thus em- ployment was furnished multitudes and bread and apparel to their de- pendents. After all Mr Gould has not proven altogether curse to the world. In their lodges after his death his employees spoke very generously of MT. Gould as busi- ness man. In politics he was re- publican. In religious faith he was Presbyterian. He was not soci- ety man. He did not belong to the aristocracy of New York, His mon- ey was not spent in the promotion of religious debaucheries. Mir Gould was preeminently a modest man. In private life he was a model. He drank no spirits, smoked no tobac- co. Even theological students will do well to follow his example in these respects. In his domestic life he was most happy. He was spoken of generously by his employees, was a model in private and domestic life. Could he have been so bad man as many regarded him? The giant as we'll as the pigmy must fall. Dives and Lazarus lie down in the same home of the dead. On December ?, 1892 Mir. Gould died at his home in the city of New York. He called the members of his family to his bedside and whispered to them his farewells, he had no dying words for the public to hear. It is inter esting to study Mir. Gould here and in the other world. This is an age in which many regard the posses sion of money as the true standard of excellence, but character should be tried by intelligence, truth, jus tice, honor and purity of life"