The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-29
CARNEGIE ON MlLLlONAIRES.

Andrew Carnegie. the Pennsylvania
ir onfounder and millionaire, has just de-
iivered before the Congregational Club Of
New \ ork a lecture on mlllioDaires which
contained interesting if not absolutely
new thoughts. He said that the million
aire is evolved from communities in which
the condition of the working people is
high and their political rights are clearly
recognized and respected. In proof Of this
he notes that there are no millionaires ex-
cept few princes in British India, where
the mass of the people are in squalid
poverty; no millionaires except the owners
of royal domains in Russia, where the
peasant starves; only about a dozen mil
lionaires in France and only one in Ger
many; whereas in England and In the
United States, where the workiDgman
wastes as much as his fellow-workman
earns in India. Russia, France or Ger
many, millionaires are numerous and in
ereasing The millionaire, in his opinion.
is really product of the prosperity of the
masses-the Legitimate outgrowth of their
material advancement. He is the reverse
of Louis XIV's Dithy remark-"POor
people. poor King"
millionaires flourish, in fact, in proportion
to the diffusion of prosperity among the
masses. Where the workingmen are best
off millionaires are found. There are
none where the people are poor. This was
curiously shown by the pamphlet lately
published by the New YORK Tribune and
known as the Fat Flyers Guide. The
American millionaires were chiefly found
in the States which have become most
prosperous-such as New York, Pennsyl-
vania and Illinois California, which, on
the whole, has been the best State for
workingmen, contained an extraordinary
mum Der in proportion to population, while
States like Kentucky. where the working
mans lot is hard, showed up with none.
In this country great fortunes have flowed
from two sources; either from the in
genuity of able men who have made dis
coveries and built railroads or steamers, or
invented telegraphs, telephones, sewing
machines or the like, or from the foresight
of those who Giscerned the future of
localities bought, land and kept it. In all
cases the aim of the wealth-seeker would
have been defeated if there had not been
a prosperous working population to bring
grist TO his mill.
On the uses of wealth Mr.. Carnegie OBJ
serves that the millionaire who boards his
money does not really own it. 1t owns
him. The miser in the play buries his
coin in sacks and takes his delight out of
plunging his arms into it up to the elbows
The modern miser does not follow the
example. His greed Of money impels him
to lend his funds for the sake of getting
N nclx
often reluctantly, he makes his millions
fulfill a useful purpose. His aim is to
leave his children great fortune.
Quite often he accOmplishes his purpose,
and then the great law that the sins of the
fathers shall be visited upon the children
comes into play. Here and there mil
lionaire strives to expiate his ne glect of
duty during life by testamentarv pro-
visions for the application of portion of
bis wealth to charitable purposes after
his death. This is well. as a matter %
atonement; but it is better to have less to
atone for by distributing surplus wealth
during its owners lifetime in judicious
projects for the betterment of society.
Rich men who give thousands in indis-
criminate charity often foster crime and
pauperism. They are tramp-breeders
their benefactions defeat their object and
are at variance with the first principles OF
intelligent philanthropy.
The millionaire in every country is an
object of envy, yet the envy is largely mis-
placed. The cares and disabilities of
great wealth should be Offset against the
advantages it confers. The wise man
says give me neither riches nor poverty"
The Legitimate pursuit of wealth rarely
fails to be beneficial even to those who do
not share it when it is won. He who
makes fortune by enterprise, energy,
ingenuity and industry really helps others
around him; but the possession of
enormous wealth rarely adds to the happi-
nass nf its nosSescnr