The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-02-18

p0uu6QG lux TO the verge
of starvation, and t the same TINA
power is acquired by these combina
tions to increase prices, and thus ruth
lesely take toll of all consumers with
as little Justification as the mediae val
bandltti barons levied on all who ex-
posed themselves to their depredations.
1t is sometimes thought to be a re-
deeming element that now and then
one of these a ~;umuIators OF unlawful
wealth endows a college or POUNDS a
theological seminary. A right moral
public sentiment might properly say
to every such receiver of other mems
goods, Thy money perish with thee"
2 1t is a ri righteous demand that the
public has upon men of wealth, that
their wealth shall be used for the in
| crement of the wealth of the commu
nifty. l do not on that it is to be
distributed for charitable and benevo-
lent purposes. This is a claim Of
another sort, to which allusion will be
made directly. But no man has a
right to merely enjoy his property and
make it a means mainly of self indul-
gence.
The IDLE rich" is properly q term
Of reproach. No man has a right to
live a lazy and useless life because he
is not compelled to labor for a liveli-
! hood, any more than he has to misuse
any other gift. If he has the power to
create wealth, he ought to use it; and
if he becomes rich, he ought to recog
piz5 the moral implications Of his stu
alton. ~EXtravagant expenditures I'm
der the impulse of vanity for sensual
er )yment is a immoral as it is unecO.
nomical. IL is true that the use Of
property in this way often gives en-
plOyment to labor, but still it is 50 con
stunned as not to reappear in c0mmOdl
ties which men need, OF in material to
which labor may be applied Twenty
thousand dollars expended in sumptu-
Gus entertainments which mean moth
ing but entertainment, or in shown
demonstrations which only indicate
that the owner has a good deal Of NOR
ey, might be Invested In a productive
enterprise employing a hundred men,
AMI be a permanent source Of wealth
to them instead Of a mere transient
engagement. 1t is not implied here
that all men are to restrict themselves
to the bare n~ece5saries Of lite. There
are many 50 called luXurie5 that add
to the worth OF the individual and
which only the wealthy can have, and
the production of these constitute a
healthy demand for labor, and so bene-
fits whole communities.
3, 1t is hardly necessary to speak of
the demand that wealth should not be
used to carry on any business the OBJ
iecr Of which is to cater to the vices
which infest society and tend to its
degradation. It the millions Of prop
erty invested in the liquor business,
and other millions us I'd for other per
n!ci0us production, could be turned
into proper industrial channels, there
would be ali -~ncaIculable double gain:
liz SSSSAGAO4 VI q FLAON FSACSNP C@AN "
great increase of power to multiply
wealth. On this, among candid men,
there can be no difference Of opinion
as TO the general principle; but unhap
lily not only must men be convinced Of
the truth implied, but they must some
how be pursuaded to apply IL before
the fruits of ethical righteousness ap
pear in social Improvement.
4 Nor is it very necessary to insist
upon the duty Of charity and benevo
lence. This Is not so much neglected
as some other obligations. True, only
a small proportion of those who have
the ability respond freely to the de
mand; but these few give bounteously,
and sometimes so much so that harm
rather than help results. The revision
of our whole system of charities has
been urgently called for and is actually
taking place. When this is perfected,
while vastly greater b8nef1s will ensue
from the amounts now contributed,
there will doubtless be still larger de-
mands, which will also be freely met.
5. But there is a larger and broader
liberality required. Men of wealth
owe something to the communities OF
which they are members beyond the
payment of taxes and the support of
good order. This is recognized by a
few, and responded to generously.
Much is done in the establishment OF
schools and educational foundations,
libraries, museums, hospitals, asylums