The record-union., 1898-04-08
THE DOMINANCE OF MONEY

society good service in rebuk1ng Sir
Charles Beresford for saying in re-
cent address that Money is becom-
ing everything among US. 1t will buy
access to what is known as the very
best. society; and let any Cae come to
England with enough money, no mat
ter whether 1t has been gained dis
gracefully or honestly, there is no door
which he cannot hope to enter. In old
days it was not So"
To this the Spectator" takes excep-
ton and replies sharply that Beres-
ford's reference to the old times is sin
gularly unfortunate for his contention.
Humanity, whether in Great Britain
or elsewhere is no more in love with
money now than in the past, and 1t re-
minds the lugubrious Admiral Of the
existence in every age of a class In
society which toadied to the powerful
for the sake Of gain. The greatest
mobiles in the court of Henry VIII. were
ready to do anything for share OF
the monastery lands; EliZabeth's ablest
courtiers hungered and thirsted after
monopolies; under the Georges sine
cures, appointments and pensions were
sought and obtained by the basest Of
compliances, and the imagined roads
to sudden wealth opened by the South
Sea and similar speculations were Gag
erly followed by aristocrats and pleb-
fans alike.
However it may be in England, the
truth is there is a great deal Of loud
talk here Of the same order as that
in which Admiral Beresford INDUCES,
simply because it is supposed to be
popular to roar in that manner. A
whole army Of small writers and shall
low thinkers is given to tiresome itera-
ton of the charge that money will do
anything nowadays, gain access to any
circle, free any criminal, corrupt any
official and contaminate from church
to state irrespectively.
BY indulgence in these 1oud-sounding
declarations it is assumed that the res
onator is championing the cause Of the
poor and the humble and the honest.
IF the stimulation of hatred and envy
is promotive of the interests of any,
then it is true. But as a matter of
fact humanity is to-day what it always
has been. The love of money was the
root of evil IN the long ago just as it
is to-day. There is simply this differ
ence, that humanity is wonderfully
more active in these days. It is Won
derfully more intimate with itself than
ever before, because of the improved
means Of communication and transpor-
tation. The opportunities for dishon-
esty have augmented, certainly, but we
are not prepared to believe that the
love of lucre is a whit stronger now
than N great-grandfather days.
It is not true that money will buy
the way Of it's possessor to every con-
science nor into any circle. The fact
is. as every one knows who stops to
think, that there are honest men by
the legion whom money cannot buy;
many circles where money will pave
the way for no man. In the vast num-
Der of confraternities of the day the
money a man has will avail him moth
ing against the verdict of the black
ball If, indeed the applicant is wealthy
the question Of how he acquired his
means is q most important one among
the brotherhoods.
In the ranks of scholarship in this
and all other civilized countries, money
Will avail q man nothing. There is a
insignia of ability, worth and deserv-
ing, over which the dollar stamp can
not prevail In the world of letters.
So, too, scientific circles are exclusive
in a most commendable degree. They
have not bowed at the altar Of nam
mon, nor groveled at the safe door
Among the circles of the greater scien-
lists, merit and high ability alone are
the countersigns for admission.
There are hundreds of social circles
where refinement and intellect alone
rule, and to which mere sordid wealth
cannot gain admission, simply because
1t is wealth. The rich man is not ex-
Guided, but he is not admitted for the
reason that he is rich. There are
thousands of lesser circles, the only
possible entry to which is through
character and gentility. And so on
down a long catalogue of circles which
do not open and bend at the knock OF
greed or fiatulent wealth.
There are some. it's true, most pre-
tentious also, and aping manners which
sit i'll upon them, where wealth and
the advantages and leisure it gives is g
passport. But as a matter Of fact such
circles for most part are composed Of
those who alone are rich, who flock
together because of their financial
equality, and for small other reasons
In the State of New York there are
circles of pride and dignity, formed OF
the descendants of old families who
into which the requisite for entry is
not wealth and into which. none car
buy their way. These are based upon
family lineage historic record, and the
pride of an ancestry related to the
founding of the first American settle
ments. This may or may not be reck-
oned an aristocracy, but if it is. it is
harmless and at least is. genteel.. refined
and high-minded and is untouched by
the CRIME of vulgar wealth. Indeed
many of these naughty families are
exceedingly poor, who hold themselye:
apart.
The power of money is bad enough