The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-23
WILL IT EVER BE?

WILL IT EVER BE7
There has always been in society a small circle
of men and women who have conscentiously en-
deavOred to bring those around them who are well
situated in worldly possessions to a truer under
standing of their duty to their fellow creatures and
resultingly, to themselves. For many years past q
movement almost inappreciable in it's tangible re-
suits, has existed looking toward lesSenng among
the rich of the outward expression of their wealth.
and the establishment among them of higher stand
ards of individual and collective conduct With the
tremendous progress which have been making in
wealth of late years such a movement must neces-
sarily be slow in accomplishing results. But the
spirit out of which all such movements arise is much
general today in American society than it ever
was before
Some philosopher other has pointed out that a
man is rich, not according to the greatness Of his
possessions, but according to the smallness of his
needs. Americans have not been prone to demon
strate their wealth after this latter fashion. In
deed it is the offensive and vulgar exhibition of hay
ing which has seemed to constitute the chief enjoy
ment Of wealth among our people This has been the
case in a steadily ascending ratio since the war 1t
was nonresident before that time Within the past
ten years it has reached the full flower of its perfec
ton. But it is and has been within the past two or
three years the decline. Wealth is not as new to
its possessOrs now as it was say twenty years ago
Its display does not constitute its chief enjoy
ment except among the comparatively few.
Bishop Potter Of New York, in a recent sermon
expressed the idea which animates the devoted few
who for years have done their work with little lie.
suits to show, but to whose influence we owe mucn
of the disposition toward culture and various forms
Of public and private usefulness prevailing among
the rich. In that he presented the following
mental picture:
Has it anybody to consider what
Of
an amer 6e of II company or fellowship Of men
fhmeEes together to Illustrate in their habits life
IN the appointments and chasteness in aspect pro-
Should further bind themselves to dcourage Te ha
and regon al 6e9o6G for certain
every day to other human interests than r o o Te
sonn h 1a of e the @ in plans for
bringing the monotony Of the modern condi-
and cheer seeking, in to modern
too often at what call the top, dominant and
The bishop in the course of his sermon declared
that to many this idea would appear wild and vision
airy. Yet its realization is far from being impossi-
bic Our leading colleges and universities are doing
the work which must inevitably such tenden-
cies among the Weather ranks Of society. Were 1t
not so, the outlook for American society would be
ptfu indeed. American society would then be af-
fcted by social incubus far more dangerous than
is furnished by the aristocraces of the Old World
since the latter IN the past few genera lions least
have shown a disposition to regard their mission
not being entirely that of preyng their fellow
creatures
However it may be the fashion to inYeigh against
wealth. the really healthful condition of mind in the
individual matter how little of material wealth
he may have to show, is that which. while refusing
to give any more is unwilling to cOncede any less Of
privilege to wealth than is conceded as the lot Of
poverty. Equality of conditions cannot have but
equality of opportunity and privilege is the thing
that those who have not wealth should seduously
insist upon, for the rich well the poor Wealth
usually manages to secure this equality without i'm
posing poverty the need of insisting Oh it
in its behalf and doubtless will continue to possess
it. But if the well-to-do to take upon them
selves generally than they do the duties which
they others well themselves we would
hear but little Of those familiar doctrines which are
based the determination to discriminate against
the rich in social and political rights simply because
they rich.
If a condition approaching that outlined by
Bishop Potter manifests itself ut tue top there
will be speedier settlement Of the most serious of
our social problems than any is looking for.