The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-18
MAKING OF BIG FORTUNES.
Morality Involved In the Pursuit of
Wealth and Money.
london Spectator

In the collection of essays which Mr.
Lecky has just given to the world under
the title of THE Map of Life" essays
which, if somewhat devoid of original
ity, are most interesting as the mature
opinions of an experienced and able
man upon the social phenomena around
him, perhaps the best is one upon the
desire for money Mr. Lecky notices
only to reject the conventional, not to
say slightly hypocritical assumption
that the desire for money is in itself
an evil or base desire. He sees clearly
that small competence" is of in
eStimable value, if only because it is
in the circumstances of modern life the
indispensable condition of any freedom
of action; and he has no reprobation
for moderately luxurious expenditure:
but. as everywhere else throughout his
book, he is in favor of moderation,
says the morality of the matter is "a
question of degree and. We fancy.
thinks that while the pursuit of a fair
fortune is justifiable expenditure of
energy, the pursuit of a large one re-
quires apology, or, at least, extenua-
ton
We are not satisfied as to the correct
reSS of that idea, although it is so
widely held. The notion that a great
fortune cannot be fairly made. though
it is so general. is absolutely untrue
1t is born of envy and of that singular
iucapacity for weighing figures which
with an immense number of persons
amounts to a positive mental defect.
That many great fortunes have a faint
in them. being derived from monopolies
maintained by unjust means, such as
the process well known in America of
freezing OUT all small competitors. is
undoubtedly true. and their OWNERS
should be reprehended by opinion. or
if possible, restrained by law like any
other robbers; but a great fortune may
be made by perfectly honest means.
Lord Overstone, who was the soul of
honor, made a very large one Mr..
Stewart. the draper of New York. who
left $4,000, 900, was perfectly upright,
and no one ever saw or thought that
the Astors made their magnificent for
tune by anything except forecasting
judgment in investments. Indeed, If
life lasted a little longer thousands
would die millionaires without ever
stealing a penny, and it is possible a
very large one through the saving
which under the name of thrift. is
preached in every pulpit as one of the
highest social virtues.
If, therefore, great fortune can
ba fairly made, why should the man
who wishes for it abstain from making
it? Why, that is, should he be more
blamed, or despised. or reproved than
the man who seeks power, which he
may misuse, or fame. which is nine
timcs out of ten a qualification of van
ity. or glory, which usually involves
at least some misery to fellow-crea-
lures? 1t is matter of common knowl-
edge that the great returns ultimately
made by the aerated bread company
We're due to the judgment and energy
of a single man; and why was he
wrong in utilizing those gifts to the I'M
told berefit of every respectable woman
who wants a lunch? Much more is ac-
ccmplished for the good of a district
by introducing an industry which pays
than by any possible distribution Of re-
lief, and a single loafer turned into an
engineer may do more for a community
than any charity. oven though it b. a
mighty hospital or pension fund Tor
the old.