El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-19
THE GREED OF GAIN.
From the Richmond Times.


I A writer in the New York Sun says
that Bishop Potter hits wide of the
mark in assailing the greed of gain.
He holds that there is no more
lust in these days than there was in
the time referred to in the parable of
Dives and Lazarus. and of the unjust
, steward, and of the warning of the
needles eye for the rich. That man.
mon was worshipped then not less
than now. TT is a natural and inev-
liable greed" he adds, but it breeds
practical virtues of inestimable value
to human society, thrift. prudence and
the foresight which. like the beavers,
prepares for its winter of life and the
care of the dependents"
Those who have read the Times
closely will recognize in this old IA
miiiar doctrine. for we have been
preaching it, 10, these many years.
In a sense contentment is a virtue and
to be commended. But contentment
which implies lack of ambition is not
to be encouraged. Desire is natural
and desire is always a stimulus to
gain 1t is desire for gain that causes
our industries to hum. our banks to
operate. our railroad trains to go fly
ing across the country at the rate of
mile minute. the great ships to
pillow the seas and the stores to be
filled with merchandise. In short. it
is the desire for gain that makes COM
merce and industry. If men were con-
tent with their lot, if they cared not
TO accumulate. they would not be en-
terprising They would not bend
their energies in this or that direction.
they would simply sit down in peace
and quiet and live on their substance.
1t is desire for knowledge that makes
men study; it is desire for fame that
makes great orators and politicians
and soldiers: it is desire for the
better things that makes men religious.
We call it desire because desire is a
word but after all there
is little difference between desire and
greed. and you take all the energy and
activity out of a man, there is no ac-
ton worthy of the name that is not
driven by a motive. and the motive
behind our energies is desire.
We agree with the Suns correSpon
dent in the statement also that in
these days there is no more of greed
than there was in the days of Christ.
Men have learned a great deal since
that time and there are more men
who know how to accumulate. and
men generally know how to accumu-
late more than in other ages. We have
many more very rich men and great
many more moderately rich men than
in those days. But this does not nee
mean that there is more of
greed There are undoubtedly more
men with active desires for wealth
and promotion because in this free
country opportunities are more gener-
al. We have no classes here and one
man has the same right and privilege
as another man to accumulate and be-
come rich.
But we believe that with the in
in, IA a
increase in generosity. There never
was an age before when so much mon
ey was given away, when there were SO
many charitable institutions. when so
much money was devoted to good and
noble purposes. Think of the millions
of money expended every year in the
support Of the church and in the var
ious phases of church work; think of
the millions of money expended every
year for public education: think of the
millions of money expended every year
in the support of asylums for the poor,
for the insane. for those who are men
tally or physically incapacitated to
take care of themselves; think Of the
of money expended every year
on hospitals and for the relief of dis
tress. We of this generation have re-
ceived freely, but it may be fairly
claimed that we have also given free
ly.
Away with the idea that it is an in
dividual sin to be rich. Away with
the idea that it is national sin for
the nation to be prosperous and veal /
thy. 1t is all right to accumulate
wealth in a fair. honest and legiti-
mate way, and if our money be used
in such a way as to develop individual
and national character. it will always
be blessing. The danger is not in
tho accrpnnIa finn nr the IrSe IF wealth
but in its abuse.