Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-30
MIR. HUNTINGTON'S CAREER.
Differing Opinions as to Whether or
Not 1t WINS Success.

Differing Opinions as to whether or
Not 1t WINS Success.
From the Boston Herald
The death of Coils p. Huntington has
brought out much biographical material and
high commentator of him as successful
man. His habits of industry and saving
have been fully praised and held up to view
as an example to young men who would
achieve wealth. He was masterful accu-
mulator of millions. He accomplished his
aim to be rich by self-denial, by industry,
by enterprise. by resolution, by hardness,
by perversion of moral obligations, by re-
morselessly crushing those who stood in his
way, by corrupting legislatures and con-
crosses, by deadening the noble sympathies
of human nature, by spurning friendships
that had no money value by despising cul-
ture and sentiment, by cultvating selfish
ness virtue, by making his heart a dry
husk, by making Mammon his god Was it
a grand life?
Grant that he succeeded in his under
takings. did it pay him? Was it worth
while for all his millions to be the man
that he was and lead the life that he led?
Take him for all in all, is he excel
lent pattern for the youth of the land? Ho
had certain inherent traits In abnormal
degree and especially greed of wealth. He
eHts of industry, of sagacity, of patience,
OF command, of combativeness, of vanity,
of contempt, of shamelessness. Say what
any one may of wonder and admiration
regarding the material accomplishments
that stand to his credit, of the service
which these have been to the prosperity
of individuals and the nation, there always
remains the question. of what service
were they to him? Did they ennoble the
soul of him? Did they dignity and purify
and sweeten his character? Did they de-
velop in him great love of truth. Did
they nourish the desires which make for
Righteousness and peace and generosity and
self-sacrifice Was he n better being at his
death than at his birth. If he was not,
can it be said that he succeeded in the
chief business and duty of life?
1t is said that his great constructive
works have given employment and pros
perity to thousands of people, and have
greatly aided the development of the ma
ton. This is true: but it is yet to be
shown that the motive of doing good to
others had any influence in the calcula-
lions that inspired his enterprises. Neither
in California, Washington nor New York is
he suspected of indulging in altruis,ic spec
uations. His cardinal thought was, not
how he might employ his genius and re-
sources to beget prosperity, but how
he could make prosperity pay toll to
his Golfers. He notorious for the Sc
verify of his exactons, and in Pacific rail-
road business was a hated eXemplar of the
tcrturing avarice of monopoly.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The admirers of the colossal genius and
broad philanthropic spirit of the late Coils
p. Huntington were painfully surprised at
the editorial in yesterdays Star entitled
Success That Was Failure" His strenuous
life, his comprehension and grasp of in
duStrial factors and his ability to handle
gigantic practical projects have rarely, IL
ever. been surpassed by any member of the
human race If the true philanthropist is
no blades
where only one grew before, what shall We
say of him whose genius opened up vast,
inaccessible regions TO settlement, trade
and commerce? Must Mr.. Huntington'S life
be accounted a failure simply because he
did not withdraw his holdings from the
channels of productive industry and apply
them to purely gratuitous uses? THE gen.
eral welfare of the people" may be adj
vanced as we'll by opening up broad indus
trial avenues for the sound and vigorous
by building hospitals for the intirm or
aSylumS for the insane. Your editorial was
especially painful to those members of the
colored race who are acquainted with Mr..
Hunting;on's generous disposition toward
this unfortunate class. His philanthropy,
1t is true was not of the sentimental kind,
which weeps over drowning flies, but was
placed squarely upon the principles of po-
litical economy. The only help that is
helpful is that help which helps one to help
ones self. Something for nothing is policy
which produces horde of indigents, which
grows by what 1t feeds on Mr.. Hunting
tons philanthropy was based upon sound
policy. He felt keenly the injustice done
the colored race by shutting them out
from industrial opportunities. He pos
sessed the courage of his conscience. In
his great industrial works at Newport
News he employed more than 5000 cOlored
workmen He demanded of his employees
skill and ability, and cared no more for the
color of their skin than for the cut of
their clothes. 1t was his declared policy to
give colored men employment whenever
and wherever they possessed the qualifica-
ton to perform the service required. This
same liberal policy toward colored labor
in West Virginia. He who affords the
negro industrial opportunities Is his true
friend well as he who gives of his SUBJ !
stance to found eleemosynary institutions
to relieve the miseries which cruel indus. .
trial discrimination creates In his will
Mr.. Huntington left 100000 to the Hamp-
ton Normal School, making his total con-
tributions to this institution about $4,000
He had given more than 100000 to TuS-
kegee, besides numerous smaller donations
to worthy enterprises for the benefit of the
colored race In actual contributions, he
stands one of the greatest philanthro-
pists who have given to the cause of negro
being surpassed by only two
three benefactors; but his disposition to
relieve the negro from his industrial thrall-
dom is beyond money and beyond price.
1t is no disparagement to the rest to say
that in this regard he has wrought more
excellently than they all. You see, then,
why the colored race, at least, cannot let !
pass unchallenged the statement that
Huntington left the world not one whit
better or the happier for his having lived
in it, KELLY MILLER.