The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-10
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
Arp on Carnegie-Ap pplauds the millionaire
for the Good he is Doing
Ah-aia Constitution.

are getting tGo rich. Put down the
nrce of stccl rails and pot up tho price
of labor. We are but trustees for ON
f.,lowmen aud million year is
enough fer rs
fMr. Carnegie had said that ten
YEARS ago, he wouldn't be SO pcrplex-
ed now about giving away his money.
he says it is sin for a man to die
r;ch and as life is uncertain and death
;s sure he seems 10 be in a hurry
about getting rid Of his millions. The
I've millions he has settled upon his
AGED and INDECENT laborers is bene-
faction that everybody commends.
The twenty-five millions that he has
given to the cities for public Libraries
is not especially commended by any
! body except those who receivedit it. It
j, about on par with Rockefeller IS
twenty-five millions to the great uni
yersities. Neither gift reaches the
masses Of the people nor alleviate the
condition of the poor. George Pea
body's and Peter Cooper's charities
we're more sensible. and effectual.
George Mullers' life work, who, with.
out dollar Of capital to begin with,
established orphanages in London un-
i'll he had over 1900 in charge when
he died, and from year to year main.
tanned and educated them, was much
grander charity than giving millions
to colleges and libraries. George
Peabody's millions built blocks Of
good comfortable tenement houses for
the laboring poor Of London, houses
that we're furnished and equipped with
every comfort and every safeguard for
the health of the tenants. Besides
that, he left large fund for the pro-
motion of education in the South.
There are many charities far more
needed by the people than giving them
chance to read free books. The
poor do not have time to read very
much. A right hungry man can't
hardly get religion, much less enjoy
story book. But still we commend
Mr.. Carnegie for his good intentions,
and if he had given two or three
thousand dollars to Gainesville, I
would have said, "Mr. Carnegie, you
are big hearted Scotchman, sirr' l
hope they will elect him mayor of New
York.
The reason why the public praise
Mr.. Carnegie so is because the public
4 is surprised. Such muniicence is 80
uncommon that it is unexpected. The
gift is really no act Of generosity, for,
as he says himself, it is q sin.to keep
it and die rich. He got-all his mil
lions from the labor Of the people, and
now he is trying to pour some Of it
back in the jug. That is right aad
honorable for the ore was Gods and
the labor was the toll Of his men. He
oush. to posf IL back and give some
i 10 the toilers whose sweat earned
the money: There is pure morality
AID COMMON sense. Every man has o
moral right, and il is his duty to make
sufficient profit from his labor to main
tain himself and his family in COM
fort, and even in luxury, and also to
Jhy up something for his children and
aud for old age aud for the
accidents Of life; but beyond that his
nights under a Christian civilization
% not go. He then becomes trus-
zee for his fellovmen who are in need.
Not that he should parcel out and dis
tribute to each one his share, for it
cannot be done, but he should make
some Investment shat would insure the
Greatest good to the greatest number.
Aevertheless, Mr. Carnegie is scatter
ing his money. he is sowing wheat
among the tares. He is giving largely
70 the wealthy cities who can provide
their own Libraries. He is scattering
bis money; I mean the surplus, that
3Ms grown to be a burden. He has
4ust finished a million dollar mansion
10 New York and has another in Scot
5hnd, and afcw millions in reserve for
i contingencies. We hope that these
small holdings viii not interfere with
as Intention to die poor. No, shere
as as no peculiar grace in the gifts Of
carnegie or Rockefeller. They are
surprise, that's oil, for not one idra
hundred Of the millionaires do such
'aings. Most Of them hold on and
I Pile it up for their children to quar-
q ,ei over. The Standard Oil Company
0as just declared dividend Of twent,
nlllion for Rockefeller. he crushed
'a. and absorbed oil competing mill,
3 aud still selIa oil AZ fbas cona,,3oara :,