The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-04-07

and put up the price of labor. we are
but trustees for our fellowmen and a mil
lion year is enough for us"
If Mr.. Carnegie had said that ten years
ago, he wouldn't be SO perplexed now
about giving away his money. He says 1t
is a sin for man to die rich, Ind as lie
is uncertain and death is sure, ne seems
to be in a hurry about getting rid OF MS
millions. The five millions he has settled
upon his aged and INDECENT laborers is a
benefao.ion that everybody commends.
The twenty-five millions that he has given
to the cities for public libraries is not
especially commended by anybody except
those who received it, 1t is about on
par with Roekefeller's twenty-five mil
lions to the great universities. Neither
gift reaches the masses of the people nor
alleviates the condition of the poor. George
Peabodys and Peter Coopers charities
were much more sensible and effectual.
George Mullers life work. who without
a dollar of capital to begin with, estap-
Iished orphanages in London until he had
over 1000 in charge when he died, ana
from year to year maintained and edu-
Gated them, was much grander charity
than giving millions to colleges and libra
ries. George Peabody's millions bullE
blocks of good comfortable tenement
houses for the laboring poor OF London,
houses that were furnished and equipped
with every comfort and every safeguard
for the health of the tenants. Besides
that, he left a large fund for the promo
ton 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
a story book But still we commend Mr..
Carnegie for his good intentions, and If
he had given two or three thousand dol
lars to Gainesville, l would have said,
mir. Carnegie, you are big-hearted
Scotchman, sir!" l hope they will elect
him mayor of New York.
The reason why the public praises Mr.
Carnegie so is because the public is sur
prised Such munificence is so uncommon
that it is unexpected. The gift is really
no act of generosity, for, as he says him.
self, it is a sin to keep it and die rich
He got all his millions from ne labor OF
the people, and now he is trying to pour
some of it backsin the Jug. That is right
and honorable for the ore was Gods ana
the labor was the toll of his lien. He
ought to pour it back and give some 10
the toilers whose sweat earned the mon
ey This is pure morality and common
sense. Every man has moral right, ana
if is his duty to make sufficient proht
from his labor to maintain himself ana
his family in comfort, and even in lux
ury, and also to lay up something for his
children and for old age and for the ac-
cidents of life; bus beycdd that his rights
under a Christian civilization do not 60
He then becomes a trustee for his fell
Iowmen who are in need. Not that he
should parcel out and distribute to each
one his share. for it cannot be done, put
he should make some investment that
would insure the greatest good to the
greatest number. Nevertheless, Mr.
Carnegie is scattering his money. He is
sowing wheat among the tares lie IS
giving largely to the wealthy cities VINO
can provide their own libraries. lie is
scattering his money; mean the surplus,
that has grown to be a burden He has
lust finished a million dollar mansion IN
New York and has another IN SCOTLAND
and a few millions in reserve Tor cCntlh-
gencies. We hope that these small holu-
ings will not interfere with his intention
to die poor. No, there is no peculiar
grace in the gifts of Carnegie or RocKe-
Teller They are a surprise, that's all
for not one in a hundred OF the mlllloh-
aires do such things. Most of them hold
on and pile it up for their children to
quarrel over. The Standard Oil Com
pany has just declared DIVIDEND Oh
twenty million for Rockefeller. he
crushed out and absorbed all competing
mills and still sells oil to the consumers
at Is cents per gallon. Cheap isn't II!
But he could sell it at 10 cents and make
a hundred per cent. 1t is the common
people, the masses, the toilets an the
moor who buy the oil, and every gallon
takes a nickle from them that ought not
10 be taken. God made the oil, ana man
gave the labor. Mr.. Rockefeller had DuC
little to do with it. Most of his millions
really belong to God and the laborers. IL
is no sufficient answer that ne mas en-
dowed a college. The children OF the Ia
borers are not in it. It's too far away ana
too high up.
These colossal fortunes are becoming
alarming. They endanger GOOD govern
ment, for it is still a fact that rlcnes
and virtue are rarely found combined.
Laws grind the poor and rlch men lnane
the laws graduated income tax "oulu
limit these great fortunes but aias' we
will never get it. 1t is too late, the OPP
portunity has passed, for rich men make
the laws. Millionaires control the United
States Senate and will resist any TAX 'he'C
limits or lessons their estates.
But it is wrong for US to envy the rlcn.
In the economy Of life and the pursuit
of happiness it seems necessary 10 nave
rich men. They build ships, railroads,
canals, telegraphs and telephones, COTTON
and wooden mills, reapers, mowers pour
mills and thousand other plants that
furnish us with food and clothing ana
add to the comfort of mankind Inc
world would make slow progress without
them, but when they begin to UNLOAD thelr
vast profits mankind will criticlze tne
manner of it, Generally they unload i
on their children, who never earned
dollar of it. Some of them Would carry
it all to heaven with them II they could.
Many of them give a part OF II 10 some
church or charity as kind OF passpsrt 70
heaven. An old friend of mine VINO was
pretty hard up borrowed s. from me one
morning to pay one Of these Darn niue
just debts. as he called them. He sald ms
creditor was annoying him, out before
he left my office a committee from lhe
country called and asked us 10 neip 70
build country church / gave them