The Red Cloud chief., 1901-06-21
THE GOSPEL OF WEALTH.
IT'S Teachings Are Neither Eievsting
Nor neHnina.

on the evening OF May 3 Mr.. Charles
NJ. schwab. president OF the United states
steel corporation. made an address be-
fore some two hundred boys at a trade
school In New York. on this occasion Mr..
schwab pointed to himself as an example
OF the rewards Of right living. lie had
risen from Office BOY to be the recipient
Of the largest salary ever given by a cor
poration. Oils salary this year Is $500
DO) He said that a college education
was a burdcnsome drawback to n man
who looked for such success. Not many
days before this Mr.. John ID. Rockefeller.
president OF the Standard OIL company.
spoke to a Bible class OF young men. lilo
declared, among other things, that the
chief pleasure he obtained from his
wealth was the opportunity II afforded OF
charitable giving, and the power OF maxi
ing employment for some IO.OW men.
Last year Mr.. Andrew Carnegie published
a book, entitled 'The Gospel Of Wealth."
In which he set forth tho vast capabili-
ties OF the rich man to serve the public
bcnencentiy. Later Mr.. Carnegie reused
the enthusiasm Of the country by offering
several millions Of dollars to various
| cities for free libraries. and to this mu-
| nincence we have given our own tribute
OF praise.
what IL the effect on the. public of this
"Gospel OF Wealth." What In the fn-S
nucnce OF these men OF vast fortunes who.
on several occasions, have stood forth rs
examples of the success due to right Nv
ing?
We pass by the means OF obtaining this
wealth, and assume for the present that
the efforts OF the steel corporation AMI
the standard OH company to destroy com
petition have always been within the rules
- l,los .al honorable dealing Wa ua-
sumo that economically Mr.. Schwab tui-
fills an Office IN tho community equivalent
To this annual $500. 900; that In possible.
We PASS over the ~ili-taste displayed by "A
gentleman who speaks OF giving employ
ment to 10000 men as IL he were as
pensing charity, when by directing tue
labor OF these men he draws an income
of some twelve or sixteen millions every
year. We do not scru,inize the honor OF
a gentleman who. with such an income.
pays taxes on Si00. 900 IN personal, prop
, erty. We do not stop to judge tho pen
evidence of n gentleman who. from the
wealth OF nearly half IA billion, gives let
,s say. a fcw millions annually we do
, not stop to judge such benevolence by the
q outworn teachings OF christ, who said OF
n certain poor widow that her giving was
greater than that of the rich, TOR MI they
did cast In of their abundance: but she
of her want did cast In all that she
had" We are not now concerned to di3-
tinguish between the legitimate ana inc
Ulegitinatc accumulation OF riches, or be-
> tween the proper and the improper en-
4 ploymcnt of such riches. This Ia another
l question, and may be considered another
time.
a But we ask again. What IL the enect
l on the public of this Gospel of wealth.
i and what IL the general influence OF
these gentlemen who do not refuse to
: stand before Bible classes and trade
! schools AZ examples of right living.
e We confess that In our mind there can
be but one answer. This influence tends
y strongly to degrade the common morals.
Let them amass their wealth: let Them ep-
10y all the material good this earth per-
mlts; let them exert thsir power for veal
" or for wo In the markets OF tho world;
y but In the name OF all that Is good ana
&c precious TO the human heart and imagi-
y nation, let them not be set up before our
y young men az the great models OF conduct
. to be initiated. Our young men are eager
~ enough for power and wealth. they know
- the path that leads to power and wealth.
,, and II they loiter and fall In that path 1t
|. Is because they are lacking In Will or
Intelligence. Certainly the example OF Mr..
- Carnegie ana MT. SCnWuD anu WI NoCNe
le Teller IL not needed to direct their eycl
to that path.
:. II IL a pitiable thing that n life which
- sacrifices all the sweeter and humber and
N more retiring qualities to the exactions OF
. such an aim should be held up as the 81.
!, preme standard for the youth OF tho ma
ton To follow. When the republic was
founded, IL one had asked who were oui
"a great and enviable men. he would have
been told the names of our noblest states
men. Washington Hamilton and Jeifer'
son. In the middle Of the century II one
had asked such a question he would prob
,e ably have been directed to our chief poets
H. and philosophers, Emerson. Lowell anc
Longfellow. To-day are we to point onl,
to these masters Of money? Shall W.
III have no great men but Mr.. Carnegie AM
Mr.. schwab and Mr.. Rockefeller?
We repeat that WI have row no quar-
ts rel with the wealth OF these gentlemen
which In the field of economics may hay'
n It's justihcation; we do not now question
tie the means of accommodating this wealth
but we maintain that as guides and In
spirers of youth they are pernicious. the.
are a public offense, an humiliation to tn
ed country. There has been wealth In tn
land before now, but the riches OF thes
men is 81 colossal as to obtain an entire
SO ly new force. II acts with hypnotic efec
he on the Imagination. It benumbs the sense
and In Its vast glitter the eyes are blinde
e. to all the simpler and purer attainment
ell OF life. What In comparison with thi
on goading ambition Is moderate taste, o
let the 10Y OF n serene imagination. or tn
u untroubled fruits OF content? Who vii
seek happiness IN the unrewarded sacri
- fees OF art. or who that feels the stirring
OF energy within him Will seek to behol
"the bright countenance OF truth IN th
quiet and still air OF delightful studies.
when tho mind has succumbed to tn
hypnotlsm OF these overbiown fortune
We are stricken down by these men wit
"A delirium of material drunkenness. an
they allow US no escape from its fascins
iinn Lot M hn naiit Of ihIa cant l..