The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-04-11
BILL ARP'S LETTER
Millionaire Carnegie Praised For
Works of Philanthropy.
WILLIAM OFFERS SOME SUGGESTIONS.
Says Great Steel Magnet Could Reach the
Masses in n Better Way Than
BY Libraries,

PlOuIo uOHu y per CeuJ IOE lue next
fiscal year. The books show that we
are getting too rich. Put down the
price of steel rails and put up the price
of labor. We are but trustees for our
fellowmen and a million a year is
enough for u.s."
If Mr.. Carnegie had said that ten
years ago, he wouldn't be so perplexed
now about giving away his money.
He says it is a sin for a man to die
rich, and as life is uncertain and death
is sure, he seems TO be in hurry
about getting rid of his millions. The
five 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
lis not especially commended by any
I body except those who received it. 1t
is about on a par with Rockefeller's
twenty-five millions to the great uni
versities. Neither gift reaches the
masses of the people nor alleviates the
condition of the poor. George Pea
body's and Peter Cooper's charities
were much more sensible and effectual.
George Muller's life work, who, With
out dollar of capital to begin with,
established orphanages in London I'M
til he had ovur 2, 900 in charge when he
died, and from year to year maintain
ed 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 Lon
don, houses that were furnished and
equipped with every comfort and
every safeguard for the health of the
tenants. Besides that, he left large
fund for the promotion of education in
the south. There are many charities
far more needed by the people than
giving them a 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 q story book. But still we com
mend Mr.. Carnegie for his good in
tentions, and if he had given two or
three thousand dollars to Gainesville,
would have said, "Mr. Carnegie,
you are big-hearted Scotchman,
sir!" hope they will elect him mayor
of New York.
The reason why the public praises
Mr.. Carnegie so is because the public
is surprised. Such muniicence is so
uncommon that it is unexpected. The
r gift is really no act of generosity, for,
as he says himself, it is a 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
and honorable, for the ore was Gods
and the labor was the toll of his men.
He ought to pour it back and give
some to the toilers whose sweat earned
the money. This is pure morality and
common sense.
Every man has moral right, and it
is his duty to make sufficient profit
from his labor to maintain himself and
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 accidents of life; but beyond that
his rights under a Christian civiliZa-
ton do not go. He then becomes a
trustee for his fellowmen who are in
need. Not that he should parcel out
and distribute to each one his share,
tor it cannot be done, but he should
make some investment that would in
sure the greatest good to the greatest
number. Nevertheless, Mr.. Carnegie
As scattering his money. He is SOW
ing wheat among the tares. He is
giving largely to the wealthy cities
who can provide their own libraries.
He is scattering his money; mean the
surplus, that has grown to be bur,
den. He has just finished a million
+. dollar mansion in New York and has
another in Scotland, and a few millions
in reserve for contingencies. We hope
that these small holdings will not in
terfere with his intention to die poor.
No, there is no peculiar grace in the
gifts of Carnegie or Rockefeller. They
are surprise, that's all, for not one IL
n hundred of the millionaires do sucl
things. Most of them hold on anC
pile it up for their children to quarre
over. The Standard Oil Company has
lust declared a dividend OF twenty
million for Rockefeller. He crushed
out and absorbed all competing mills
and still sells oil to the consumers a
Is cents per gallon, Cheap, isn't 1t
But he could sell it at 10 cents ant
make a hundred per cent 1t is thu
common people, the masses, the toll
ers and the poor who buy the oil, ant
every gallon takes nickel from then
that ought not to be taken. God mad
the oil, and man gave the labor. Mr.
Rockefeller had but little to do with 1t
Most of his millions really belong #
God and the laborers. It is no suff
cient answer that he has endowed {
college. The children of the laborer'
are not in it. It's too far away anC
too high up.
These colossal fortunes are becom
ing alarming. They endanger gooc