The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-04-04
Applauds the Millionaire for the Coco
lie Is Doing.
He MAKES SOME SUGGESTIONS.
Says the Great Steel King Could
Reach the Masses in a Better Way
Than by Libraries.

the price or steel rails and put up che
price of labor. We are but trustees
for our fellowmen and million 4
year IS enough for u.s..
II MIR. Carnegie had said that ten
years ago, he wouldn't be so perple1:-
ed now about giving away his money.
He says it is sin for man to die
rich. and as life is uncertain and death
is sure, he seems to be in a hurry
about getting rid of his millions. The
five millions he has settled upon dis
aged and INDECENT laborers is bene-
faction that everybody commends.
The twenty-five millions he has given
TO the cities for public libraries is not
especially commended by anybody eX-
cept those who received 1t. 1t s
about on a par with Rockefeller S
twenty-five millions to the great uni
versitics. Neither gift reaches the
masses Of the people nor alleviate the
condition of the poor. George Pea
body's and Peter Cooper's charities
were more sensible and effectual.
George Muller's life work, who without
& dollar of capital to begin with, es-
tablished orphanages in London until
lie had over $4,000 in charge when he
died and from year to year maintain
ed, and educated them, was a much
grander charity than giving millions
20 colleges and libraries. George Pea
body's millions built blocks Of good
comfortable tenement houses for the
laboring poor of London, houses thai
were furnished and equipped with ey-
cry 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 hardly get re-
ligion, much less enjoy story book.
But still we commend Mr.. Carnegie for
his good intentions, and II he had CIV
en- two or three thousand dollars 10
Gainesville. | would have said. Mr..
Carnegie, you are big-hearted
Scotchman, sir!" l hope they will
elect him mayor of New York.
The reason why the public praise
Mr.. Carnegie so is because the public
Is surprised. Such munificence is so
uncommon that it is unexpected. The
gift is really no act of generosity for
as he says himself it Is sin to keep
it and die rich. He got all his millions
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 toll
ers whose sweat earned the money.
This is pure moraity and common
sense. Every man has moral right,
and it is his duty to make sufficient
profit to maintain himself and family
in comfort, and even in luxury, and al
so to lay up something for his children
and for old age and for the accidents
II life; but beyond that his rights un-
Ter a Christian civilization do not go.
He then becomes a trustee for his fell
lowmen who are in need. Not that he
should parcel out and deliver to each
one his share, for it cannot be done,
but 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.
He Is giving largely to the wealthy Cit
les who can provide their own libra
ries. He is scattering his money; I
mean the surplus, that has grown to
be a burden. He has just finished
million dollar mansion in New York
and has another in Scotland, and few
millions in reserve for contingencies.
We hope that these small holdings Will
not interfere with his intentions to
die poor No, there is no peculiar
grace in the gifts Of Carnegie or
Rockefeller. They are a surprise,
that's all, for not one in a hundred or
t1., millionaires do such things. Most
of them hold on and pile it up for their
children to quarrel over. The Stand-
ard Oil Company has just declared
dividend Of twenty millions tof
Rockefeller. he cTuSHeu ouI ouu -"
sorbed all competing mills ard still
sells oil to the consumers at Is cents
per gallon. Cheap. isn't it? But lie
could sell it at 10 cents and make
hundred per cent. It is the common
people. the masses. the toilers and the
poor who buy the oil. and every gallon
takes a nickle from them that ought
not to be taken. God made the OIL
and gave the labor. Mr.. Rockefeller
had but little to do with it. Most 0!
his millions really belong to God
and the laborers. 1t is no sufficient
answer that he has endowed a college.
The children Of the laborers are not IN
it. It's too far ayay and too high uo.
These colossal fortunes are becom-