The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-04-11
CARNEGIE IS DOING GOOD.
Bill Arp Endorses the Great Steel
King and Makes Suggestions.

King and Makes SuRgeSC1oHs'
"Scale it, Mr.. Tricks, scale thes'
profits down per cent for The mex
fiscal year. The books show that W.
are getting too rich. Put down th'
price of steel rails and put up the price
of labor. We are but trustees for Ou
fellowmen and million year il
enough for u.s."
If Mr.. Carnegie had said that ter
years ago, he wouldn't be so perplexee
now about giving away his money. lie
says it is a sin for 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 indigent laborers is benefaction
that everybody commends. The
twenty-five millions that he has given
to the cities for public libraries is not
especially commended by anybody ex-
cept those who receive it. 1t is about
on q par with Rockefeller's twenty
Ave millions to the great universities.
Neither gift reaches the masses of the
people nor alleviates the condition of
the poor. George Peabudy's and Peter
Cooper's charities were much more
sensible and effectual. George Mullers'
life work, who without dollar Of
capital to begin with, established Or
phanages in London until he had over
1000 in charge when he died, and
from year to year maintained and edu-
cated them, was much grander
charity than giving millions to colleges
and libraries. George Peabody's mil
lions built blocks of good comfortable
tenement houses for the laborlng 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 promotion Of education in
the South. There are many charities
far more needed by the people than
giving them n chance to read free
books. The poor do not have time to
ready very much. A right hungry
man can 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,
l 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
MIR. Carnegie so is because the public
10 surprised. Such munifcence is so
uncommon that it is unexpected. The
gift is really no act of generosity, for,
as he says himself, il is sin to keep it
and die rich. He got all his millions
from the tabor Of the people, and now
he 10 trying to pour some of il 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 HIM
self and his family il comfort, and even
in luxury, and also to lay up something
tor his children and for old age and for
the accidents Of life; but beyond that
his rights under Christian civilization
DO not 40. He then becomes trustee
for his fellowmen 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 that would insure the
greatest good to the greatest number.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Carnegie is scatter
ing his money. He is sowing wheat
among the tares. He is giving largely
TO the wealthy cities who can provide
their own libraries. He is scattering
his money; l mean the surplus, that
has grown to b, burden. IIe has
just finished million dollar mansion
IN New York and has another in Scot
land, and few millions in reserve for
contingencies. We hope that these
small holdings will not interfere with
his intention to die poor. No, there
Is no peculiar grace in the gifts of Car
negie or Rockefeller. They are sur
prise, that's all, for not one in hun.
drod Of tho millionares do such things
Most OF them hold on and pile it up fol
their children to quarrel over. The
Standard Oil Company has just de,
clared dividend of twenty million iol
Rockefeller. He crushed out and ab
sorbed all competing mills and still
sells oil to the consumers at Is centt
per gallon. Cheap isn't it But ht
could sell it at 10 cents and make {
hundred per cent. 1t is the common
people, the masses, the toilers AMI tht
poor who buy the oil, and exery gallor
takes nickel from them that ough
not to be taken. God made the oil
and man gave the labor. Mr.. Rockc
Teller Ind but little to do with it. Mos
OF his millions really belong to Coz
and the laborers. 1t is no suflicien
answer that he has endowed college
The children of the laborers are not il
it. It's too far away and too high up
These colossal fortunes are becom
ing alarming. They cndanger goo
government, for it is still fact "tha
riches and virtue are rarely found com
bined." Laws grind the poor and ricl
mon make the laws. A graduated IN
come tax would limit these great TO,
tunes, but alas, We will never get il
1t is too late. The opportunity ha
passed, for rich mon make the laws
Millionaires control the United State
Senate and will resist any tax tha
4 limits or lessons their cstates.