The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-12
Nor MONEY BUT ABILITY

= . q Il st.st
At times we Americans are very near
to confessing that we are nation Of
money-grubb and dollar-chasers, But
some OF our foreign inspectors and crit
les understand us better than we under
stand ourselves. The outside point sof
view has its advantages. Mr.. Alex sahlin.
an Englishman, sees our apparent respect
for wealth in a light that does credit to
US. Mr.. sahlin is one Of those numerous
friendly visitors. critics or chrontciers
that Great Britain sends us in these days,
in marked contrast to the Sydney Smiths,
Dickenses, the Trollopes, ETC., of other
days. He was one Of a commission ap-
pointed by the British Iron Trade asso-
citation to inquire into the iron. steel and
allied industries OF the United States. In
the course. Of his report he says:
Il have often heard it enormously stated that
the Americans worship dollars This is not,
SO, because rich man as such is not greatly
esteemed. What the American adnires and
honors as the ability to do: that capacity in
9 man, through his: own sagacity, nerve, en-
terprise and skill to create and employ a
fortune. Nobody in America seems to feel
above <hds work br degraded by 1t. As It Is
man, esteemed by his feliowmen .and. such is
the place he will make for himself in his
community or In his country. Everybody
works, and works for the salce pf work: and
thus there has been produced in America in
the short space of one generation an indus
trial potentiality which is more wonderful and
more to be feared than the. works and plants
which these same workers have created. No
where is the struggling youth more kindly
a
erously aided, more gladly made place; for
than in America, and when Il say this speak
from personal experience and with gratitude
in my heart toward many of those busy and
keen, but also generous and broad-minded
| men of affairs. 4 So ~,
When we reflect that there are in
every community rich men-spoiled sons
of their fathers, sordid accumulators,
misers, shylocks-who haven't the respect
Of the poorest man In the town and are
not generally held to be worth a twen-
tieth part as much, money and all, to the
community as men who have not a cent,
but have some, human worth, we begin to
appreciate the accuracy Of Mr.. sehlin's s
view The public may be curious about an
Astor or, a Vanderbilt because it Is won
derful, after thousands Of years Of prac-
tice, that by the mere facttof being born
INTO the world a alperspn should come into
the possession sof Immense sums of money
which he does not and-can not earn.
But when you INDIA rich man who is
.adnired. who has thousands Of friends
and followers, the chances are thatshe is
a man Of ability, evenSof. genius. He is
admired not 50 much for his actual pos
session Of money as for the masterful
i qualities that have Won him money He
4 himselfzis mo money counter. He enjoys
his money, to be sure, and takes great
satisfaction in the added power it gives
him, but hisachief satisfaction in life is
i to be found in the exercise of the talent
or genius that made him rich, whether
/ it be invention, executive ability, fore
sight, general mental acuteness or ex-
traordinary energy s,
If Mr.. j. j. Hill had nothing on which
to base an appeal for popular admiration
except mere pile Of gold or a bale 81
bonds he might esteem himself a very
!. important person, but the public, beyond
the range Of those who benefited by dis
bursements of portions OF his fortune
would, If 1t had any feeling for him at
all, give him its contempt. But J. ]. Hill,
the builder Of transeontinental rail-
way; the cultiVator OF oriental trade, the
owner Of steamships, the railway econo-
1 mist, the man Of deep understanding OF
national business and political affairs, the
man who may to morrow originate q
4 scheme that will concern millions Of men
Is a. man who commands the admiration
! and arouses the interest and respect OF
the people. ...s