The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-05
GIVING AWAY MONEY.
When Does tho Personal Pleasure ia
Philanthropy Cease

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Sh: Men
who give away money have lots OF trouble
suitIng the public. II they got their money
honestly II is not the public's business how
they give It. Only In case the public has
been robbed OF the money given away has
II right to criticize.
In your paper OF to-day Theory Of Resti-
tutor" Is tentatively advanced by y. L. s.
IN which he asks: lis It not possible that
while the accumulation OF huge personal
fortunes may cause suffering to
many In the making. they are likely to cause
more good In the course OF the general evolu-
ton Of things In this country than If the
money composing them had been allowed
e remain divided between many pcrsons;"
While there is q force for general good In
centralized capital that should allay all envy
and spite toward the honestly rich. 1t does
not always follow that the divided sums
would not be just as effectively and moro
appropriately centralized. to greater resulting
good. had they not been unfairly absorbed
by individuals. The taxpaying capacity
OF the State depends largely upon the cost
OF living and Of doing business therein, II
through unfair means an astute individual
or corporation succeeds In wrestling a colossal
fortune from the people by raising the cost
of living and conducting business, he or 1t has
usurped and displaced the functions OF the
State by levying tax; and. even though
he gives away chunks Of his fortune In en-.
dowments to educa ton or hospital service
Or public charity. he is still psurping. the
With ifS' its subdivisions. for instance. is the
greatest creator of and wisest giver to sys-
TENS Of education and public charity that
in those fields. Would an outsider who had
ssHs eyed be apt DO better the peops
with the money than the State whose policy
the whole people, diStatteyh :, l., teal, ho,o,
able. The world accepts 1t as a justifabls
rule Of trade Unless in 80 doing dealrr
wh an the nh Of ohe s
world justif1es his acts. Some people as
sumo that great fortunes are never made
viii say. for instance, that the late Peter
Cooper. either by bribery deceit or treachery
ssntes IN aeaans lis q large for
lie founded. and endowed an educational
Of great benefit TO pe eSEae of small
his own SE s. right and his motives wereioity
the Es"d plSpepty t sd e
the Steel Trust may be come by honestly.
There is side to The Sueston not t2ush hed
b he sa money Si
10 yh 9sn hss e scar na
for for ii! cher education. Not unless the state
hEhe! taxes But the evsss giving 1 Of sv the
IN one drection some in ap Rf \; tn.
sion. Our greatest eiver is Mr.. Carnegie:
How he does, shovel it! For his own delight
without deprvlng any other man of his rights.
and, II he did its his right 70 say whether sihn
It shall be librsrle. Or sny other ht ola thing
/ wonder how a man feels when giving
away SIC. ZOO, 900 Just as he wants 70. II
inR BY the very little the writer ever gave
away. he would gradually reach IT the ooo very
height Of ecstasy by the time s2 600. GOO was
psnsion of deli ght-hence, life would no
longer be worth living. So, even at the risk
Of it's going into libraries i think ! would
have to forward the other 81, ooo. 900 TO Mr..
Carnegie and ask him TO help me out no
being tough and inur ed 70 the strain.
New YORK. July 3. HARK CoMsrock.