The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-11

lcontented. In his actual business rela-
tons be Is much more apt 10 benefit
Ithan harm the rest of us: and though if
rs enrmently right TO take whatever
IstepS are necessary in order to preyelt
the exceptional members of his class
from doing harm. it is wicked folly to
llet ourselves be drawn into any attack
upon the man of wealth merely as
lsuch. Moreover, such an attack is in
Itself an exceptionally crooked ard
iugly tribute TO wealth, and therefore
the proof Of an exceptionally ugly and
rooKed stare Of mind in the man max
ling the attack. yenolnous envy OF
wealth is simply another form of the
spirit, which in one of its manifesto
ltions takes the shape of crfnsing SER
witty toward wealth. and in another
the shape Of brutal on the
part OF certain men of wealth. Each
zone OF these states of mind, whether it
lbe hatred, servility, or is
IN reality closely akin to the other two:
lfor each of them springs from a fau-
ltastically twisted and exaggerated idea
iCf the Importance of wealth as com
pared to other things. The clamor Of
/ the demagogue against wealth, tile
oboDOSIs VI lit SOtIdI c0iuIiIIlS OF TIE
newspapers which deal with tie doipss
lof the wealthy, and the misconduct Of
Those men Of wealth who act with bru-
ital disregard Of the rights of others,
lseem specifically to have no funda-
mental relation; yet in reality they
ispring from shortcomings which are
Fundamentally the same: and one Of
these shortcomings is the failure to
lhaye proper ideals.
| This failure must be remedied in
large part by the actions of you and
your fellow-teacners, your fellow-edl-
GATORS throughout this land. BY your
lives, no less than by your teachings,
lyOu show that while you regard wealth
as a good thing, o regard oUtier
things as still better. 1t is absolutely
necessary TO earn Il certain amount of
money: 1t is Il mans first duty to those
dependent upon him to earn enough
flor their support: but after Il certain
lpOint has been reached mOney-makinS
lean never stand OF the same plane
with other and nObier forms of effort.
The roll of American worthless numbers
men like Washington and Lincoln,
IGrant and F%arraSut, Hawthorne and
Poe, Fulton and Morse, st. Gaudens
land MacMOnnies; it numbers states
linen and soldiers, men of letters, art
lists, sculptors, men of science, invent
lors, explorers, rOadmakers, bridge
builders, philanthropists, moral lead
Iers in great refnrms; it numbers men
who have deserved we'll in any one Of
countless fields Of activity: but of rich
linen it numbers only those who have
used their riches Alright, who have
treated wealth, nOt as an end but as 4
means, who have shown good conduct
in acquiring it and not merely lavish
generosity i'll disp0sing Of it.
| Thrice fortunate are you to whom It
lis given to lead lives of resolute en-
ldeavOr for the achievement of lofty
lidals, and, furthermore. to inStill, both
by your lives and by your teachings.
these ideals into the minds of those
lWhO in the next generation will, is the
men and women of that generation, de-
ltermine the position which this nation
VIII hold in the history Of mankind.
1t had been the Presidents intention
Ito make another address outside the
auditorium, but his time was so short
he could stop only long enough On the
ocean driveway TO greet the crowd
(which had assembled and to express
)his pleasure at the reception accorded
Ito him. He left Immediately for Oys-
tier Paw.