The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-07-12
CRUSADE AGAINST WEALTH.

The Chicago Chronicle, which may be
said to be the ultra-conservative paper OF
Chicago, deplores editorially the fact that
pulpit and press are devoting SO much
time to the very rich. The Chronicle
hints at socialism, anarchy and other dire
consequences if this is maintained and
imputes the whole to envy. We fear the
Chronicle is right in not prophesying that
the publicity will have any Christening
effect on the multi illionaire. We think |
the Chronicle unfair, however, in ascrip-
ing the present campaign Of education to
envy. We believe the American people
are in aremarkable degree free from envy
The rich have no Injuries that the COM
mon people do not enjoy to some extent
They may have their private cars, but
the average American can buy all the
Injuries of the private Car for reason
able sum and one which very many are
able to pay. The automobile is an ex-
pensive toy, but its enjoyment is not con-
fined TO the millionaire The average
well-to-do man may not be able to have
his private yacht, but he can, and does.
60 to the lake or the seas hore and enjoy
himself. The fact that comforts and lux :
uries are widespread takes away much of
the envy that might otherwise exist, or
which would exist if there was any hard
and fast line of caste. People are not SO
envious nor SO filed with malice toward
any class to which there is at least the
possibility that they may sometime bs-
long. 1t is this hope and this very lack
of envy that has made the people tolerate
the methods of High finance" long as
they have.
The attacks upon the very wealthy
class have deeper foundation than envy C,
hatred. In the FIRST place the people have
discovered that the wealthy men of the
country are not law-abiding, 1t was sup
posed that lawles=ness was confined to tn,
poor and the unfortunate and the ignoran
The people have found that the wealth,
class has attained its wealth largel,
through disregard for the laws of tn
country. The crimes of the poor may b
grosser in their character, but the crime
of the rich are more far-reaching in thei
consequences. me crime of the poo
man is usually on small scale. it affect
the immediate victim only, the crime c
the rich paralyses whole industries an
affects thousands of people Aswe view
the people are not demanding too muc
of the miilionaires. They are askin
them to o-ey the laws of the country.
that too much to ask They are askin
thai the millions be honestly acquired
Is that impertinent or socialistic? The
are asking that the courts shall protect til
rights of rich and poor alike. Does tb
smack of anarchy3 They are studyin
the source of great wealth realizing, pc
hap, too late, the immense power tn;
great wealth gives and asking in all Sc
iousness if this great power, in the hane
of few, is not menace to the Republic
The fact that some men use their veal
wisely and well is no more an answer
the question than was the fact that son
slav re well-treated an argume
against emancipation. We do not THU
the tendency of the Nation is so an
archi tic as the Chronicle would have
think. we do not think there Is any desi
that the wealthy should be forced
'd,vi e up with the rest of u.s. The
SC demand for general honesty and r
gard for aw that The very rich cam
afford to pass nheeded.
Tue John j. Walsh Farm for Sale.