The Irish standard., 1905-08-19
TRUST CONTROL
Hon. S. N. Hawkins, Of New
Richmond, Contributes
Another Communication on
This Important Subject.

Wis, concludes with the following let
ter upon "Trust Control:
TO the Editor of the Irish Standard:
Yes, see hopeful signs. When the
press of the country is no longer afraid
to publish the conviction of Senator
Mitchell, the shame and disgrace of a
Senator Depew, and many similar in
stances, and hold them up, as they
should, as a severe warning to the rls-
ing generation, it is most certainly
hopeful awakening. President Van
Hise of the Wisconsin university ut.
tered, no doubt, truthful sentiments at
the exercises in Madison recently,
which, if spoken ten years ago, might,
and no doubt would, have cost him his
position.
select only few out of the many
good things that he said on that i'm
portant occasion. In addressing the
graduates President Van Hise spoke In
part as follows:
American liberty in unscrupulous
hands, strengthened to giant power by
century to take from the weaker
large part of that which remains to
them. The power and cupidity of the
barons of the Rhine who levied toll
upon those who went up and down the
waters of that trunk channel of COM
merce were as nothing compared with
the power of the modern plutocrats
who levy tribute upon the nation.
@'Do not misunderstood me. do not
ASSERT do not believe-that all or
nearly all of the considerable and large
fortunes have been acquired illegiti-
mately, but l do believe that many
have been thus gained, and l say to
you, if the economic tendencies of the
past few years continue in this nation,
we shall not have mikado held in his
place by the reverence of the people,
but an ascendent plutocracy with
greater powers"
President Van Hise continued in his
address to the graduates along the
same lines as in the above excerpt and
closed with the following solemn warn
ing:
Young men and women, during the
half of the twentieth century when you
are to play your part in the world, this
is the great problem which you are to
assist in solving.
-"Now arises the crucial test, whick
decides whether you ought to be hon
cred through the centuries to come or
ought TO be despised as an migrate,
even though you accumulate a gigantic
fortune and become an object of envy
I'd those swayed by similar motives.
May you, when such a question first
arises, decide TO be Il patriot, for such
a decision will be a mighty step to-
ward similar decisions in the future.
Decisions in favor of the state do not
make less possible personal success;
for / believe the larger good is con-
sistent with the highest personal pros
perity."
And so I say it is Il hopeful sign
when we hear and read such noble
sentiments uttered by one of our emil
nent educators.
All the same meeting was another
eminent gentleman, who appears to
Sove his adopted country better than
me loves the perishable gold. | refer
to the Hon. Carl Schurz, and submit a
few selections from his address on
thai same occasion at Madison, Wis.
She Hon. Carl SchurZ spoke in part as
gollows:
One of the most striking features
sof this period is the inordinate pursuit
and the unscrupulous use Of wealth,
and the worship of success as such.
Never has the use of wealth in the
promotion of selfsh-and sometimes
ubiquitous ends been more unprinci-
pled, crafty and daring.
1'What have the universities to do
with this? Are they constantly to
yneddle with current events in politics
or in the social or the business world?
Gertainly not But they can firmly i'm
plant in those under their care the
principles which are to guide their
conduct, the ideals which are to in
:spire their endeavors, and the points
.aof view from which to estimate the
values of things in human life.
<'When wealth unfairly acquired or
unfairly used is more generally regard
ed and treated in society as a mark
of dishonorable distinction, business
men will more generally take greater
pride in their reputation for honesty
than in the size of their profits, and
satisfy themselves that they will be
happier leaving behind them an un-
tainted name than ever so many taint-
ed millions. Such a public sentiment
will finally be apt to enforce that
much-wanted equal justice which will
keep the penitentiaries equally open
TO all the equally deserving whether
they be rich or poor, high or low
friends or strangers"
When we read of such notable gath
er1ngs and listen to such outspoken
sentiments we feel considerably en-
couraged, but it should be remembered
L. ~