The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-10-27

the North, . very wealthy man who
had grown rich by Dishonest meth
DDS Use . reception to which he
invited scores upon scores Of dis
men, 6nanciers, law
gers, judges Of the court and busi-
ness men Of prominsnse. A few
OF those who received the invita-.
ton declined il in courteous terms,
but II 10 doubtful whether auy Of
them stated plainly That they could
not associate with o man who had
nothing to recommend him 10 their
friendship except Vie CREST fortune
he had acquired BY HE dishonesty.
Financiers who wo1ld moi trust
him in spite Of his wealth unless
he were put under bond: lawyers
who knew that he ought to b in
jail, and judges Of the court who
had Official knowledge Of the dsvi.
ous ways by which he had scquir-
cd his wealth, hastened 10 do him
reverence. They 81 at the sane
board with him, and @ faf ~ they
could gave him social standing BY
their presence
II WAS . brilliant gathering Of
the wealth, the culture. The learn
ing snd the high morality Of the
oomnunity, assembled to honor .
man devoid Of ell these qualities
except wealth alone. Yet he might
have been entitled 10 the distinc.
tion accorded him II his wealth had
been. acquired honestly, through
hard labor, enterprise and Wise in.
vestments, such q have laid the
foundation for many American
fortunes He had the wealth which
is the symbol of success. and the
symbol alone was Recognised by
The crowd OF worshipers. There
was probably not man present
who did not know that the founda-
ton Of the great fortune 90 lavish
~ displayed in the house furniture
and decorations had been laid with
money successfully stolen from the
public funds; that this money, be-
ipg invested in semi-public enter
prisss and used to corrupt public
men had been employed 10 create
. menopoly by which vast sums Of
money vare extorted from the very
poor, and that when millions had
been accumulated the force Of the
u,cnsy power had made it still
moro productive. The man had
achieved success. He was shrewd.
no doubt bat he was also unscru-
pnloua. Very little Of his great
fortune had been fairly earned; the
greater part of II was stained by
acts Of dishonesty ranging from
actual theft Of public funds tobrib-
cry Of lsgislatorA And now thia
wealth ives 10 purchase 1oe him the
homage Of nominaIly honest men
and social distinction.
Adosen yeafs ego The venerable
judge would have willingly sent Ia
the psnitsntiary the man whom be
now salutsd 50 friend He did
nol hrget the past bit over It oil
Ne spread the glamour Of millions
Of dollars What did the nominal.
~ housst men think Of themselves
- they retire from the scence Of
festivities7 They must have fell
humilistsd and IN . measure acces'
SORES aftsr the TACT They were
helping him to cover mp hi
crimsa There are very few among
usFvhos 70 nOt % so4sthing Of
the same Kind in the course Of ouI
lives-pot often with offenders d
this magnitude but nevertheless
witho6enderA II thedishouestmaI
il poor, ws .shun him; If he is ricl
we greet him politely. ct least, snt
if he is very rich, wssare glad ID
accept his, limitations and appear
in hin company.
There might be some merit il
standing bys poor thief and help
ing him get on his feet, but Their
is none Whatever in such worship
of riches as breaks down all dis
tinction between the man who ha'
acouired his fortune honestly an(