Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-02

wealth who accomplish great things. bu
as a rule they are the exceptions, and wher
they are intrusted with power are usefu
and safe in the exercise of 1t only In SO raj
as they receive education in practical con-
duct of practical affairs. Mere culture is OF
no benefit unless you have been strength
ened by severe efforts in its acquisition
There is way to learn how to make
proper use of power except by studying IN
the great library of actual life and by close
contact with the mass of humanity engaged
in the struggle for subsistence and adj
vaneement.
But all young men of ability, whether
favored by fortune or not, owe 1t both
to themselves and the nation to give atten-
ton to public affairs, to keep themselves
in touch with things, to be in constant
preparation for public life IL the oppor-
tunity or necessity comes to them.
Everybody knows there Is large num-
Der of such young men in the great bust
ness and Industrial centers who give nc
attention. very little, TO public affairs
The manufacturing. the commercial or
financial operations, the contracting or
transportation enterprises which they take
up give them so much better financial re-
turns than public life would yield, that
they lose sight altogether of the govern
ment upon whose proper conduct their
success In their various callings and en-
terprises depends-upon which, in fact,
the very chance to enter those callings and
carry on those enterprises rests, and whose
chances in life.
Now, we can't prevent the evolution of
such conditions in this or any other civil
lied country. But these people, thus COM
pietely absorbed in their callings and en-
terprises, whose standpoint of self-interest
now prevents them from giving attention
to public affairs, will surely be forced more
ard more to broaden their culture-thor-
ough knowledge Of public affairs is as
necessary to truly broad culture as any
other sort of knowledge-as well as their
patriotism.
Il fancy that many Of them are now do
ing so. They must II they are to hold
part they must give attention to other
things besides their own personal affairs.
and they must see that the banker can
not seifishly devote himself wholly to his
bank; that the manufacturer must give
some attention to other things besides HIS
factory: that the railroad president must
interest himself In few other things be-
sides the problems OF transportation.
II don't say that the people should give,
give, giveIt won't do for them to try 20
meet the situation merely by being char
table with their money. Giving only graf
flies the gfver and as general rule pau
perizes the people who receive. The multi
millionaire OF today must give more than
his money. He must give some OF his
time, his attention and his thought to Other
and more important things than personal
money getting or the spending OF II in
spectacular way.
1.-The human animal accemplishes only
as he works under the pressure Of neces-
sity. The extensive development OF ..e
United States In the last half century has
kept the people SO busy In various indus-
tries, speculation and enterprises, In order
to do their part in this development that
many OF them have neglected their duties
as citizens, or perhaps should say as CO.
sovereigns In the government OF the great
empire that has been built up by their er-
forts, In which all men are equal at tho
ballot box. without regard to their MAIZE
rial wealth or want Of It.
Dangers and Their Remedy.
81 myself am acquainted with many men
who. merely because Of lucky location,
though only OF respectable ability. have <ct
at the gateway of commerce ana by sim
ply levyins toll have accumulated great
fortunes. In all their lives they have never
got into touch with public life: they knew
them no attention. These men. when
pinched by the unwise action of the ma
tority OF their fellows, are able to do little
except cover the latter with abuse
Sometimes, however such men try to
enter public life themselves. But then the
people do not always acknowledge their fit
ness for public position. Sometimes thsy
seek protection Tor their interests by Inn
proper methods, instead OF trying to con-
tribute their share In building up Wise
public sentiment.
ct goes without saying that the most
dangerous men la the republic are those
who by inheritance or otherwise have vast
fortunes, yieading great fncomes, which en-