The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-02-15

of February 8 quotes MI. Frederick
II. Gates as saying with authority that
a chief aim of this ,princely donation
| will be to spread education, Unto all
parts of the agricultural South" !"
And there you are. What are we going
to do about it, brethrenq
BY "we' | mean the denomina-
tional colleges. We are supposed to
stand for ideals; if not, we hardly
stand for anything at all. Ideals in
clude civic righteousness, regard for
law, and plain oldfashioned honesty.
! Now, | confess that the argument
against /"tainted mouey' has never
struck me with very great force; al
; most all money is tainted. But Mr..
Rockefeller's personality is unique,
and his personality is mixed up con-
spicuously with all OF his princcly
benefactions. A few months ago he
was reported as dodging. around
through the country in fear Of a home
spun constable with the badge Of the
law on his breast. Is this SO, or is it
just the yellow press7 IF it is so, what
made him dodgeq read Miss Tarbell's
interesting book, but then Mr. Rookie
feller's friends sent me bundles Of
gratuitous literature in which she was
called "the Tarbell woman' and his
character was absolutely vindicatcd.
Besides, DR.. Macarthur says he is all
right. What troubles me especially is
the latest issue Of my impartial Liter
ary Digest, which tells me that the In
ter-State commerce commission has
just laid before Congress "thc most
scathing arraignmcntofth Of the Standard s
methods s'-meaning, | suppose, MI.
Rockefeller s." that has yet appear
ed in any public document. We are
further informed that while this re-
port contains but one new charge, cit
is regarded by the pres as of great
Importance, since il is an official pres
entaticn and summing-up of evidence
taken under OATH" while the New
York Mail is reported as declaring
that it Includes indictments for "prac
tically every crime against the indivi-
dual and society at large except muir
der, arson, and mayhem. "
WhatNI want to know, then, is this
Can l say as they said at Yale,
"Brin. along your tanned money and
we will purify it with the Yale spir-
il, - or is this particular ease of put
ridity so foul rs to- corrupt the very
studentsq After all, is character more
important than culture, or may edu
cational facilities be purchased by the
barter Of ethical influcnce9 Does Mr..
Rockefeller's L" princely gift' come
close upon the heels Of the Interstate
commerce commissions repolt-as-
stounding the officers Of the general
education board by its suddenness-
for the reason he is willing to pit his
millions against justice to Influence
public opinion. or is he large-heart-
ed philanthropist who is sorry for his
sinsq If he is sorry for his sin ought
he not, like little Zacchues, to confess
hig guilt as Il law-brcaker before he
seeks to restore fom-fold9 TO pass
from the Publican to the Pharisee,
does the hand which casts reEomding
offerings into the treasury Of The
temple atone for the work Of the
other hand with Widows mites .and
with American beauty roses? Is he
trying to mould public opinion at its
source. that is in the matriX OF the
colleges: or is he really trying to be
Just as well as gcncrousq Is the Gcner
al education board the incorporated
alias Of John d. Rockefeller for the
distribution Of portion of his wealth,
while Standard Oil is the incorporated
alias at the either end Of the machine
busily accumulatingmore wealth by cv-
cry criminal means except murder,
arson and mayhcm9 In a word, may |
conscienti0usly accept his fnnds-if
can get them-for the upbuilding of
a college which conccivcs Of no higher
present duty to the young men Of the
South than the inculcation Of the sac
redncs.s Of the law7 Newberry College
is not one Of the $50 collegiate appli-
cants at the door of Mr.. Rockefeller
OF. Of the general education board, nor
has it ever been; but we feed money,
and need it badly. 1t is worth the