The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-08-27

nothing away. He would laugh at the
mere suggestion that 1t is his duty to
give away money, or that he holds
his money In trust for the people or
for society at large. What ne would
cry, My money is mine! I made 1t,
or I inherited 1t. II is mine, mine. my
very own! To do with as like.' And
everybody would agree with him. No
one in Europe would suggest that
millions entail a duty to society. Yet
here such q notion Is quite prevalent.
It is even put forth gravely by mil
lionaires themselves. Mr.. Carnegie
expounded to me this very theory.
which to European sounds SO ex-
traordinary, that the community at
large has an absolute right to share
in a mans millions-that he is mere
ly a trustee of his wealth.
In Europe, as said, millionaires
do not give away their money. At
least not while they are alive. When
they die they may have trifiing sum
to charity: and the general public
will exclaim: How generous!' In
England this Is not SO much SO as on
the continent, for the British aristoc-
racy, whose wealth Is largely inner
tied from long generations, has always
been taught and has always recog-
nized that 1t has certain duties to So
ciety at large. This is not SO on the
continent. ! can think of only one
millionaire in Europe who is public
spirited in his munificence. and this
one is the French Baron Rothschild
In America your millionaires give
away vast sums, but do not believe
that even they give altogether because
they love giving. No millionaire
likes to give up his money!"
A broad. quizzical laugh put the ex-
clamation point at the close of this
sentence.
The Fundamental Difference.
But! Although your millionaires
are restrained In SO many ways. you
allow them to do some things which
We would never allow them to do in
Europe. You allow them to found uni
yersities! You allow them to devote
their millions to founding and support
ing vast establishments In which the
youth of the nation is to acquire its
ideals. II the millionaires themselves
cannot teach the rising generation the
ideals they would like them to ac-
qiure, they can at least select the men
who are to teach them. May there
not be some method In this kind OF
giving?"
"Why do you say that millionaire
could not found university In Eu.
roper" asked the writer.
THE state would not allow it,"
came the reply. like shot from a rapid.
fire gun. II a millionaire started to
do anything of that sort the state
would instantly step in and say to
him: No. my dear sir: do what you
like with your money. but leave the
training OF our youth to me. !. the
state. have charge of that. 1t is for
me alone to say how the young men
and women are to be brought up.
will place before them the ideals that
think they should have ! viii allow
Of no interference on your part Such
an institution as Chicago university
is unimaginable In any country OF Eu
rope. II would not be tolerated for
one moment. II is a beautiful place
was glad to lecture there, but ! could
! not help thinking what peril to
America 1t might become. what sin
lister possibilities are latent within 1t
Mr.. Rockefeller, understand. does
not interfere at all In the manage
ment Of that university; he does moi
dictate the professors who shall lee
| ture there nor the curriculum thai
shall be followed; and from what
have been able to learn 70 him ! dem
think he ever Will. But some success
sor to his millions might choose Il
/! WELD the power which Mr. Rockefei
Ter has thus far let alone. Think O
| the power such a man would have il
he wanted to exercise IL, Think o.
the ideals that might be set before til,
youth OF America by an unscrupuiou.
millionaire controlling a uniyersit,
through his donations. II is too grca
4 power to be permitted to any man
and am amazed that in America