The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1909-08-27

nothing away. He would laugh At the
mere suggestion that II 10 his cuty TO
give away money. or that he holds
his money In trust for the people or
for society at large. What he would
cry. My money Ia mine! made II,
or l inherited II. 1t is mine, mine. my
very own! To do with as l like!' And
everybody would agree with him. No
n in Europe would suggest that
millions entail a duty to society. Yet
here such a notion Ia quite prevalent.
1t is even put forth gravely by mil
lionaires themselves. Mr.. Carnegie
expounded to me this very theory.
which to a European sounds SO ca
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. m~illionaires
do not give away their money. At
least not while they are alive. When
they die they may have a trining 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 o 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
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
versities! You allow them to devote
their millions TO founding and support
ing vast establishments In which the
youth OF he nation Ia to acquire it's
ideals. II the millionaires themselves
cannot teach the rising generation the
ideals they would like them to &C
Qiure, they a 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 q millionaire
could not found a university In Eu-
rope!" asked the writer.
The state would not allow IT,"
came the reply. like shot from q rapid
fire gun. IF q 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. II 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. / will allow
OF no interference ON your part Such
= s0SeSuNaOu ~ NuIC3&O uuItc Shy
Is unimagfnable In any country OF Eu-
rope. 1t would not be tolerated for
one moment II IL . beautiful place.
! was glad to lecture there. but l could
not help thinking what q peril to
America 1t might become. what sim
lister possibilities are latent within II.
Mr.. Rockefeller. ! understand. does
not interfere 1t Nil In the manage
ment Of that university: he does not
dictate the professors who shall lee
ture there nor the curriculum that
shall be followed: and from what I
have been able to learn 10 him / don't
think he ever will. But some success
sor to his millions might choose to
WELD the power which Mr.. Rockefel
Ter has thus far let alone. Think Of
the power such . man would have II
he wanted to exercise It! Think Of
the ideals that might be set before the
youth Of America by m inscriptions
millionaire controlling . university
through his donations. II IL too great
. power to be permitted to any man,
and ! am amazed that in America,