Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-02-10
CHARITY

BENG pretty Well acquainted Win
many large givers and knowing ac-
curately the affairs Of great many
persons, it astonishes me to see how
the poor give their last cent to help
those In need while those Of US who
are. rich give comparatively nothing.
In my own acquaintance / can name
you many rich men, some of them mil
lionaires and some of them multi
millionaires, large givers, small Civ
ers and selfish givers, according to
their natures, and some whose mod
est motto is, what give is nothing
to anybody" yet all their gifts put
together do not compare In proper
ton. with the gifts made by the
poor to their fellows. ~
In 1891 ! made list of the char
liable persons upon whom New
York's institutions depended for reg
ular support, and found that they
numbered nearly 10000, among
them many of very moderate means.
/ estimate that the number has in
creased now to about 900. II all
the rich in that list gave in propor-
ton to their ability, we would not
hear of charities being crippled for
lack of funds. 1t is safe to say that
hardly one of the rich gives enough
to necessitate the denial Of anything
he, in his way of living, really needs,
or even greatly desires.
Some one will rise to say that
there are noble exceptions. There
may be many; only one has ever
come under my notice, and l chal-
lenge any man to say that he knows
even one multi-millionaire who gives
for beneficience all above what ne
needs for comfortable living. /
do not believe there is such man
in America. Yet many rich man
in this country is looked upon as an
example for all, because he gives a
portion Of his superabundance to aid
his LESS fortunate brother.
/ can almost hear my friends re-
minding me of the millions given for
education, for science, for Libraries,
hospitals and other institutions, but
that does not affect my contention. If
man has gathered several hundred
millions in few years, it is a COM
paratively small hostage to for
tune" to pay over ten millions or so
to the cause of education or charity.
He could not use all the rest by any
mode of living yet in vogue. Even
IL he had but ten millions and gave
away nine of them. he would not
safer for any necessity for comfort.
able living, and he would not have
given to the public any unjust share
Of what he had gathered.
For 1t is getting to be known, even
20 the people who contribute to them,
that swollen fortunes are made pos
sible only through some monopoly
or special privilege. and this cannot
be granted to some without first hay
ing been taken away from many.
Monopoly should, therefore. bring
high prices, and II, because Of priv
ilege to some, the many are made
poor, then the favored ones should
come TO the rescue.
Unless the very rich give to the
body Of the people all that the people
would have had If no privilege had
been given to a few, they have not
paid their fair share or their honest
dues to the public. And when they
are ready to do this, they will not
ask special privileges or clamor for
monopolies. for they will. every one,
himself"
When monopoly is abolished, cap
ital will be owned by It's creator.
labor. Then we will hear no more
of the laborer being worthy of his
hire-the labOrer will get his pro-
duct. which Is his by right of pro-
ducing. That part Of labor's product
which Is now taken away as rent
would benefit labor as public utili-
ties; that which now goes as interest
would remain with those who earn
it: wages would be increased by In
finite opportunity and would go to
the worker.
One Of the greatest hindrances to
bringing in this condition is the OPP
pOrtunity our charities offer the rich
TO deaden their own conscience, to
dispose OF little of their surplus
profits, to still the murmuring of the
discontinued, and to bear Z name for
good deeds that stands them In good
stead and Is an actual asset
Nevertheless, with no such induce
ents, the poor give more than the
r CHI. This poor widow hath cast in
more than they ell" {Luke, xxi,
81