The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-09-21
Money
By DR.. Frank Crane

OluC6 Tie NdWH Vi pT6dCuluS we
preachers have been threatening rich
men with our right fist-and extend
ing to them our left palm. 1t is hard
ly to be wondered at that we find diff
f1culty in being taken seriously.
And our advice has been so confus-
ing that we have not had much effect,
For now we exhort the youth to all
the virtues, giving as an inducement
the assurance that thus they will be
| enabled to get on; and now again We
turn to those that have gotten on and
warn them of the danger of riches. 1t
might as well be asked if riches be
dangerous, why acquire them; and if
virtues lead to riches, are they really
worth cultiVating?
1t may be we'll, therefore, to set
down a few common sense facts in re
riches and the relation of the same to
the moral values.
In the first place, money is simply
the token or sign of our common hum
an wants. 1t means power, power
over others, power to make our per-
| sonality felt. No wonder we want 1t.
Again it means liberty. Poverty is
curse. 1t ties the hands. 1t binds
the mind. 1t narrows the soul. One
who has to sweat ten hours a day for
bread has no time nor strength left
to develop the higher part of himself
Money means also a full life. We
can crafty our cravings, whether they
be for beer or art, for Paris gowns or
Wagner music. With money we have
chance to grow; without it we are
stunted.
Money, therefore, is simply concen-
| trated-we might say canned-human
value.
1t naturally follows that it is good
or bad, never of itself, but only as CIV
ing opportunity to its possessor. Here,
then, we have the moral gist of the
whole matter: money is simply-op-
portunity.
1t unlocks the door and bids the
cramped and chatting passion go and
do its will. 1t liberates desire. Hence
II simply emphasizes a man. If he Is
good he can now be better, having
more scope; If bad he can. and prob
ably will, be worse. II idle and use
less, he becomes a living fountain Of
idleness and uselessness, poisoning
others.
So, money is like any other gift; as
beauty, which adds power to the per-
son; or genius, which multiplies the
efficiency Of the mind and hand; or
position, for kinship magnifles a COM
mon man to heroic proportions, in his
influence on other men.
Now, the sole relation of morals to
power of any kind is this: that the
moral sense adds to power-responsi-
bility.
The root Of any genuine moral feel
ing is altruism Given any desire, It
becomes moral as II takes a direction
toward the welfare Of other people;
It is immoral exactly in proportion as
It disregards others and looks only to
self
Wicked people. therefore. are those
who live think, and do for self alone;
and that whether poor or rich. Who
ever says, Il would Ike to be rich,
for l could do so much good with my
| money" should examine himself and
ask what good he Is doing with the
little he has It's all matter of re-
lation. If one is not helpful and lib
eral on $40 month, he would not be
so on $4,000 a month.
In the ultimate realm of morals
| there are no commandments; there Is
only one test-do I live for myself or
for others; am I altruistic or egocen-
trio
The dawdling smart set, fitting
from bridge to matinee. from theater
to bedizened restaurant from the club
to the horse race, are wicked but no
wickeder than the better poor who
want to lead such a life. and who
curse their lot because their selfish
ness is bound and chained.
To the real man, therefore, riches
means nothing at all, as to his char
acter; it simply means an opening to
give vent to his character And n
clear-eyed soul, that sees and realizes
what responsibility means, is never
eager for power and opportunity. 1t is
easier to be good in moderate means
than in riches for the principal reason
that it is easier to bear a small than
great load Of responsibility. 1T Is
hard for rich man to enter the king
dom of heaven" Just because a rich
man to be moral must be great And.
unfortunately, great souls are scarce
among great fortunes.
The greatness Of Jesus was not in
his wisdom, magnetism, nor ethical
perception, but in the fact that he was
utterly altruistic; that is, he used all
his powers not to advance himself but
to help others. His tormentors I'M
Willingly told the truth, and stated I'M
knowingly his very secret, when, as he
hung on the cross fhey wagged their
heads at him and cried:
HE saved others; himself he can
not save."