Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1911-04-28
How Much Can a Man Earn
Honestly

Before the State Y. M. C.. A. con-
vention at Charlottesville Sunday,
Hon. William ]. Bryan delivered an
address in which he interestingly
elaborated his views on various moral
issues. Referring to the money get
ting craze of the age, the distin-
guished speaker said in part:
How much money can a man
rightfully collect from society? He
should not collect more than he hon.
estly earned. Beyond that he is steal
ing. How much money can he hon
estly earn? Not more than his SER
vice is worth to society. A man can
inherit money without offense when
the money was honestly earned by
him who transmits it, Every right
minded man expects to pay back to
society what he has received from it.
The stamp of disgrace must be placed
upon the idler who uses what he does
not earn as sternly as upon the man
who steals.''
This is bit of pleasing dogma
quite characteristic of Mr.. Bryan's
philosophy. He views great moral is
sues with essentially altruistic vision,
and from essentially lofty standpoint:
And 1T is well that this is SO. 1t is
well that in our public life this man
has so long stood and stands today as
a commanding force for general up
lift, and uncompromising foe to the
decadent tendencies in the nations
public life. We have no doubt that
in this capacity he has performed
wholesome and needed service, and
done much to arrest the tide toward
deifying mere sordid ideals, worship
ping at the shrine of material sue
cess, and canonizing the great cap
tains of wealth who rule in the tenn
pie of the money changers.
Coming to the more practical part
of his theme, Mr.. Bryan held that I'M
der some conditions, a man might
honestly earn as much as five hundred
million dollars in life time-a
rahter amazing conclusion considering
its source. For example, Thomas
Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln per-
formed services to society which ac-
cording to Mr.. Bryan would not have
been overpaid, had the vast amount
just named, been rendered. But, con-
tinued Mr.. Bryan, the important
question is not what would Jefferson
and Lincoln have done with $780,
600, 600. but what would that enor
nous sum of money have done with
Jefferson and Lincoln? According to
the Nebraskan, the question suggests
the conclusion that a man may earn
more than it would be we'll for his
own welfare. And this is true.
Money controls it's owner more of
ten than the owner controls his mon
ey. The possession of millions reflects
on abnormal condition, and just as
certainly it creates the abnormal
viewpoint. 1t exalts the ego. 1t es-
tablishes the throne room where the
ritual of self-worship is exclusively
observed. And it walls up the ave-
nues by which great thoughts and
great deeds and priceless services to
humanity might otherwise find ex-
preston. Jefferson, with millions
would have been Jefferson devotee.
His money would have represented
Jefferson's endeavors consecrated
solely to Jefferson's interest. And
with his death would have ended
career of absolutely sterility so far
as society is concerned.
And so the accumulation of great
fortunes, counts often on the minus
side of society's equation. 1t repre-
sents save with few exceptions, tai
ent and ability and energy that could
be capitalized as splendid forces in
social, political and moral advance,
substracted from the general sum of
human betterment.