Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-13

astounding estimates Tree-fourths OF
all the wealth in the United States has
been accumulated since 1850, notwith-
standing the country passed through
during that period a wasteful civil war,
and three destructive financial panics.
What will this nation own In 1860. If the
present rate of money-making shall con-
tinue until that date?
Just in proportion as we have grown
rich the spirit of heroic self-sacrifice
has decayed. 1t might have been expect
ed that such would be the case. Livy
wrote, "Avarice and luxury have been
the ruin of every great state and be-
fore him Herodotus declared, ut is law
of nature that tainted hearted men
should be the fruit of luxurious coun-
tries; for we never find that the same soil
produces delicacies and heroes. We are
confirming by experience these observa-
tions of the ancient historians. In these
piping times of peace and plenty the
man of millions outranks the man of
ideas and ideals. Cents count for more
than sense, and money is more than
mind 1t is also more than morals with
many people, We have so deiied wealth
that they who have 1t are able to pur-
chase from public opinion indulgencies
worse than those which Luther denounc-
ed Tetzel for peddling. Without loss of
public esteem the very rich are able to
set aside all moral laws, and to become
models of form and propriety while out
raging decency every day. Such stand
ards of moral judgement being set up do
always corrupt the ideals of society, and
thereby, create a mania for getting gold
as the means of getting every form of
good that the carnal mind can conceive.
When we make an aristocracy of wealth
who can wonder that multitudes strive
to become kings of finance?
But what shall we do about the mat
ter? Shall we advocate war as a sort of
blood-letting process to save us from the
delirium of mammonism? Is 1t necessary
to kill off a great number of men in
order to make those who survive them
better and greater? Shall millions be ex-
pended on a destructive militarism in or
der to escape the pollutions of luxurious
peace? BY no means!
Our remedy is to cultivate a militant
mind on behalf of great moral inter
ests. Our dollars must be used heroical-
ly and not selhshly. But this result
can not be brought to pass while we
reward selfish display with attentions
and honours to which it is in no wise
GnIlIlGQ.
ion which honours wealth only as it is
useful. Peace and prosperity will be dam
gerous TO US if we fan TO make genuine
goodness the test by which all men are
to be judged AS public sentiment now
stands a money-multiplying peace will
result in moral pollution; for men and
women are honoured for vain display,
and not for the value of their services
and the elevation of their characters. BY
consequence millions are squandered upon
costumes and banquets, and mites are
bestowed on the work of enlightening and
regenerating the world. We admire peo-
pie as we do fat cattle of the stall be-
cause they are sleek and well-fed.
The militant element in human nature
Is being perverted by diverting it from
moral contests and turning it into all
sorts of puerile and base competitions,
such as athletic games.N battles OF
Bridge" petty social rivalries, and NOR
tai conflicts of trade wherein men fight
each other to death for profits that are
sought simply for the qualification
which is found in winning them. Why
should a multi-millionaire compass sea
and land to heap up more money when
already he has more than he knows
how to use wisely? If they answered
honestly, most of such men would be
forced to acknowledge that they do 1t
for the mere love of the game. Some of
them say, Il can not afford to quit busi-
ness. Certainly not; but let a man
continue In business to do good,
making money as means only
for carrying on the higher and
holier business of honouring God and
blessing mankind. When the CONNER
cial world moves under that sore of mo-
tives there will be no perils of peace;
but the maxim peace hath her victo-
ries no les than wars renowned" will
then find its perfect and glorious exem
pIifcation High-captains of finance who
lay out themselves and their resources
in contests for the promotion of the
heavenly kingdom and the extension of
its territory in the earth will then out
rank the esars and Napoleon of his
tory as far as an unfallen arch-angel
outranks the degraded Prince of Dark
ness.