The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-12-22

cism upon my head. fer have I not
frequently hurled condemnation at the
Morgan oligarchy? True, but much
that has been done by the Corner
House in recent years was not the in
spiration of j. r. Morgan. but his
who will doubt Mr.. Morgan's vera
city.
you notice that the aged financ.er
frequently disciaimed all knowledge OF
even tremendously important things?
Things under his Arm name?
Il know nothing whatever about
the Harvester company. ! had moth
ing to do with It." The work Of the
Zoo smart Perkins had been ami
versally laid at Mr. Morgan's door. yet
will doubt Mr.. Morgans veracity.
Mr.. Morgan, in my op,nion, 3 too
big a man to lie. Lies usually spring
from fear or greed; this Hercules Is
afraid Of no human being, nor 3D.
sessed with gold lust. His whole de-
meanor on the witness stand Dreamed.
not falsehood. but honesty: not pet
tiness. but superhuman power: not
rapscity. but sense OF court of-last-
resort n sponsibility.
And that sense OF responsible
however much 1t may have tended to
evolve "a money power" has. be-
yond shadow of doubt. saved this
country from untold trouble at the
height Of more than one crisis. Only
a few weeks ago ifl-advised specula-
ton WAS running riot In certain stocks
when Mr.. Morgan. awakening to the
facts. put his foot down SO hard that
the toes of not a few budding mil
iionaire bankers were iacerated.
Desires Are Mooest.
How is Morgan to be analysed? Is
he a demi-god or a semi-devil? A
patriot or a constituencies plutocrat :?
Is he drunk with power as a New
England statesman alleged, or Is he
unconscious Of his place in the finan-
cial world? Does he regard himself
as the cornerstone OF Americas A.
nancial structure. or does ne see him
self merely as an ordinary citizen.
ready always to work for the com
mon good?
Il do not want to control any,
thing" Yet he is widely credited
with being in control of Americas
chief industries and railroads.
II never knew that I had the great
power you say" Yet the world be-
lieved that Morgan could ,conyuise
America, and even kdrope, by a few
words OF command.
II care nothing about money! Yet
his every act has been represented as
money scheme In q wicked game to
swell his fortune. and drive others to
tbs wall.
Is J. Pierpont Morgan an enixma7
Can so many apparent contradictions
DO reconciled?
Has he sought these last few days
to fool the public. or has he spoken
tho truth?
Does Morgan sea the real Morgan,
or IL the real Morgan the one the pub
lie sees?
Now. you are entitled to your own
opinion can voice only my own.
Hero Il n:
Morgan n the product Of another
arc. He was reared In the old school
Of finance and business. He was not
taught TO bow the knee to public senti-
,msnt. He inherited and inhibited au-
tocratic notions. A. he rose above his
Fellows. ~ he mounted to . pedestal
higher than any occupied by any finan-
c!er since the world began. he ceased
to rub elbows with the common pe0-
pie. and was ted more and moro every
year villa Obsequious adulation. He
entered that ~higher sphere" which
the lato EDWARD H. Hartman was said
to occupy. The preferences and the
prejudices Of the public. their ideas
and their ideaia, their strivinEs and
their dsmocrAtisation did not reach
him.
Hs va being apart in the world.
ut not Of the world ~ ordinary man.