The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-04-26

they are rich. Statements of this
kind are detrimental to the best
interests of the American people
and, emanating from such a
source, are not unlikely to entail
consequences prejudicial to the
harmonious relations which should
ever exist between the toiling
masses and their leaders in the in
dustrial world.
We do not believe for a moment
that the people of America would
register such a decisive vote in
favor of confscating all fortunes
over 100000. They have too much
good sense for anything Of the
kind, and they understand human
nature too well to assume such an
attitude towards their more for
tunate brethren. 1t is an easy
matter to declare that the accum-
ulation of great wealth is not to
be encouraged and that there
should be a limit to the amount of
money possessed by any one per-
son. But what Of the conse-
quences?
Ii such a contention were re
duced to practice it would prove
disastrous to all forms of indus
try. 1t would mean the putting
of limitation on human effort
that would inevitably bring about
stagnation in the industrial world.
If man is not allowed to accumu-
late more than 100000 as a re
suit Of his industry and enterprise
then there is no inducement for
continued effort on his part AS
soon as he approaches the limit
which he is allowed to retain for
himself his energies flag, his eff
forts cease, for why should he toll
for the benefit of the state? He
ceases work and the wheels Of the
enterprises controlled by him
slacken their speed, if they do not
stop entirely. The idea of working
for others without legitimate COM
pensation for oneself is not a
stimulus to persevering activity,
nor does it foster continued output
of human energy, whether physi-
cal Or mental.
If such a condition were to OBJ
tain in the industrial world the
first to suffer would be the work
ers themselves, for, in addition to
toilers, leaders are needed in
every field of human activity
men Of unusual ability and enter
prise who are capable of Crap
ping with conditions, who know
the needs of the time, who have
the ability to guide the manifesto
tions of human energy into chan
nels that will be productive Of the
best results, who can plan for the
future and open up new avenues
for the development of industry
and new fields Of enterprise and
labor for the welfare Of their fell
lowmen.
Without leaders capable of real
izing their projects and ambitions
there is only mediocrity. Without
special effort and talent where
will America stand in competition
with other nations? She needs
leaders in industry and finance
more than in literature, politics,
art and science, for upon the pro-
ficiency she can attain and the po-
sition she can occupy in the do
main of industry and finance, will
depend her prestige, prosperity
and leadership in competition with
other nations in all that goes to
make people truly great. In the
absence of such leadership and of
such great enterprises the work
ing class will suffer most-the
very people who can least afford
to do anything that will initiate
against industrial development or
cripple the fnanciers of the nation
in making fullest and freest use
of the means at their command.
When large fortunes are legiti-
mately acquired and benefcently
administered they are a great
blessing in the hands of men who
realize their responsibility for
making the best possible use of
them. Of course, no one should
be allowed to acquire vast riches
in violation Of the laws of the land
or of morality and justice. It is
the duty Of the state to see that
no one enriches himself at the ex-
pense of others, or in defiance Of
the eternal principles of right and
wrong which all should recognize
as binding in conscience. But
when large fortunes are the legiti-
mate fruit Of industry and fore
thought, it would be nothing less
than suicidal for the state to con-
fiscate them simply because they
have exceeded certain arbitrary
standard. It would bring about
condition of industrial anarchy
which would paralyze human ef-
fort and entail more disastrous