Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-30


I plars of Bolshevism in the Unit
~ ed States, testifying before a
committee of the senate some
weeks ago, said in answer to ques-
ton, I'VE get our financial support
from some rich women in New YORK
who do not know what to do with
stheir money"
. People who help to propagate Boil
shevism most certainly have not
sense enough to know what to do
with their money; but it is a. little
surprising that this shameless agita-
tor should confess on oath that he
senseless women. A Bo1shevist, how
ever, does not stick at getting the
money of other people by methods
fair or foul. He is "out for the
stuff" as the man in the street would
say.
The fact that these women Of
wealth in New York, who know SO
little about the wisest way to eXpend
money that they will give it to as
sist the. propaganda of the Bolshev-
lists, is a significant thing worthy OF
study Such SenSeleSS persons are
not confined exclusively to New York,
Their. sort can be|found all over the
country.
These silly women in New York
belong to the class financial for which
the BolsheVists profess the greatest
hatred. Why should they assist men
to propagate doctrines which logical
ly lead to the destruction of their
rights of property? An enlightened
self-interest, to say nothing OF h1gn-
err considerations, ought to restrain
them from such a course than use
less expenditure Of their funds.
But this seems not to have occur
red to these unthinking women OF
/ uipJHp6 (bO11ht less ITO
impulses of abnormal emotionalism
or, followed some silly suggestion OF
sentimentality. Some lurid appeals
of the Bolshevists, spoken or written,
reached them, and forthwith they
proceeded to part with their money
without regard to the hurtful uses TO
which it might be put.
Many people who possess large
means spend much time in utter idle
ness, or in gadding about In search
of some new thing to divert an indol-
ent mind and please a morbid emo
tionaisrn. They are easy marks 1o d
faddists who can talk pfausibly ano
feryently. Hence the vast amount OF
freakish gifts and requests of which
we have daily samples. Men and
women are Influenced to set up en-
terprises and endow them which can
do little, if any good.
The habit of idleness tends to en-
sensibilities. 1.-THE idle rich should
never undertake the role of ph1lan-
thropy without the counsel OF some
tudicious friend Otherwise, they
are likely to excmplify the proverb
that " fool and his money are soon
to advise. Good fortune engenders
among them a degree of amusing
egotism, and they imagine that they
are wise about everything and all
things. This egotism makes them
peculiarly susceptible to flattery;
and skillfu1 operators make prey of
them by f1attering them. Some say
that Nero was moved by a courtier
to burn Rome, and that the fattery
used to move him to the crime was
the assertion that he was a great
painter and that there was no sub
ject tragic enough for his artistic
genius less than his capital in flames.
Doubtless what is thus said of Nero
is true, and in succumbing to such
fu1some f1attery he was not differ
ent from many now living. Vanity
has wasted untold treasure on I'M
scrupulous' flatterers.
And money expended to crafty
vanity is as sinfully used as if it
were employed to further the ends, of
cruelty or covetousness.
Money is stored power, and as such
it may be delivered on the achieve
ment of the noblest ends. 1t may
be eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf.
limbs for the lame, food for the hun
cry, education for the ignorant, and,
in a sense, salvation for the unre-
deemed. One who has money is
bound not only to put it to good use,
but to the best use as far as he can
Judge. It may not be carelessly used
for even benevolent purposes.
A freakish benevolence may be
iIJc CT
it is benevolence; but it cannot be
admired, or relied on. By such be-
nevolence many men have purchased
for themselves the ridicule of the
world and others have made them
selves objects of condemnation by
all succeeding generations.
Stephen Girard made a large be-
quest for the establishment of Girard
college; but he put into his will the
proviso that no priest OF preacher
should be permitted to enter the
grounds and buildings Of the insti-
tuition. That piece of nonsense has
damaged Girard college and dis
graced it's founder for the last fifty
years and longer. Who can fail to
If Mr.. Girard had consulted some
wise friend, and taken good advice
from such a friend, he would have
been saved from wasting his money
and making his memory od1ouS.
In our land there are well-estab-
lished institutions to which money
can be given with assurance that it
will be associated with the gifts Of
others in accomplishing the most
worthy ends. There are educational
institutions with a history and a
character that make them safe for
investing money in. There are hos
pitfalls and orphanages that are or
ganized wisely and administered sue
cessfully. Why then should any one
with money TO spend philanthropical-
ly bestow it upon uncertain expert
ments and silly schemes? Why
should those silly women in New
York give money to Bolshevists with
the multiplied hundreds of worthy
enterprises in the city right under
their noses into which money mig t
be put that would yield the greatest
returns of good?
Why should benevolent people any
where make gifts to ephemeral insti-
buttons, organized around one person
and contingent upon the continuance
of his life and labors when they
might invest in philanthropic enter
prises which will stand always and
which are utterly independent of the
life or death of any man? In the