Manamatu Herald TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1889. WEALTH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 281, 17 September 1889, Page 2

Manamatu Herald TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1889. WEALTH.

In the North American TJpvipw f Mr Andrew Carnegie has pub ished an article on wealth "which deserves to be considered by till. Tho Pa 1 Mall (xazette at tho special request of Mr Gladstone reproduced it. and wo purpoes to outline his proposals as clearly and shortly, as we can. Mr Cuinegie opens with tho assertion that the problem of our ao-e is the proper administration of wealth, so that the ties of brotherhood may still bind together the rich and poor in harmonious relationship. The conditions of human life has been revolutionized within the past one hundred years, the Indians of today being where civilized man then was. In the manufacture of products lies the whole story, formerly articles were manufactured at the domestic hearth, we now assemble thousands of operatives in the factory or mine. The price paid for competition oy society is great, but it cannot be evaded. Under these conditions a man who has tho talent for organisation or management is bound to come to the front, and of necessity 80011 bo in receipt of more revenue than can be judiciously expended upon himself. Having to admit that the condition of affairs under which the best interests of the race are promoted, inevitably gives wealth to a few, it h s to bo determined what i is tiie proper mode of administering | that wealth. Mr Carnegie when mentioning -wealth infers fortunes, not moderate sums aavo 1 by many years of effort. He mentions three modes by which the surplus wealth can be disposed of, it can bo left to the families of the decedents, boqueathed for public purposes or administered during the lives by its possessors. He objects to tho 'first, holding it not well for the children or the state, for he would, rather leave his son a curse, as the almighty dollar, as every son should be educated to earn a livelihood. As to leaving wealth at death for public uses he points out that in many instances sue i bequests become only monuments of the folly of the donor, and many men are not to be thr.nked at all for their .gifts, as had they been able to take it with them, theY would have left none at all. Ho is ! much in favour of the disposition to tax more heavily large estates left at death, as this policy would work powerfully to indu e the rich man to attend to the administration of wealth during his ife, which is the end that society should always have ,in view, as being that by far more

fruitful for the people. There remains, then, tfhly one mode of using great fortunes ; but in this we have the fmo antidote for the temporary unequal distribution of wealth, the nv.<ueilintiou of the rich and the poor- , --eign of harmony— another ido .-■;. cl^uing, indeed, from that of th» -communist in requiring 'only tho further evolution of existingconditions, not the total overthrow of on)' civilization. Evo - i the poorest can be made to see this, and to agree that great sums gathered by some of their fellow citizens and spent for public purposes, from whi oh the masses reap tho principal benefit, are morn valuable to them thanjif scattered, among them through tho course of years in trifling amounts. He instances the results from the Ooopor Institute ns showing- tho good the masses havo dorived from accumulation of wealth, pointing out that this „H um, if distributed in small quantities amonl' tho people, would havo boon wasted in tho indulgence of appetite, some in excess, and part might have been used profitable, but nothing !to be compared to the advantages flowing from tho institution. The freo library presented by Mr Tildon to New York is also instanced as an example where much good has been accomplished, which would havo been inipossib'e had the amount boon circulated through tho masses. The duty of the man of wealth is, first, to set an examp'e of modest, unostentatious living, shunning display or extravagance; to provide moderately for the legitimate wants of those dependent upon him : and after doing so to consider a 1 surplus revenues which come to him simply as trust funds, which he is called upon to adminster. and strictly bound as a matter of duty to administer in the manner which, in his judgment, is best calculated to produce the most beneficial results for the community — the man of wealth- thus becoming the mero agent, and trustee for his poorer brethren, bringing to thei- service his superior wisdom/oxporienco, and ability to administer, doing for thorn bettor than thw would or could do for themselves. Thus is th« problem of Eicli and Poor to be solved. This day already dawns. Pmt a littlo while, and although, without incurring: tho pity of their fellows, men may die sharers in great business enterprises from which their capital can not be or has not b on withdrawn, nnd is left chiefly at death for public uses, yet tho mau who dies leaving behind him millions of available wealth, which was his to administer during life, wi 1 pass away "unwept, unhonoured, ;ind unsung," no matter to what uses ho leaves tho dross which he cannot take wth him. Of such as these '■■elrtrrpflfllll^vfirdiet will then be ; <; The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced." Mich, in Mr Carnegie's opinion is the true Gospel concerning wealth, obedience "0 which is destined some day to solve the p oblein of tho Rich and tho Poor, and to bring "Peace on earth, among men good-will."