Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/708

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694 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

the duties of wealth is not likely to bear fruit while wealth can be dishonestly acquired ; that the abuse of legitimately earned riches is insignificant beside the evils flowing from the legaliza- tion of dishonest sources of wealth, and that the great task before us is the removal of the causes of oppressive, artificial inequalities, the prospect of curbing the unconscious " over- men" riding roughshod over the rights of their fellows would be much brighter. The social problem is not to be solved by enlightened philanthropy, by regarding surplus wealth as a "trust "and using it (as Mr. Carnegie believes it should be used) in providing free libraries, schools, museums, music halls, and picture galleries. It will be solved by reverting to first principles and adopting equality of opportunities and of freedom as the foundations of the social structure.

VICTOR S. YARROS. CHICAGO, ILL.