A Millionaire Indeed.

Manawatu Herald, 7 June 1892, Page 2

A Millionaire Indeed.

» To the Jews the whole Christian world are heavily indebted, but it is many hundreds of years since one of their number appeared in such an advantageous light as the Baron Hirsch, whose good deeds the cablegrams of the other day so prominently mentioned. We are not in a position to name the immense fortune he possesses, though it amounts to between thirty and forty million pounds sterling. Some fews years back the Prince of Wales was pretty roughly taken to task for associating with this, as he was then styled, Jewish money-lender. The public now learn that he is as charitable as he is rich, it being stated that the amount he devoted to charitable institutions last year totalled to three million pounds ! What other millionaire has ever approached within a tithe of this ? He, to some people's views, is a lost sheep, as he runs race horses, but this he does in no sordid spirit of money making as his gross winnings, some £8000, he' 'divided amongst the London hospitals. Our readers will recollect that this Baron's name came prominently before the world in connection with his scheme to place the Jews, or as he pleasantly terms it "his comin iaith " in a new state of existence primarily as farmers, and also as handicrafts mon, in some lands where the laws and religious tolerance will permit them to carry on the struggle for existence as noble and responsible subjects of a humane government. What a heavenly place this must appear to the much har-' rassed and starved Jews of Russia ! In an article in the North Amet ican Review Baron Hirsh explains his \ method for carrying out his ideas. He says he views himself only as the temporary administrator of the wealth that he has amassed and that he must minister to mitigate the sufferings of those who are opposed by a hard fate. By establishing organisations in the Orient and in Gallicia he gave those who had no need to remove from the laud the opportunity of becoming good farmers and craftsmen. To aid those Jews driven from their country he mado a study of different countries, an 1 1 become convinced that the Argentina ! Republic, Canada, and Australia, above all others, offered the surest guarantee for the accompli shmon 6

of the plan. Tnouerh primary £ai'6tt Hirsch had " his Companions in faith " chiefly in view, the cablegrams prove that he admits of a very large claim, from other nations and other creeds, upon him, and has done a fair share towards using his wealth tc mitigate the sufferings of the poor and needy. " Blessed is he who considereth the poor."