The Sage of Wall Street on Wars, Washington, and Wealth
What did one of America's most powerful tycoons really think about the forces shaping the nation?
Published in 1900, The Wall Street Point of View is Henry Clews's explosive and controversial insider account of how Nineteenth Century Wall Street wielded political power. Clews was among the connected few who became fabulously wealthy and made decisions that shaped the United States—and he wasn't afraid to say exactly what he thought.
A Timeless Perspective on Power and Money:
Writing at the dawn of the Twentieth Century, Clews's observations on wealth, politics, and human nature remain strikingly relevant today. His wide-ranging narrative tackles:
- How to Grow Great Wealth (and keep it).
- The Art of Making and Saving Money.
- Wars: Civil War and Spanish-American War.
- Currency Wars and the gold standard.
- Immigration policy and economics.
- Trade Wars and Tariffs: Protection vs. free trade.
- Booms and Busts: Navigating market cycles.
- Capitalism versus Communism: An early warning.
- False Men and False Methods on Wall Street: Essential reading for any investor.
- The Cleveland Administration: Candid political assessments.
Meet the Original "Sage of Wall Street":
Henry Clews (1834-1923) emigrated from Staffordshire, England, became a U.S. citizen, and rose to become a leading Wall Street financier and influential international political operative. A value investor before the term existed, his wisdom was so enduring that one of his witticisms was later repeated—and credited to Warren Buffett, the "Sage of Omaha."
A prolific writer and historian, Clews died at age 88 in his New York home, having accumulated one of the largest fortunes in the United States.
This Annotated Edition:
Finance expert Janet M. Tavakoli provides a foreword and annotations that:
- Add biographical and historical context.
- Draw parallels between late Nineteenth Century events and today's headlines.
- Illuminate Clews's influence and legacy.
Editorial enhancements:
- Not a scanned edition—completely remastered for readability.
- Corrected inconsistencies from the original publication.
- Recreated tables for clarity.
Contemporary Reviews:
"There is hardly any other publication with which this volume can be compared...There is not a dull line in the book; even the figures are eloquent."
—The New York Times, November 10, 1900
"The chapter on 'False Men and False Methods on the Street' is well worth the attention of all 'lambs' the country over."
—Evening Telegram, New York
"The most interesting, comprehensive, suggestive and valuable book on Wall Street we have ever seen."
—Wall Street Daily Investigator
"Colloquial, wise, witty, and full of anecdote. Few men will care to pass by the chapter on 'Art of Making and Saving Money.'"
—Louisville Courier Journal
"Mr. Clews is the incarnation of the Wall Street spirit, and his forcible views are exceptionally quotable both to the friends and to the enemies of the ideas he champions."
—The Outlook, New York
"A masterpiece of its kind, an attractive and taking discussion of what, in the hands of another, might have been made a very dry and uninteresting theme."
—Worcester Spy