Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-05-16


ndege declares
4 am always plain spoken man, you know,
Mr. Harwood, and never conceal wha, think the
truth when called upon 10 utter my sentiments
| can only say, then, that if you are hones,--all
your dealings with others, only from considera'
tons OF polcy-or, in other words, in order tina,
your own ends may be attained, then your NOR
olity is very low indeed, ori, is founded in selfish
ness
In selfshncssf
Yes, in selishness'
We'll, wha, thonl Do we not go into bust.
ness for selfish ends Do not all our acts in life
regard selfl And is no, regard for self true
principle Of action Let every one take proper
care Of himself, and all will be rightly cared
for
Thus the world, blinded by selfshness argues
| know But it is arguing from false premises.
Suppose each regarded his neighbor, would not
all be as well cared forT
i am sure canno, say. lfall men were per
/ feet, perhaps they would But we must take the
world as we find it,
! In taking the world as we find it, we ought 10
nc, in it from principles true in themselves. In
thus acting, we do par, towards bringing soci-
ETY. 10 that state OF integrity Of purpose from which
it has so amentably fallen
| Then in acting from the principle that homes.
iy is the best policy, do my part think, and
very large part, towards that restoration 10 which
you allude.'
The effect of your actions, which appear to be
grounded in higher principles than they really are,
may be salutary-but your motives Of action, II
universally adopted, would not think, materially
improve society
You talk strangely, Mr. Emory
DO IL Let me speak more plainly, then. If
you are honest only because you believe it the best
policy for you to be so, then you would act dis
honestly, if by doing So, your worldly interests
would be subserved in a higher degree
you must no, talk 10 me in that way, Mr. En-
ory,' his friend responded quickly, in half ang-
~ tone. Il am an honest man-and am known
to be such in this community. No man can say
that ever wronged him out ola dollar, in the
worldp
That may all be so, Mr. Harwood, and yet il
seems to me that YOU might act upon much
higher and truer principle. You ought to be
honest, because i, is right to be so. Because, you
would shrink from touching that which belongs
to your neighbor, as from the performance of Z
most direful evil
Il don't see the force of your positions, Mr. En-
ory,' the friend replied i am no hair-sphtinq
metaphysician | arm content to be honest in all
my dealings with Others and let motives go to thu
wind Motives are nothing, in my oplnlon-ac
tons every thing
But there can be no action without motive
for it,
pardon me, there can.
Give me an instance
Il am honest, and without any particular mo
tive
pardon me, if you please You have alread
declared your motive for being honest-lt IS you
policy You expect to come out better IN tn
long run by being honest Now that motive
founded in false and selfish principle, instead {
true one
But what l mean, waving your personal allu
sion, is, that il is our honest actions-our goo
cxample-that effects society, bencfcially. Til
motive is neither seen nor felt
4 differ with YOU There is, in every actio
some nnciure of the quality of,he motive and tn
quality is felt
Howe
a.. for instance. Selfinterest makes you ho
est Now, as you do not act from an abstra
principle of honesty, your love Of self will often
blind your perceptions of what is justly another
as 20 cause you to trespass often upon his rights
Il reject the allegation y was the half indigna
reply. ;.
We'll WE'LL let US wave a subject from the dI
cussion, OF which see no good is likely to aris'
Mr. Emory said soothingly Il have spoken
you plainly. not with desire TO offend, but,
possible, TO make you apprehend the true distin
lion between honest with, and honesty without pC
ley
ie, And the subject was waved.
Both Of The individuals we have introduce
were men Of business, and both dealers in the san
articles OF merchandise. Each was esteemed
the community as men Of strict integrity, but the
principles OF action were different. Mr. Harwo
was homes, in all his dealings with others, for ~
reasons--one was, the PRIDE Of being esteemed
an honest nan, and the other was from the Id'
early grounded in his mind, that il was the b
policy TO be honest. While Mr. Emory was j
and equitable in all his transactions, for an int
nal regard for others rights. With him, hone
was principle, not policy.
e", A few DAYS after the conversation Just record
sly had occurred Mr. Harwood received a letter frc
iae an Eastern correspondent, containing informant
ON Of an advance in the price OF -four consequent
I on advices received from the West Indies a
;; South America His own stock was large,
80. ho had plenty OF storage room, he determlI
~. to avail himself Of his Information, which he '
in satisfied was at ieas, one day in advance OF re
h. lar advances and buy largely at prevailing n
ke prices The store ofhis friend, Mr. Emo
.,1 was only few squares of aud as be had also
- good stock OF -four on hand be wen, to sec
first
'"' Good morning, Mr. Harwood am gla'
see you |, has been several days since you IA
ave, AGA % me with a call
ny You'll not be SO glad by tomorrow this 81