New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-09-09
The Morals of Trade.

Editorials for a Daily paper are inevitably pre-
pared the expression, the baneful influences OF
Traffic We promptly dsclamed the construc-
ton they had put on our language, but did not
enter SO fully into the statcmenes6f what we did
mean as we propose now to DO
That Trade is not necessarily demoralizing-
that many of our best men have lived and do
live in and by the exchange OF commodities
undoubted That man may live as righteously
and usefully by Trade as by any other voction,
we heartily affirm; yet we think no ciear-headed
man can doubt that the influences surrounding
a life Of trade are less wholesome, that the temp
tations to departure from the narrow path Of rec
titude are more frequent and specous, than in a
life of Productive Labor. In the life Of a Farmer
or Mechanic, Seeming as opposed to Beng or
Doing-sham performance as opposed as real
performance-very seldom presents itself as an
expedient. No drumming for customers in
popular hotels, or folding goods so as to show
their excellences and conceal their defects, no
making the earth look as if it were well ploughed,
or dressed or fertile will answer any purpose, I'M
less when the farmer, ceasing to farm, attempts
to trade. II is otherwise in Trade and, although
none can doubt that stern integrity in Commerce
as in aught else is true policy, yet the immediate
inducements to departure from 1t are often most
pressing Esau often sells his brthright, not
undertaking it, but because of the pressure OF
his instant necessity. He cannot await the dis
tant and vague reward Of uprightness, while
IoTn
amassing of money were regarded as the end OF
life, if gold were success and paupcrsm failure
in life, then it would be difficult to establish that
in Trade honesty is always the best policy. The
instances of fortunes made by sharp dealing and
lost by integrity are too numerous and glaring.-
We regard, therefore, with more than usual ad-
miration and reverence the trader who through
poverty, misfortune and despair, has held fast to
strict integrity as more precious than all beside.
To be honest in less perilous vocation is COM
parativey light achievement. Why, then,
should not the danger Of moral pcrversion be
weighed by young mon in choosing a vocation
for life?
When we speak of Trade, VIC alIudc not to the
regular vending of merchandise alone, but TO
every employment in which gain is made by buy
ing and selling. The danger exists moro Or less
strongly in all. Thus, the Journal Of Commerce
recently stated that an herb known as the butter
cup, which diseases cattle and renders their flesh
unwholcsome, was not known in this country till
introduced some years since by company ofbutch.
crs who had learned in England that it would boat
flesh of cattle feeding upont,and give themcats the
more inviting appearance, even while poisoning
them. To the minds Of these men, cloudcd by
traffic and the unhealthy pursuit of gain, Their
act was not murderous. but clever business opc
ration a clcar-sigh:cd and decp-thinking French
author casually remarks that Paris butcher IN.
formed him that tAirty-three distinct kinds of
fraud in preparing and selling meats were prac
ticed in that City within his knowledge. That
most frauds practiced any where are known and
initiated in this Country, we believe will hardly
be disputed. The following letter to friend.
from one who has no personal interest in the mat
ter, describes what passes for clever dealing in
Cattle by the butchers Of Buffalo:
They ssy this city shave every one who drives ca,
lie to market For instance they will publish beef selling
quality Accordingly farmer comes in with small drove
The butchers combine together and PSI, him of with far
promises OF purchasing for two three days, On which
tine his bill Is running np0 then tell him. # they find he
has bat little money that they pay eos, per cwt
which they had pretended tina, they would pay bu, will ms,
los or lss the hide and tallow being thrown IN Bese>
his he must stay weeks weighed take the
eIs' appraisal which fails to be low. The fact is
Buffalo is very Precariou market aud rot Certain
after they have made him offer that he will receive the
amount Some little will come up after dover
has been troubled day two by means OF which the
butchers Will make him sell little less unless he be able
sc farther with his cattle. do no, find fault with men
who buy as cheap as they bur the deception which Is
used pac,ced the substance of those who
this city as market wrong. Sometimes they fail Two
droses from Chaatauque Co here the othe, lav and
the butchers fooled them along three days bu, with
good success for the Groyers said them Jo-c Won
can't it,, aad to the asionishrea Of those who ]
ed TO rob them OF their property, drovs them home again.
The writer of the letter from which we haze
made this extract evidently supposes he is de-
scrbing something peculiar to Buffalo and its
butchers, but he is greatly mistaken. We doubt
not that these men abhor any cheating forbidden
by tic laws, go to church as regularly, pay their
dues as promptly, and pray for the conversion Of
the world as heartily, as the average of their
neighbors. We suspect the case is not materially
dfieren, in other places and in other callings. In
fact, the fundamental maxim of Trade, Buy
where you can cheapest implies that you are
not to consider what the article you purchase is
worth, but where you can get it for least pay;
and from this to regarding only hop you can get
it cheapest, there is but one step. In the same
vein. correspondent who assumes to write US
in defence of Merchants Clerks against an
imaginary assault is content with demonstrating
to his own satisfaction that many who now want