The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-05-28
THE MERCANTILE PROFESSION

1t is computed that there are two hun
dred thousand merchants in the United
States. They are distinguished, as a class
for practical ability; for great energy of
character; for activity, enterprise and deci-
ded opinions. y good merchant, like a
good general, comes to his conclusions
rapidly, and executes them with prompt
tude and resolution. Yet it is no easy
thing TO be merchant of this description.
The risk of the ventures he is called on TO
make, the characters of TIE customers
with whom he deals, and the probable
condition OF the money market, a wear or
six months in advance, are subjects that
continually exercise his judgment, calling
forth some of the highest qualities of the
mind, an demanding accurate and ex
act observation. The successful merchant
therefore, is generally man of Influence.
For when he brings to bear on any sub
Ject his sagacity, experience and discipline
of mind, he usually, to use a popular
phrase, hits the nail on the head" From
the great shipper, who owns fleet of clip
pers, down to the humble owner of the
country store, the merchant, nine times
out OF ten, is an influential man among his
| acquaintance.
II Is to be regretted, therefore, that
there Is so little education, in its enlarged
sense, among merchants have nothing be-
yond plain English education; that is to
say, they can read, write and cypher, but
know nothing of history and less of sci
ence. If father intends to bring up a
son to traffic, he thinks liberal studies
thrown away on him; the boy is accord.
ingIy taken from school early, and placed
in IA store; and once having entered the
vortex, he rarely has time to read and
think except on subjects directly connected
with his business.
That the result of such training is to
make men thorough merchants, we admit,
but their thoroughness applies only to
their profession and outside of it, mer-
chants generally have less real know ledge
thal farmers, or even mechanics. Let US
not be misunderstood. The education of
merchants, while it renders them singular.
y acute, has tendency to destroy compre
hensiveness Of mind. They are complete
masters Of their business, and, therefore
well informed on matters directly relative
to 1t, but they too often ignore all other
subjects; while some 60 so far as to pro,
nonnce literature, philosophy, and even
politics and social science, utterly unprofi-.
table. Yet, what might they not do for
humanity, if they brought their practical
sense and acuteness Of intellect to bear on
these higher problems of society!
The tact of this unfitness for the lofter
walks of inte!lect-an unfitness, as we
have shown, the result of a narrow men
tai training-has practically excluded mer-
chants, as class, from elevated political
life, or from enlarged influence. The
statesman shapes the destines of COM
monwealths; the author moulds the opin.
ions OF generations to come; the LAWYER
legislates; the divine inculcates morals
All OF these act, in some way, on the
general body Of the community. They
are enabled TO do this, because they have
liberal eGucations, and have read and
thought on other things than their profes.
sions merely. But merchants, at a class,
do not "make their mark" so to speak, on
society or the State and fail to do it be.
cause OF their want of liberal education,
and therefore of enlarged ideas.
We are far from advocating college
education as Indispensable, or even gener-
ally desirable for merchants. But a bet
ter feeling for literature, larger acquain-
tanec with history, and mastery Of the
principles of social and political science,
would do much to elevate merchants as
class, increase their comprehensiveness,
and extend their influence. If their
shrewdness, knowledge Of men, and busi-
ness habits were united with more general
information and wider views, they would
soon divide with lawyers the task of gov
erning the republic.-Phiiadelphia Ledg-
er.
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