Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-03-08
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
THE MERCHANT.

HE MERCHANT occupies an intermedia,
place IN society between the producer and th
consumer. He is the agent of both. A hie
and honorable position this, not only because {
Its responsibility, but also because of the conf
eehce necessarily placed in his honesty. IF faith
| fui TO his trust, he will be respected and honor
/ ed; II not, he will receive the reward of all nm
talthfuness, the distrust and contempt of all
] IL Is not tie function of the Merchant to max
his fee-to get his Profit The fee is oriy th
Just payment of the labor he expends in proyi
| ding tor the wants of the consumer 1t is hi:
| functional function to be performed irrespec-
tive of fee or for quite the contrary of fee--tc
thoroughly understand the qualities of fhe things
In Which he oeals, and to apply all his ssgacity
& energy IN obtaining them in their purest forms
and distributing them at the cheapest price Dos
sl6ie, where most needed. This IS his bounden
duty, and it his duty, too, to suffer any loss-to
welcome poverty and even death itseIf-rather
than provide that which is inquired or adulterated
or at exorbitant prices. Does it ever occur to
our merchants WHY it is that they, as a class.
are not respected and hOnored as the men of
other professions are respected and honored r.
The clergyman, the lawyer and the physician
area all more respected and honored than the
merchant 1t cannot be because of the superb
or mental qualities requisite to the successful
pursuit of these professions. For there is ss
much energy, tact, foresight, decision and other
mental qualities required for the successful
management of mercantile operations, as are ex-
pected in the members of the other so-called
"liberaP' professions.
This public estimate Of honor must be deeper
than in the measurement of their several powers
of mind.
The truth is, the respect we payto the soldier,
the lawyer, the physician and the clergyman is
founded ultimately in their self-sacrlfee.-
The world honors the soldier, because he holds
his life at the service OF the State; the lawyer
because Of its tacit conviction that in all impor
tant acts of his life justice is first with him, his
own interest second; the physician, because of
its persuasion, that to alleviate the suffering and
save the life of the sick is his first object =
the clergyman, because it firmly believes he
seeks, above all things else, mems welfare |
for time and for eternity. And the merchant
the world does not honor, because he is pres1ul~
ed to act selfshly. The public believe that his |
whole object in his dealing is TO get as much |
for himself ard leave as little for his neighbor |
as pcs ible. This same public, that loudly de- |
clares, as the law of The universe, that 1t is the
buyers junction to cheaper and the sellers to |
involuntarily condemn the man Of !
commerce for his compliance with their own
rule. And this is the reason that the land echoes
with ansthemas pronounced against epeculators
Bring speculation to the best OF the commonly
received laws of trade, ead it appears al righ
and proper. Nevertheless the very man wht
receive these laws of trade for laws Of the uni
verse, condemn speculation. 1t is not right to
buy IS cheap as possible, and sell Gs dear as
possible, because such rule ignores all Affection
that which we ofoe 40 our neighbor- and is
therefore rule commencing injustice. Ths
man who hides, or stores awayin his barns or
cellars those things which are necessary TO the
being and well being Of society until his neigh
bors are starved into paying the highest possi-
bic price, is an unjust man, chest richly de-
serving the contempt of all. This robbing the !
poor, because he is poor, is especially the mer
camille form of theft, consisting in taking advan
tage of mans necessities TO obtain his labor or
property at reduced price.
''He that oppresseth the poor to increase bis |
riches shall surely come to want" ''Rob not |
the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the
the place of husiness. Fox Goo shall |
spoil the soul CT those that spoiled them"