The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-29
THE PRESS.
F iday No ming, 0ot9b 90, 1862
GOLD CLOSED in New York last hlght at
1874 a 49,


at is naught, it is nausht, saith the buyer:
but when he is gone he boasteth" This is
the way human nature has exhibited itself in
trade from the Gays of Solomon till now. IN
stead of loving his neighbor as himself man
has, in trying to get the advantage of Others.
been blindly injuring himself. For nothing is
more certain than that trade cannot flourish
IN its fullest vigor without mutual confidence.
- secure this both buyers and sellers must
be governed not only by the rules of common
morality, but by the incest sense OF honor
Each must feel assured that the other Is scru-
pIlously faithful in making known all tie
mate.ial facts peculiarly within his knowl-
edge. For trader to declare that he has Civ
en- his very loavest price when he knows he
will take less rather than not sell. or for
customer to say he cannot 90 above a certain
sum when he knows he will do so if he can
make no better bargain,-if this is not living
what is it? 1t gives striking idea of the de-
morazation in the current ideas of CONNER
cial honor, that such practices are not only
commonly tolerated but defended by men
WHO would feel insulted il their veracity were
questioned. How much better for merchants
to be content to receive and buyers willing to
give reasonable profit. Let each treat the
other as he would think it reasonable to be
treated if their relations were reversed. As
trade is now conducted, the friction of colid-
ing interests produces a competition which,
besides cutivating reckless selfshness,
wqSfnc tho anarriac foil
The infamous system of Cheating down" as
1T is called, land we do not include in this
term any legitimate discussion between buy
er and seller on the question of price as cor
nected with the quality OF the goods.) is the
symptom OF decentralization for which both
Buyers and sellers are to some extent respop-
bic. 1t is produced by an attempt on tie
pat of the latter to get more, on that of the
f'rmer to cave less than a fair profit. The
suit is that while the merchant gets on an
average about fair profit, those whose sense
OF honor revots at the idea of beating down.
have to make up the deficiency created by the
discount afforded to those who are not
troubled with scruples in respect to this prac-
uce. We most earnestly protest against this
discrimination in favor of meanpess. Let
merchants be content with moderate profit
and seta price which under all the circu n
stances shall be just. Let them adhe ne with
p,rsiatency to this rule, and in time trade will
me and confidence with it. 1t will cost
something at first, but the man is puerile wi O
thinks he can gain public confidence without
plying for it, and paying in advance too. 1t is
NJ easy matter to dodge the inexoraLle
lsw of equivalents by getting for trife a
t ing SO valuable. BY all means let man
ri idly refuse to be 'beaten down" when lie
st lrs IN trade. If the vicious habit is ono e
quired it is difficult to shake it off. A rt-
lat in the face of the enemy is as dangero,
in trade as in war.
II a man is driven from trade by adhering
to this policy, it is sure sign that he ought
to be driven from it. and that ne made a ms
take in taking up this employment. 1t will
often require moral courage to accept such a
conclusion AMI give up cherished projects.
But with moral being, moral necessity
ought to be just as weighty as a physical ne
cessity. If human affairs are ever to be reg
nlated at all, they must be largely regulated
by moral law. By disreearding if, indeed. the
symptoms of social disorder may be conceal
ed. Gut to hide The symptoms is not TO cure
the disease. 1t still turks in the system and
the longer it is left unchecked, the more radi-
cal Will be the treatment ultimately required