Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-04-03

VIC oulouuI PdlO lOT liquors consumed In
1870 at $500, OOO, 900; averaging nearly
$a0 Tor every man, woman and child. A
large amount OF this is used in Door
families, and reduces them to want and
wretchedness.
Number One.
OUR article on the "egoistic and altruis-
tic theories" has drawn out number of
communications from our readers, show
ing the hold which the discussion has
taken of the public mind. One Of these
writer's claims to have been startled by
our announcement that Christianity and
sound political economy alike require
every man to love his neighbor as him.
self, and he asks how this is possible in
ordinary commercial intercourse. He in
sists that he censults his own interests
alone in every bargain, and that man
who does not looS after number one"
will soon 60 to the wall
To this we reply that every mans own
interest, and due regard for the initial
number Indicated, require aa equal con-
sideration for the interest of Others If
the only consideration of bootmaker is
to obtain ten dollars for pair of boots,
and he has no consideration for the inter
est of the buyer, he will soon lose his
custom. He must see to it that if he asks
ten dollars for his work he gives the Gus
toner ten dollars worth of boots There
is no antagonism of interest, but a mutual
profit. The best workmen are evermore
looking out for customers who will ap-
preciate their skill and faithfulness, and
every honest customer is in quest of q
workman who will give him the value of
his money. The buyer who is seeking TO
cheat the maker by employing him at a
price too low, and the maker who is seek
ing to obtain his price without giving the
buyer good article as an honest equiva-
lent for the money, are each acting on
the "egoistic" theory, but not in true
self-interest.
This is the gfeat mistake made by those
who, through artificial means, endeavor
to circumvent the laws of trade and Sc
cure for their calling an undue relative
price. The journeyman who makes the
$40 boots insists that 81 is not enough
for his labor, and strikes for SO, or re-
fuses to work. If his employer gives SO
and continues to sell for so, he is ruin
ed, and the workman loses his place. If
the employer raises his price to $12 the
extra cost diminishes the demand. The
old boots are worn longer, shoes are sub
stituted, some go with bare feet, and in
various ways the sale is diminished. In
| addition, the extra cost of boots, increas-
ing the annual expenses of all who wear
them, augments the cost of everything
the journeyman has to buy, SO that his
selfish effort has resulted to his absolute
disadvantage. It is for the interest of all
who have anything to do with production
| to give the consumer his fair equivalent
in good article at a reasonable price.
Any other course, however sagaciOus it
may appear, is really injurious to its
''ogoistic" author
There are many who admit this priRci-
pie ia the direct interchange of this class
of services. They can see far enough to
recognize the fact that the doctor for his
patient, the lawyer for his client, the ar
tisan for his customer, must act on the
principles We have stated. and best con-
suits his own interest when he works for
the interest of his patron. But they are
often blind to the evidence, abundantly
offered to one of quick discernment, that
| the same law holds true in the mere dis
| tribution of products.
An old merchant of this city once told
| US that he thought more tradesmen failed
through lack of interest in their Gus
| toners welfare than for want of devo-
! ton to what they selfishly considered their
own advantage This merchant was
noted when in the retail trade for his
candor in advising his customers against
any purchase which he thought would
not give them permanent satisfaction.
He would always forego sale if he be-
lieved the article under examination was
not the one which the buyer really
1 L. l-fk %hD tnyl
trade, and engaged in large wholesale
business, he continued to practice upon
| the same principle. He did it conscien-
tiously as matter of duty; but he al
ways insisted that it was also the true
mercantile policy. His customers could
pay him because they were enabled to
sell everything they bought Of him at a
profit. They liked to trade with him be-
cause he sought their interest, advised
them what to purchase, and would not,
to clear out his own stock, transfer to
their shelves any article he did not be-
! lieve they could turn to advantage. DE
would often take back to his own present
loss, some fabric which proved. unstable.
He called such dead stock ''shopkeepers, y
and he often declared that he would
rather dig hole in the ground and bury
| them than to have them lie year after yeal
on the shelf of his patrons, a continual
reminder that they had made bad bar
gain in the purchase.
This may sound strangely to some o.
the fast young merchants of our day, bu
it is the true theory of business. Tht
distinguished writer we quoted in ou1
last article may sneer at this as an 'altru
istic" method, ruinous to enterprise, be
cause it seems more outgoing than self
seeking; but we can assure him and al
others who will listen, that He who wrote
for every subject the grand requirement
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
SELF" has with the same hand established
the irrepeaiable laws Of trade, and
breach Of one is violation of the other
He who seeks his own interest in a lovin,
regard for the well-being OF others VII
find the rule of Christian ethics profta
BILE for the life that now is, as well as fo
that which is TO come.-N J. Journal 9
! commerce.