The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-06-16
THE Duty OF MERCHANTS.

WILL UU O1 M1hOA AN AHs
The mercantile circles Of New York have,
within the past few days, been greatly startled
by the arrest of the members Of the great firm
of II. B. Clafin 4 Co., on the charge OF
being engaged in the nefarious business OF
smuggling silks. Mr.. Clafin, the senior men,
Der of the firm, has hitherto had national
reputation as business man and fnancier,
and, in the Metropolis, has been generally re-
garded as an upright and pious man. He is
q member of Plymouth Church, and an in
innate friend and associate of its great pastor.
He it was who, as an evidence of his great
faith in the purity and innocence Of the Rev.
MIR. Beecher, signiied his willingness to dedi-
cate his entire fortune, if necessary, to secure
a speedy, prompt and full vindication OF the
great preacher from the charges preferred
against him by Tilton.
If Mr.. Clafin is guilty, it will be great
shock to both his personal and business
friends. for it will greatly shake their faith in
the integrity of their fellow men if they dis
cover that one whom they SO honored and
trusted has fallen under temptation and sacri-
feed name made honorable by years Of labor
and apparently honest, Christian zeal. Tie
people of New York are not, however, prepared
to believe the accusation, and ask for Mr..
ClaAin speedy trial, hoping for an acquittal
It is such instances as this that have gone
so far already towards displacing that great
confidence which, in years past, existed be-
tween merchants throughout the country.
There was time when it might almost be
said of every leading merchant, "His word is
his bond" Business was then conducted in
an open, plain and straightforward manner
between merchants, and the least irregularity
in the conduct of business man caused him
to lose at once, not only his business repu-
tation and name, but it followed him into his
social life and made of him an example
which, doubtless, frequently served to pre-
vent the weaker among the others from in
dulging in practices then deemed disrepu-4
table.
Business men were then quick to detect
the slightest deviation from the honorable
course of dealing adopted, and the guilty ones
met with a swift and damaging exposure of
his craftiness. There are very many merchants
still left whose business life is above the
slightest suspicion, and who are held in high
respect by all their fellows; but, when with q
startling suddenness, the finger of suspicion
points toward one who has before been placed
among these honored ones, our faith is for
the moment, if not entirely shaken, at least
weakened, respecting the others.
It frequently happens that when such
discovery is made, the popular cry is for a
short time loud against the guilty one, and
then suddenly ceases, and frequently in an
almost incredibly short TINA we hear that
this same merchant is again in his old place
among our respected business men, and his
misstep seemingly entirely forgotten, if not
forgiven Under such a policy as this it is
no wonder if men look on each other with q
lurking suspicion, and fear to place any con-
fdence in their neighbors lest it may be the
next day violated.
This apparent willingness to forgive and
forget the business crimes of merchants is
very like pla sing premium on dishonesty
and burdening hoRr and integrity with such
discounts as to make them almost valueiess.
The honor and prosperity Of the country il
largely entrusted to our merchants, and they
should look to it that every Infringement OF
the strict law of business integrity should
meet with speedy and prompt punishment.
The name of merchant should be a creden-
tial to every honest mans respect; it should
be q draft on every mans faith, which is
never dishonored. Merchants, see to it that
your calling is not allowed to suffer from the
unpublished crimes Of dishonest men who join
its ranks, and then it will indeed be an I'M
common thing to hear of the arrest OF such
merchant princes Us a. B. Claflin, charged
with the fragrant violation of the laws Of his
country and the trust of his confiding asso-
ciates.