Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-02-17
Confidence i'm Business.

Upon the confidence placed by one
portion of society in the truthfulness
and integrity of another portion does
its whole weIl-being depend. We are
told that in ancient times every mans
hand was against that of his neighbOr,
and the consequence was the distrust OF
the one in the friendly or honest inten-
tions of the other. Te remedy this
want of confidence, the chevaller OF
olden time resorted to signs as auxilia-
ries to his profession of honest lnten-
ton. One of these signs in our day,
was the raising high and touching OF
glasses before drinking; the object
being to show that, while friendship
was professed by the tongue. there was
no weapon in the hand with which to
strike a blow unawares. The military
salute of the uplifted open hand, shows
approaching parties that in that hand
there turks no instrument of death; thus
each gives confidence to the other, and
in turn accepts the proffered prOfes
sions of honest intentions and good
will. Instances without number might
be given to show that there has never
been a commingling of a people or OF
nations, without the exhibition OF con-
fidence of one in the other.
Commercial transactions are the of
springs of confidence, and without II
the commerce of the world could not
exist a single day. OF what material
then does this confidence cOnsisti We
answer, in the belief of one party Ill
the truthful statements, honest inten-
ton, and upright conduct of another
Silver and gold, houses and lands, ol
other possessions, may help to establish
it. but without the attributes first
named, the latter will soon become
worthless. The silver and gold turn tC
dross, the houses decay, the lands seem
to waste, and the entire possessions
will be found to have taken unto them
selves wings and flown away. The con-
fidence of commercial men In then
dealings with one another, shows that
there is divinity within us, and that
man in his manhood will not belle his
professions of the divine attributes
given him, but will exhibit truth III
word and deed, honesty in appearance,
and integrity and uprlghtness In all
things. Assuming then that confidence
Is the foundation of all commercial
transactions, we are led to inquire into
its abuse.
In investigating the many abuses OF
have been led to declare with the
Psaimist. that "ail men are liars" and
after making the declaration, to give
the executions thereto. These excep-
tions are: First, the man who tells the
truth in regard to himself and business;
second, the man who is honest in his
dealings after establishing confidence
third, the man who through success OF
misfortune maintains his integrity. The
declaration applies: First, to those
who ask for confidence on credit, and
lie to get it. These are found In every
community, and their aptitude at lying
makes it hard for time to find them
out. Second, those who, having estab-
lished confidence and credit, take ad-
vantage of ii to defraud and swlndle
their friends. Third, those who maln-
tain a certain position by the possession
of money, influence, or cheek, who tell
one lie TO cover another, and drift
backward and forward, detested by the
honest, abhored by the just, forsaken
by all who have any regard Tor the
good opinions of their fellow-men.
We are now led to inquire, how con-
fidence is established among CONNER
cial meni There are two ways. The
first and most proper one is by the
personal examination by the one party,
into the true condition of the other
taking no mans word for it, but seeing
and knowing for himself. This is the
safe way and the only way that will
ensure success in commercial affairs
The other way is the one which has
become SO prevalent of late years
trusting to a concern called CONNER
cial agency for information in regard
to applicants for favors and confidence
and receiving as true any report they
may choose to make.