The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-02-02
WHOLE NO. 1906.
lEXaminer.]
Wauted-HOuesty.


Honesty is wanted in business, in
society, in Church and in State. 1t
has always been wanted in the world
since deceit and Satan came into it In
the garden of Eden, but it seems as
though it was never more sadly and
seriously wanted than to-day. Not
that our times, perhaps are more dis
honest than other times, but they are
ours, and the evils growing out OF dis
honesty press home on us almost
daily.
But few weeks ago Newark was
startled by the defalcation of two
and-a-half millions by one of its Bank
Cashiers whose public reputation for
honesty was so thoroughly established
and so high as to be considered unas-
sailable. He was man active In
church as well as in financial affairs,
one whose domestic, social and busi-
ness relations were all that is good
and desirable. But the unmasking
and the blow came together, and his
life was seen to be hollow lie, a de-
ceit, mockery of honor and right.
He had not only brought ruin upon
himself and his family, but upon hun
dreds of poor people who had many
of hem put their money in the Me-
chanics' Bank because the Cashiers
name for business ability and integri-
ty was so highly esteemed. What
Baldwin wanted was honesty-hon-
esty at the beginning, to have kept
him back from the first unwarranted
loan, the first speculation made with
money not his own.
Now Newark has to bear another
shock. Her Auditor confesses him
self an embezzler of public moneys to
the Amount of S125,000. No credit
to him for the confession, though,
since it was made only when he
deemed discovery no longer to be de-
layed He too, most unfortunately.
was of the Baldwin stamp, a man of
equally high character and reputation.
a member of the same church, man
favored in all his domestic and social
relations. Il would as soon believe it
of my own father" said one who had
known him for years. Fred Palmer's
word was as good as any mans bond
in Newark yesterday" Yesterday,
yes, but to-day good for nothing; and
the favored citizen and office-holder,
who had won his place by ability and
was proposed for speedy promotion,
whose life had been so economical
and correct, has thrown it all away,
and his life is an irretrievable ruin.
Worst Of all, down with him he has
dragged the innocent. 1t is one Of
the strange things how, if man will
not think Of himself, be will forget
the consequences to those whose lives
are indissolubly linked with his. This
ruin, why? Because here too there
was wanted-honesty.
Where did, the money go? Into
Wall street, where so many are tempt
ed to and do put other mems money.
Wall street, ay, where most of all is
wanted-honesty 1t is true the man
who is dealing with his own money
may throw it into the maelstrom Of
speculation if he sees fit. The man
who is dealing with other peoples
money must have the honesty to keep
clear of Wall street, or his downfall
is only a question of time, little
more or less. How far the wholesale
rush to ruin Of late years has been
induced by the fashion of speculation,
by the insane ambition to become
hastily rich-rich at lucky jump
by the low state of public opinion
with regard to business integrity, and
the levity shown to those who make
large and reckless their career of
crime, cannot we'll be estimated.
There are two checks to be sug-
gested. The first is the rigid prose-
cution Of such criminals, the viewing
their crime in its just light, and in
ficting upon them just punishment
to the fullest extent of the law This
would raise commercial honor in the
scale proportionately AS it pressed
down commercial dishonor to where it
belongs. The second lies back of the
other, and is the remedy that goes to
the root of the disease-the formation
of Christian character. The growth
of Christian character, possible only
by Gods grace and by constant reli-
ance upon the divine strength, can
alone make man strong, so that,
wha' ever the day bring, he shall
stand in honor and in righteousness.
To him who is rooted and grounded
in Christ the world never has to pro-
claim its "wanted-honesty.