The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-03-21

icssSonat 1utys
ST. Louis Globe Democrat
One of the 81. Louis literary clubs ha.
recently had under discussion the
question OF commercial honesty. Tha
subject is of manifest interest and impor.
lance, since it involves the whole system Of
trade, and. to considerable extent. the
general scheme of society. II Ia by what
We call business that civilization is chiefly
asserted and promoted, and the steps OF
progress directed and accelerated. The IA
miliar process of buying and selling. in
other words. Is the basis OF the modern
philosophy OF life-the chess-board upon
which the game OF common prosperity is
played. Is the game an honest one, and
do the players make their moves according
10 the dictates Of conscience7 To answer
that conscience Is . doubtful quantity. and
speaks several languages. is merely 70 beg
the question. There are some we'll defined
rules Of right and wrong which every hu.
man being instinctively understands. Are
these fundamental rules observed In CON-
mcrcial operations? When man engages
in trade, does no pledge himself to b
governed by such obligations, and can he
thus succeed. other things being cqual7
The facts elected and the comments sub
mitted during the discussion referred to
were conflicting and inconcl1siye In some
respects; in others they were curiously
otherwise. 1t was agreed. for instance.
that any form Of misrepresentation az To
actual values is always dishonest. But, a.
Is well known. there are various WAYS of
investing an article with q fictitious value.
and about those the disputants were not
SO certain IL was found to be very diff.
cult to draw satisfactory line in that re-
iation. Generally speaking. IL was con.
coded, man has right TO sell; but has
he the right to advance the prizes by reason
OF any and all circumstances which make
1t possible for him to do so? Two or three
of the club denied the existence OF such
right, bat the majority took the affirmative
view, subject TO the rule that no deception
shall he practiced. The tradesman must
lower bis price when unfavorable conas-
tons ensue: therefore. II was argued, he
may properly make the most of the favor
able conditions that come 10 pass.
A physician opposed this theory. on the
ground that II can never be considered
honest TO take advantage OF the misfortunss
OF our fellow men. "if," said he, II should
happen TO be the only available physician
~ osan""its "uishs an ei11efhtc, auu
should use that fact A. pretext for charg-
ing exorhisant fees. would be drummed
out of my profession. Has the merchant
any more right 10 do practically the same
thing by increasing his prices because Of .
famine or striker The reply was that
the cases were not parailei-that the physi-
clan Is bound by laws of professional duty
and responsibility from which the merchant
il clearly exempt. Bat, can that reply be
considered a sufficient one7 Is IL permits.
sible TO make discrimination between the
man Of medicine and the man OF food and
clothing on . plain issue OF justice and
humanity The casuists may be able To
persuade themselves that quihble Of that
kind Is valid and worthy; but people who
reason more simply wiz be slow to accept
such A conclusion