Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1891-06-11
BUSINESS INTEGRITY.

Is the standard of integrity among
business men being lowered. 1t GER
tainly looks that way. Scarcely a
day passes but that in some part of
the country there is a dcfalcation,
an embezzlenent or crooked trans
action OF some kind among business
men. And the worst of it is that
those who are guilty of wrong doing
seem to be just as well thought of in
the business world as those who are
honest in all their dealiugs, provided
they keep out of the clutches of the
law and avoid exposure in the pub
lie prints. If they escape exposure
and punishment they act as if they
were entitled to the recognition and
social courtesies from their acquain-
tances, and it is seldom they receive
a rebuff. Is this because there is
not as high reward for business
probity as there ought to be:
1t is certainly a very dangerous
condition of affairs, to say the least
of it. The condoning of breach of
trust in any community is pretty
certain to be followed by other
crimes of like nature in that com
munity. If the impression gets
abroad that mans relations and
friends will come to his assistance if
he proves false to the trust reposed
in him, and will shield him from ex-
posuTe and punishment, there are
likely to be many more crimes
against property than if exposure
were certain and punishment sure.
But every time an offense is par
doned the standard of business NOR
ality is lowered in some degree.
Men who place their honor above
everything are not, of course, inllu-
cnced by the condoning of crime. but
the men who are likely to yield to
temptation yield more readily when
they are tempted, because they
think il their wrong doing is discoy-
cred the chances are that they will
not be exposed or punished. Those,
therefore, who assist in condoning
crimes, however commendable their
motives may be, do society posi-
tive injury. They are indirectly re-
sponsible for other crimes which are
committed. They break down the
barriers which help to keep men
honest.
In perhaps every city in this coun.
try the excusing Of young men who
have robbed their employers is not
an uncommon occurrence. In some
instances those whose first offense is
excused turn out well but it is safe
to say that the great majority of
them come to bad end. But the
practice Of condonine offenses would
not be Objectionable if the knowl-
edge of the offenses were confined to
those directly concerned in them.
The offcnses, however, become
known, and also the fact that they
have been condoncd. The result is
that wrong-doing is regarded lightly
by those whose sense of honor is not
great.
1t is the plain duty of business
men in every community to encour-
age high standard of morality.
They should do this not only by in
sisting upon the punishment of all
who are guilty of violating the laws
for protection of property, but also
by refusing to have any business or
social relations with those who are
guilty Of crooked business transac-
tions of any kind.
Unfortunately riches cover null
titude of sins nowadays. How
much better it would be for society
il rich man, who got his wealth dis
honestly, we're treated as a common
thief instead Of being honored and
respected Exchange.