Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-03
It is hardly possible to avoid their commits,
sion as business is at present constituted.
Competition Breeds Dishonesty.

It is hardly possible to avoid their commits.
sion as business is at present constituted =
Competition Breeds Dishonesty.
And with this my next correspondent
agrees heartily. "My answer to your first
question, am sorry to say is that as the
world is at present constituted it is impossi-
BILE to do business successfully on Christian
principles. It is the fear of poverty that
causes men to abandon Christian principles
in business. The business mans competi-
tor, many times not Christian, resorts to
practices in. business that are actually dis
honest. That compels protesting Chris
tan to copy them, or otherwise stare pow
erty in the face
On the other hand, here are other voices:
Us it impossible to do business on Chris
tlan principles? No. is it true that as the
business world is at present constituted
men must commit sin? Mo-" And another
writes, mo! a thousand times no! Busi-
ness men do not have to lie. steal, break
any rightful &C mmand, or sin in any way,
in order to be successful" Still another de-
clares that the conducting of business on
Christian principle is ''the only hope of
success, and happiness in this life.
RemiEded Him of Diogrnes' Hunt.
Other men, however, are not SO pro-
nounced One who holds that business can
be done on Christian principles, admits
that it is difficult undertaking. Another
who read my letter to considerable number
OF business men of his acquaintance, and
reports that every one of them pleaded mot
guilty" and who really pleads "not
guilty" himself confesses that he thonghs
of Diogenes with his lantern searching
(an1 not very successfully for an honest
man.
One correspondent writes in this guarded
way: 'To your first question make reply
that business can be and is done on moral,
and therefore, Christian principles, by
many firms and persons. By this I do not
mean that perfection is attained, but that
there is fixed principle of applied integ-
rity, and consequently no more frequent
lapses than are found in ordinary mortals. 1
further believe that the number OF erring
brothers is no greater pro rata in the COM
mercial world than in any of the learned
professions, even including that of theology.
reiterate my firm conviction that business
can be done on Christian principles, and
that some of our most successful MEN have
succeeded on this very line
As Good as tho Parsons,
The reference to the clerical profession
was illustrated in connection with this let
ter by an enclosure of dozen clippings
liOni uCNs VI IuNL week, contain
ing reports of various misdemeanors on the
part of persons legally entitled to write
reverend" before their names. "Ought
to Be Serving Time in Penitentiary,"
was the heading to one of these para
graphs GA Bishops Sense of Honor" was
another. This same position, that the bust
ness men are fully as good as the persons,
was held by another writer, already quoted,
who said: Business life should be, may
be, and probably is as pure as ministry; and
may be, and probably is, conducted on as
lofty gro nd, and for as lofty ends, upon
the average"
And another, carrying the same battle
little farther into the regions ecclesiastical,
says this: 'Nor do know of any CONNER
cial practices that are in opposition to
Christian principles; but there is high
standard of commercial interity that busi-
ness men do not look for, nor expect to find,
in so-called religious men. This is not the
fault of Christian principles. 1t is fact, :"
he concludes, ''that may give you some food
Tor thought" AS indeed it does!
Selfishness the Basis OF Business.
And yet here is an epistle as long as two
sermons which begins thus: "Your letter
is at hand, and its contents noted with
alarm and amazement The subject is one
on which my thoughts have repeatedly
dwelt, and with no other result than pain
and dlstressful confusion. In fact, there is
little in the business world that will bear
comparison with ideal standards and Chris.
tian holiness. The dominating principle of
business is selfshness under the form of
competition. The rule of Christianity is to
love your brother as yourself These prin-
ciples evoke inevitable conflict -
Some of my correspondents, on the other
hand. are so emphatic in their certainty of
the Christian elements in business, that
they have their opinion, and that not
favorable one, of the young men whose
vote was quoted in my letter One busi-
ness man thinks that they were probably
boys who knew nothing whatever about
business Another says that their society
should be called the Sin-Apologetic Asso-
tion.
Bad for the Young Men.
Another says that 'no decent honest
be conducted upon Christian principles
successfully" Still another writes, 81 am
sorry for the young men in that Christian
Association who decided in the manner
they did, for it only too plainly tells the
classes OF business associates they have
had. To them would say, Come up out
of the Chatham streets of the business you
are in, and breathe the air of the broad
gauge, liberal, honest and honorable
avenues of the commercial world, and you
will change your vote"
Thus my first question was answered by a
confusion or voices. Some saying yes"
and some mo; but the majority maintain
ing most earnestly that it is not only
possible to do business on Christian prin-
ciples, but as a fact business is actually
done on Christian principles in the great
proportion of commercial houses.
GEORGE HODGES