The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1894-11-30

ing, but that all cmployments de.
mand so high standard of action is
an idea floating in the air, perhaps,
but by no means brought into gener-
al or practical use.
In commercial lite, for example,
the profit of the individual usually
occupies so large Il proportion of the
attention that but little is left for the
real benefits which commerce itself
bestows upon the people at large.
That it furnishes livelihood to mul-
utudes and fortunes to some, are by
no means the greatest of its bcnefac-
tions. It's contribution to the com
fort and convenience of the public by
bringing necessities and cnjoyments
within the easy reach of all is meal
culable. In this respect alone it is
one Of the chief factors of civiliza-
ton. But it does much more than
this. 1t draws men together by com
mon interests. 1t binds the East to
the West and the North to the South.
1t even umitcs countries between
which oceans roll, enabling various
nations TO mingle, and thus to under
stand and to respect each other. By
encouraging travel it spreads ideas
and methods. conserving and estab-
fishing the best, and planting them
where they have hitherto been un-
known. Thus, through the influence
of commercial enterprise, the differ
cnces that mark different states and
nations, instead of proving insuper-
able barriers to friendly intercourse,
are made to subscrve mutual i'm
provcmcnt and to enable each one to
make continual advance.
There is another and even moro
important benefit which commerce
bestows upon society, that of increas-
ing trust and confidence by promot-
ing honesty and equity. We hear
and read OF so many instances of
cheating and overeaching in trade
that we forget that these are the ex-
ccptions and not the rule. Every
case of dishonesty is pointed out and
emphasized, while of the thousands
of honorable merchants and trades
men of all kinds nothing is said. We
are accustomed to think much of the
great temptations to unfairness and
double dealing that beset the young
man entering business, and it is we'll
that he should be put upon his guard
against them, but it is also true that
mercantile life as a whole is school
wherein integrity and rectitudc must
be among the chief lessons. For
commerce is built upon trust, and
whatever shakes or undermincs that
trust wcakens the whole structure. If
roguery and unfaithfulness were gen
cral, the foundations of business
would give way, and commercial en-
tcrprisc would no longer be possible.
1t is but a poor and temporary gain
that the shortsightcd swindlcr or the
dishonest trader obtains. lie is
speedily discovered and stunned, and
sooner or later is ostracized from the
Ias!aess--NoGlltl aes-c9mpapletely. as IL the
sensualist or the Grunkard is ostra-
cized from good society. True gain
is not the transfercncc of money from
one mans purse to another, without
adequate return, but the increase of
social welfare by efficient and intcli-
gent labor. Whcn this is realized
and acted upon, commerce will attain
a sure and permanent success, in
which all engaged in it will be
sharcrs.
Thus, while business life depends
for its true prosperity upon good
faith, rcctitudc and honor, SO i'll its
turn it fosters and encourages these
virtues. Mr.. Lccky, in his Ills
tory of European Morals speaks of
industrial vcracity as that accuracy
of statement or fidelity to engage
mcnts which is commonly meant when
we speak of Il truthful man. IS * i
This form Of vcracity is usually the
special virtue of an industrial nation,
for, although industrial enterprise af-
fords great temptation to deception,
mutual confidence, and, therefore,
strict truthfulncss, are in these occu-
pations so transccndcntly important
that they acquire in the nil It's ofmen
value that they had never before
possessed" If this be so, it gives to
business life an ethical character that
is seldom accorded to it. Nor do the
virtues it inculcatcs end with itself.
When we occupy a high standard of
action in one part Of life, it raises
that Of all the rest. One who has
been accustomed to be faithful and
loyal in his home is not likely to be
false in his friendships, and if bust
""ss r"nnircS INTEGRITY i'm its follow
crs, the seeds thus sown Will blossom
out in other spheres, and thus bet
ter character, as Il whole, will result