The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-08

at another time; and men who call them
selves business men actually lay them
selves out to produce such artificial condi-
tions OF the state of the market as have
just described. Now that there must be
rises and falls In the price of materials IL
so obvious. that the fact need scarcely be
commented upon; but that any man call
Ing himself man should lay himself out
to increase his own fortune by conveying
a false impression to the minds Of the COM
munity at large with respect to the value
of certain commodities, that this, | say,
should take place, Is an outward and visi-
BILE sign of q low moral condition. Do not
let us blink the fact. 1t stares us In the
face. In other words, this is nothing more
or less than a fashionable and gentle
manlike way of picking pockets. There is
an ungentlemanlke and questionable
way of picking pockets. and 1t is done
position in society. They do not drive
In their carriage and pair and do not have
grand drawing rooms furnished with ev-
cry luxury and adorned with works Of art.
We know 1t is dshonorable; We call them
thieves, and II We can catch them We send
them straight off to prison. But you will
bear me out that there are other ways
of picking pockets, that there are many
men who steal besides those that pick
pockets In the street. When a man In
duces u false conviction with regard 10
the value Of an article, with view to his
own emolument, or when conversely that
man lays himself out to deprecate that
same article. still with a view to his own
emolument. what Is he doing? In the first
place, let me say, as straight as / can put
it, he is lying; and the business man that
lies does not deserve the name of busi-
ness man. All legitimate. manly, straight
forward commerce precludes this idea of
chicanery and deceit. A man that con-
descends to devices of this kind in order to
increase his wealth, Is making a confess
OIL hnt ha 10 n n a ~
Why? Because he cannot trust himself
to do business with his compeers in COM
mercial life by honorable terms and con-
ditions; he cannot trust himself and by
the very lies which he circulates and by
the very false impressions which he gen.
crates, he Is practically making confess
sion as to his inferlority In commercial
capacity, to his neighbor over the way
who deals honestly and whose business
transactions are straight.
CROOKEDNEsS IN BUSINESS.
Much Of the crookedness in business to-
day Is caused by the thoughtless way in
which some Christians insist on cheap
ness without considering how that cheap
ness is obtained. 1t might often be an ad-
vantage to you II you could obtain some-
thing cheaper. but never ask a tradesman
to reduce his price 10 accommodate you.
Assume that the man who serves you is
not liar and a cheat. II you cannot af-
ford the article. go without it. DO not
ought to live and let live. Christians need
to be much more conscientious than they
have been in the past with respect to this
craze for cheapness. There are many
Christians who would not, under existing
circumstances, go either to theater or to
race-course, who feel so very sensitive
about doubtful amusements; who do not
wish to be associated with debauchery, or
with gambling, or with any kind of ras-
cality, but who are not equally sensitive
in giving their custom and their patron
age to houses of business that are notori-
ously founded upon unrighteOus business
principles and methods. If any house of
business Is maintained by any system CT
dishonesty, then its customers are as guilty
as the frequenters of the theater or the
race-course. Then, dishonest tradesmen
positions in the church. How strange IT is
that the whole Church of God seems TO
have forgotten that the Apostle Paul
classes the covetous man and the extor-
He actually states that with the covetous
man and the extortioner the Christian
ought not even to eat.
In view of these facts. what is our duty
as Christian Endeavorers? Shall we flee
into convent to escape from the tempta-
tions of unrighteous business methods? :?
That would be to seek a towards para
disc. That would be to make ourselves
better than Jesus Christ; for He prays
not that We may be taken out Of the world.
but that We may be kept from its evil.
We should rather insist upon the duty of
having an honest calling, and of being dill
gent In II. Lawful labor is the great anti
dote Of dishonesty Moreover labor gives
IL a substantial interest in the work Of
safe guarding honesty. and of exposing
and Furnishing the dishonest. Business
fundamentally involves reciprocal bene-
Ats. No useless employment, much less
any inferior employment. has any right
to the noble name of business. Let us
each have a lawful calling and be indus
trious therein.
DUTY OF ENDEAvoRERS,
Another duty of Christian Endeavorers
as conceive II, is to make up our minds
that honesty IL, In the long run, the best
policy. 1t ID the only assurance Of certain