The National tribune., 1897-08-19

A prominent business man says: careful
observers seem to be of one mind that in our
commercial life the standard of integrity Is not
as high as it was five years age. These same
men tell us that the standard IS steadily be-
coming lower"
Inasmuch az these business men are not from
the criminal or pauper classes but are the
products of the American home, the American
school, and American society, the question is:
Have we outgrown the old fashioned maxim,
Honesty is the best policy?
1t is estimated that not less than six millions
boys, out of the seventeen millions pupils
now in schools and colleges. are about to be
the great world of various and varied activities.
Their morals will be subjected to severe tests.
How many of them will stand the strain ia the
natural question that presents ITSELF
The confidential clerk Of great business
house, upon being asked if the boys in the
business he represented were honest. said: "Oh,
the first six months they do, mechanically,
what they are hidden without knowing any
thing about matters" The question, "And
after that are they still honest2" elected the
response: well, after that they must know
that nearly every label which they put on
goods is lie"
One OF the best skilled workmen in a great
Ohio manufacturing town has been out OF work
all Summer. He is a house painter and was IN
the employ of large concern which has been
doing considerable business.
:" How is il you are out of work." was
asked. Because my employer wanted me to
do poor work, and that is something VIII not
do for any man."
Here is a product of the public schools of
which we may well be proud, and yet for men
to take the course that this man has done IS TO
take the very bread from their chiidren's
mouths.
A., -,I. A., rorI- ;,o ~, a ', Gin, NV donc uh at
he is told and rests the responsibility with his
employer. Public sentiment has not yet been
developed to the point where it stops to con.
slider the real difference between the genuine
article and the counterfeit The result is that
we will not investigate and are suffering from
our own ignorance or Indifference.
The battle must be fought in our public
schools. While religion may not be taught.
good morals must, or our liberty will fast be.
come license, and our National independence
shame and reproach.
Goethe, the great German poet, laid great
stress upon the Three References" expressed
through salutations The arms crossed on the
breast and the eyes turned heavenward with
joyous expression indicated reverence for what
is above. The hands folded across the back
with a smiling look downward expressed rev.
erence for what is below. The hands stretched
out toward companions and look turned to-
ward the right meant reverence for equals and
things about Us.
"Out of these three reyerences" said Goethe,
springs the highest reverence, reverence for
ones self as the best God and nature have pro.
duced"
What is this Int the fatherhood of God and
the brotherhood of man, which is destined to
make itself more and more felt as the convic-
ton is forced upon Us that we as Nation have
been playing with our freedom, neglecting the
possibilities lying within the scope OF its Guilt
vation.-THE EDITOR