The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-07-21
ETHICS in BUSINESS AND POLITICS,

ETHICS in BUSINESS AND POLITICS.
There are those who deny that we
are to give any heed to feeling, and
those on the other WHO say that we
must heed nothing else. We need not
follow either extreme. We ought to feel
right and we ought to do those things
that we feel like doing provided our
feelings have been instructed and cor
rected by knowledge and will 1t is
sometimes our duty to do that which
we do notfeel like doing. For instance,
sometimes we feel like saying sharp
things about those who Go not please
Us, or we feel like neglecting those we
do not like, when we ought to follow
the judgment and do good unto them.
On the other hand, there are feelings
that are too high and holy to be med
died with.
Do we need sentiment, morality, in
practical politics? Need I ask when ey-
cry city Of the Union has a civic feder-
alton, when taxes are increasing with
out corresponding benefits, when scarce
ly law is enacted by congress but it
is the result Of lobby, when the old
boast that we have no class legislation
is not even made anymore because we
have scarcely any other kind, when
money is the controlling power, and
when influence, votes and intoxicants
are bought and sold as the prime fac
tors in securing an Office.
urge every man to make politics a
matter of righteousness, truth and pur-
ity. Let US put our Sundy conscience
Into our ballots
Politics and business are vitally re-
lated. Any political party models it's
platform solely on a financial basis.
There are no great moral issues politi-
cally before US. Some Of the small par
ties attempt to advocate moral issues,
but even they advocate the financial
side and appeal mainly to the financial
arguments. Whichever party promises
best wages and largest gains wins, pro-
vided it car make it's promises believed.
Hence to affirm that morality, justice,
ought to reign III politics is to affirm
that business ought to be moral
I do not affirm that ali business men
or transactions are wrong by any means.
But we all know that there is q tenden-
cy among business men to act Ill way
toward others IN transactions that they
would not act as humanitarians. We
know also that many business men are
the victims Of system-competition--
that they detest, yet they must either
violate their sentiments Of right, be sat-
isfed with a low sense of right or fail.
Indeed there is prevailing belief that
anything is justified that brings cash
returns.
Competition, while not entirely evil,
is yet an unrighteous system. In mer-
chandizing, 80 per cent fail, and surely
a system that victimizes 80 per cent Of
its members is not righteous one.
Our merchants as class are as intel
hgent, upright. liberal and religious as
any other class. In their methods they
exclude sentiment. Ninety per cent Of
them fail. On the other hand, we take
the church and the family and the
school-all institutions that are perpet-
uated largely because OF sentiment, and
80 per cent Of them succeed. Reduced
to the utmost, if we are to live solely
to make money, the church, family and
school are not at all necessary. Indeed,
they are in the way, for they cost lots
of money and give no financial returns.
Now, it is plain that beth business
and politics need sentiment
It is a strange thing that we sanction
any methods in anything that exclude
the dearest sentiments Of the human
soul
1t may be said with cur1ed lip and
sneering tone Of this paper, That's
sentiment, but it was sentiment that
built the home, the scboolhouse and the
church; that rocks the cradle; that feeds
and guides and trains infancy with such
love and care into noble manhood and
womanhood.
It was sentiment that made Rome
great and made it possible for Macauley
to say of the nation III its greatness:
Then none was for q party;
Then all were for the state.
Then the great man helped the poor
Ard the poor man loved the great.
Then lands were fairly portioned.
Then spoils were fairly sold.
The Romans were like brothers
In the brave days OF old
j. ". CALDWELL
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