New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-15
BUSINESS OR POLITICS.

Flow men delight in putting on airs OF SUI
rercriiy TO their neghbOrs. I'VE want more
business and less politics" il is fashionable Tor
some manufacturers and merchants to say, ana
occasionally one varies the yarn by suggesting
that we shall get 10 prosperous basis IN spite
of the political game" This kind or talk ihdi
Gates either dense ignorance or dishonesty Oh
the part Of men who thus ignore the necessity
of a radical change in legislation In order to give
life to business and lift 1t out OF the ditch INTO
which II has been cast. Do these self sulncieht
business men, with their noses in the air. desire
a return to the conditions which existed eight
months ago. when there was supposed TO be
chance Of present legislation continuing!
The business man who babitually toadies 10
the supposed political feeling Of his customer is
not a very admirable person Does not every
body remember the New York merchants VINO
were ready to sacrifice the Union to their South
ern trade in 1881? Happily. the Nation had and
has other ideis The man who loftily suggests
that If the affairs Of the Nation were out OF the
way. II nothing were done or proposed to make
seventy million Americans more prosperous ne
could get more money, Is pitifully unpatriotc.
but is also stupid Business cannot prosper I'M
til American citizens prosper. There can DC no
good times for American manufacturers. mer-
chants, bankers or even importers until the peo-
Ole OF this great country are placed in such con-
dtion that they can buy as largely at fair prices
as they formerly did. The men who are trying
to enlarge the capacity OF the average American
for buying really know something about bust
ness The so-called business man who sneers
at their efforts acts as II he knew nothing
1t might be Of advantage to some OF these
laxative business men If they could grasp the
ts, NIX
business interests far greater than their own,
and of larger comprehension OF business needs
When great State selects manufacturer or
merchant or banker to cast half OF Its vote IN
the Senate, It is apt to be for the reason that
the men who really do business In that State
have found him capable person The modern
habit Of vilifying the Senate as club of rich
men has this drawback. that the members all
appear to have made what wealth they have by
their own exertions in industry. II they are
able to buy out many Of their critics, that is at
least evidence that they know more about the
actual needs Of business In this country. and the
straight fact is that most OF them are better able
to fudge Of the measures needed 10 promote the
general welfare and their own interests as in
yestors and business men also than the people
who think It smart to turn up their noses at
the game Of politics"
The game OF politics" is the chief business
of every man who has any sense In this Nation,
because the Nation governs itself What laws
should be made. what foreign relations should
be established or cultivated, must affect bust
ness in every branch and the industries and
wages of every citizen, and consequently the
ability OF every citizen to buy from every mer
chant or manufacturer. There are ADLER. richer
81, Afotn hf1ci 4
ness men at work in Washington trying TO Inn
prove the general conduct OF business In this
country than can be found In most bank par
lors or counting -houses. little sense Of de-
cency might prompt other business men to re-
frain from treating their efforts with scant re-
spect They sacrifice large interests Of their
own and greatly increase their expenses in 60
ing TO Washington, nearly all Of them without
hope OF advancement or reward beyond the
honor and thanks Of their fellows, and 1t Is but
the plain truth to say that such as thus serve