The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-12
WHO is TO BLAME?
From the Philadelphia Ledger.


From the Philadelphia Ledger.
There is nothing easier or more common
than for honest people to declaim against
dishonesty. Those who pay their debts
are naturally indignant with those who
do not; those who strive to be Just i'm al
their dealings are severe in their dcnun-
Citations against fraud and trickory. Ger
tain,y the various Illicit transactions so
frequently practiccd in our mdst-thc
adulterati tion of food, the false statements
| of value, the abuse of trust funds the de-
falcations and swindlng, great and
| small-merit all the condemnation they
| receive. Yet it may be seriously ques-
| toned If there are no sharers in these evil
| do!ngs, except the actual cuprts. Are
| all the honest people, who would sCOrn
| to commit such crimes, entirely innocent
Of any participation in them? To an
| swer this question, we must ask another:
| What is the desire that lies at the root
of all dishonesty? No one loves fraud
| for its own sake; no one would cheat his
fellow men, except in the hope Of seCur-
| ing something desirable for himself 1t
| may he said that in all such cases it is
| money that is Craved, and that the love
| Of money is the pre-detcrmining motive.
| Money, however, in Itself is nothing, save
| for what it will command. 1t Is a KEY
| which unlocks many things more or less
|
| these, not the least coveted, is the respect
of our fellow-men. We cannot deny that
| there is certain respect paid to wealth,
as such, and to those who possess it, In
! one sense this is to a certain degree just-
| fable. Wealth is worthy of honor as TAR
| as it stands as a symbol of capacity, en-
! orgy, industry, intelligence and good judg-
mcnt. Honestly acquired and rightly
| used, it reflects "a credit upon its possess
| n
| Unfortunately, however, it often stands
| for none of these things. 1t may have
| come through inheritance or bequcst or
| accident, and 80 bear no word as to the
| qualities Of him who owns it. or it may,
on the other hand, have been gained by
| injustice, oppression, deception, meanness
and a selfish disregard of the rights of
| others, and it may be so employed as to
| foster all these evils.
| If we Disseminated between these
| sources, if we always felt a generous ad-
| miration and sympathy for the man
| whose wealth is founded on character and
| ability, and a corresponding dsrespect
| for him whose wealth has been gained by
| dishOnorabe means, we might perhaps
| hold ourselves guitlcss of the many dis
| honest practices which we so freely con-
| denim. But so long as we bow to wealth
| indiscriminately, honor the rich man be-
| cause he Is rich, show Difference to those
| who live eXpensively, dress richly and
| give costly entertainments, regardless of
| their real worth or worthlessness, so long
| are we implicated in those very acts Of
| fraud and dishonesty which we so severe
| ly condemn. For everyone, naturally de-
| string to be respected and honored, looks
| eagerly for the most available way Of be-
| coming so. 1T is true there are brilliant
| achievements and heroic deeds, which
| sometimes lift men high on the wave OF
| popular esteem. But not many are
| capable of these. An easier path is opened
| to those of mediocre abilities by the ac-
| quisition of money. The youth has HIM
| self imbibed from the atmosphere around
| him a profound respect for it; he sees
| that 1t can secure his entrance into So
ciety, and can win for him the regard of
| his neighbors, the approval of his friends,
| the cordiality of the rich and the DEFER
| ence of the poor. on the other hand he
| sees that without this passport he is liza
| Bile to be treated with neglect and indif-
| ference, no matter what sterling qualities
! may be hidden under a threadbare coat,
1t is not strange that he should strive
| very earnestly to obtain whatever Will
secure to him such important advantages,
| more earnestly than for those things
| which, though admitted to be of far more
| real worth, are, I'm fact, regarded with
| comparative apathy. And in this eager
| strife, where competition Is so sharp and
| temptations so numerous, 1t is not to be
| wondered at If some who have hung all
| their hopes upon a success which seems
to elude them, should sacrifice their prin-
! ciples which are weak to their desires
which are strong. The history of many
a financial downfall, ending in ruin and
| loss of character, may be summed up,
| first in extravaganza for the sake of DIS
play, next speculation 20 support the cX-
travagance, and lastly some fraudulent
transaction with the hope of escaping de-
lection and retrieving past losses.
Without in the least condoning such
| lapses we may wen ask ourselves II We
| have not helped to make them possible.
If we are paying a respect TO wealth and
its external appliances, that rightly be-
longs only to character and manhood, are
| we not implicated i'm the guilt Of those
who, for the sake OF that respect, sacri-
fee their integrity and spoil their lives
| Does not our duty to our fellow men de-
mand that we give them every incentive
TO rlght-doing, ana remove, as far as pos
sible. every enticement to wrong-doing?-
and Is not the indiscriminate respect so
| generally accorded to the possession of
! money direct violation Of that duty? 1t