The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-11
HOUSTON. TUESDAY. APRIL IL. 1sD,
TEN PAGES TODAY
prsHoNEsT,'s COSTLY LESSON,

Tho Springfield. Mass, Republican, which
is one OF the ablest edited papers in the
country, rarely fails to get TO the true ill.,
wardness' of matters of public discussion
and It is independent enough to speak its
mind 1t is just now, with the testimony
before the beef inquiry board as a basis,
pointing again that often illustrated old
moral that honesty is the best policy In
business
The country has erred in placing all the
blame for rotten or unnutritious food for
the army upon the war department. There
has been too apparent disposition to ex-
cuse, or even regard as legitimate. the
smart conduc, Of the packing interests In
the premises. The war secretary and his
commissary general were guilty. indeed
and merit the popular indignation which
has been aroused against them, but the
contractors" who took advantage OF the
incompetency or rascaliiy. in the depart
ment, should come in for a full share OF
the publics contempt and condemnation.
As the Springfield Republican remarks, the
testimony before the board of inquiry sex
hibits the packing interests of the West in
the character OF those VINO would cheat
their own government, and who would
sacrifice the lives OF the soldiers to con-
tribute to their money profits" The Re
publican continues:
'''rhe comment OF Europe is that II Is a BIZ
Of characteristic Yankee irlekery and the
effect can not but be injurious not alone to
our provision export trade, but to all our
" lo.eA hEa md In
worlds markets for our cleverness In adapt
lug goods TO the whlms OF customers and for
making and charging good price for goods
VII Oh appear to be better than they are.
These 'prime-roast- beer labels and preserya-
tine painted sides OF meat are exactly in
harmony with foreign Impressions OF the
American Industrial character, and must have
TIE effect OF reyiving foreign distrust Of
Yankee goods and OF the representations ac-
tcmpanying them.
This Is what the blind greed of the pack
ing Interest, which has stopped neither at
cheating the government nor sacrificing the
lives OF soldiers to swell its prohts, has bern
able to do In one short summers campaign,
and the lesson ought not TO be lost upon
American trade in general 1t shows again,
ana most iripresslvely. that honesty is not
orly good morals, but the best policy"
Those people who have been expressing
sympathy for the beef interests" will do
we'll 10 stop short of the big packing firms
These latter do not deserve anything else
than punishment and as they are probably
safe against prosecution the Nation can at
ford to see them reaping the bitter re-
wards OF their fraud and dishonesty and
want Of patriotism, or tho impulses of hui
mainly. in decided loss of their business
for it is the stab in the pocket alone that
hurts such people.
Honesty does indeed pay. The crippled
roast beef business. from best accounts
: is already more than wiping out the profits
made by imposing upon the government
The only source of regret is that cattle mer
have to suffer TO a certain extent from th'
loss OF trade by the packers, but the ex
pericnce will in the end be beneficial Il
the cattle interests II the Nation properl.
progts by the lesson.