The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-06
The Business, ne. Enc. !.

j lHanl l. u u
i The Manufacturer Record, OF Bal
ttlmore. IN able and thorough-going
trade journal, which has the best in
iterests Of the south at heart, some
weeks ago printed a plank which 1t
thought covered the situation, and COM
mended It to the careful consideration
Of Its southern readers. The plank
that 1t stood for was us follows:
Resolved. That tho South favors the pol
ltics that will encourage and protect In
jYestments. within its borders, will raise
more schimney-stncks Of mills and fur
snaces, Will strengthen and extend rail-
road systems, Win open more mines. will
manufactured products, and will increase
J the means and Opportunities for placing
those products In the markets. IL
This business proposition, which
comprises the Republican platform in a
condensed form. seems to have offended
some of the hide-bound southern press.
! but the Record comes back in cheerful
style. In referring to the above quot
ed plank that. paper says: 4 ..g
IL That Is n plank OF tho platfrom for the
Manufacturers Record. 1t is strictly in
! line with tho purpose Of the Manufacture
ers' Record announced at the beginning
OF Its Independent existence, nearly eigh-,
teen years ago. to give especial attention
80 whatever. pertains to the material de-
velopmcnt' 'of the south. From that pur-
pose there has been no swerving. Yet ut
, this late day. with the indlsputable ex-
exhibit OF facts accomplished by the Man
;ufacturers' Record for the south's mate
In ran ly In, No Ia
Of political and financial difficulties, not n
few OF Its friends and co-laborers seem 10
find 1t necessary to criticise Its judgment
and to Question, Its mosiyes. Typical Of
these friends is the Jacksonville, Times
Union. "A few words regarding the posi-
ton that paper has assumed may, there
fore, suffice for all. and may induce them
to turn from the error OF their ways before
It is too Int. The Times. Union hears 'fn'
horror"l"from our best friends such coun-j
platform proposed TO us by the Manufnc-
turers' Record, and says:
AS n maxim to Sovern5our thoughts In
every department OF Industry. the counsel
It carries assurance Of n better day. but in
the realm OF politics 1t Is q deadly poison
and strikes ut the root Of our national
existence" ~ ~
That sentence reyeals state OF mind
which makes unnecessary further quota
! ton from the Times-Unlon on the subject.
II Is a mental condition which the Manu-
facturers' Record has lnbored In season
and out Of season to change, and not with;
out gratifying results. That It still per-
ststs is not to be denied. The knowledge
OF 1t only inspires the Manufnctcrns' Rec
ord TO stronger endcuvor to destroy It, for
the good not only Of the south, but Of the
whole land. So M
the grent question OF the relations OF bus
mess; and politics. the effects Of politics
upon business, the business OF politics and
the politics OF business. The politics OF
business is to further such principles at
the polls, In legislation and In every line
Of human action as will Insure steady.
growth In industrial enterprises. and in
the exertion Of the energies OF railroad and
steamship lines In opening up new fields
for numbering, mining. manufacturing.
trade and commerce. thus increasing the
opportunities for large majority OF men
for employment and enlarglng the. mar,
,kets for the products OF agriculture. and
Will maintain tho stability of'national and
international finances. without which ma
terial progress Is impossible. 1t is the
business OF every man and every paper
recognizing the truth OF that to leave no
stone unturned In the task OF promoting
such politics. It ought to be the business
Of politics to work In harmony with influ-
conducive to the health OF national exist
cnce, Too often, however, politics has ex-
actly the contrary tendency. The reasons
require no far-seeking. One of the most
potent OF them Is the fact that minds usu-
all we'll balanced fail ut times to perceive
4 the 'demoralizing and dangerous contradtc-
tion,tn a statement that counsel, excellent
when applied TO every department Of In
dustryi and carrying tho assurance OF n
better day to the business man, Is dead
tfy poison when carried into the realm OF
politics, TINT Is. presumably, pnrty action.
2 1t is demOralizing because 1t Is n practical
denial that politics and the better day of
industry and business can be akin and
dangerous, because II fosters the dwarflnE.
icankering separation OF business and poll
tics. The application OF legitimate busi-
ness motives and constructive purposes to
political conduct would strike ut the root
not OF national existence, but Of the de-
structlve forces which make OF politics an
tillcsitimate business, sapping material
strength and paralyzlng progressive In
;stincts.S Upon the separation thrive the
men who have led politics along n path
OF degeneration from m advocacy o: brond
theories TO wranglc over individuals who
are to enjoy the cmolumcnts OF public Of
flee. or who are to control the enjoyment
thereof. These care poti,tng about tiuan-
clcrs, manufacturers and masters oftrnnS-
fportation except In so far rs they may be
the prey OF corrupt legislation or the OBJ
fJects OF attacks from demagogues. who cs-
and vindictive passion, to prevent union
IN sanity OF the masses and the classes for
the overthrow Of the party politician.
Reckless In everything except In niattcrE
touching their own petty, selfish inter
ests. they assill national credit. corporate
integrity and Individual thrift with I'M
vparins weapons Of revolution and chaos
and prevent cure OF Ills In public az
fntrs' by menacing real conservatism with
direr evils. ="