The Seattle Republican. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1???-1915, 1901-05-31

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to sell, to know how to MAKE
shrewd bargain, to under
stand the qualities of common arti-
Giles of merchandise, all Of these
profit one but little if his business
education stops here. One who is
ignorant of the grander uses Of trade
and who lacks even rudimentary
education may possess this knowl-
edge, and yet no one would mistake
such man for the genuine mer-
chant.
After religion, commerce is the
greatest civilizing agent that has
ever influenced the world. National
isolation inevitably results in bar
barism. National retrogression and
a decadent commerce are coincident.
Phoenlcia was made great more by
its mercantile than by its military
class. 1t is remembered today by
the student of history not for its
paltry wars, but for its magnificent
commercial conquests. No doubt
the nations contiguous to it were
equally puissant, as far as martial
proves is concerned, but they lack
ed the incalculable advantages which
accrue to a people from its mercan-
tile character. Egypt was its great
contemporary and similar; Greece
followed in its footsteps, and Rome
took 1t as its antelope.
The merchant who fully under
stands the nobility Of his calling oc-
cupies position pre-eminently supe-
rlor to that of the mere trader. Mar
row-mindedness is. no ingredient Of
his character. He loathes the sordid
and dishonorable Vaccinations by
which men in ordinary life over
reach one another. He is a patriot
IN the truest sense-but not an intOl-
Grant one. He never fails even in
the most punctilious honor.
He is not content merely to amass
fortune and to enjoy its uses. His
view of society is keen and compre-
hensive. His intercourse with differ
and parts of the world emancipates
has mind from egotism and preiu-
dice. He feels it his duty to intro
duce into the community of which
he is a member all such improve
mentS which are to be found else
where.
Thus regarded, commerce be-
comes a liberal interchange of ideas
as well as of merchandise. Of course
to make it so, in practical sense
those who engage in it must be
equipped with intelligence, refine
ment, feeling of fraternity and an
acute sense of truth.
The Negro who enters on such 2
career should feel respect for his
avOcation.
He should qualify himself by self
culture, by education and by a rigor-
Gus adherence to all the virtues, if he
aims to become a complete merchant
and desires ia attain more than To-
cal prominence in his calling. Nc
man can have a more laudable am
bltlon than that. 1t will task all hi,
powers and give room for the exer.
else of his best faculties. What E
pity 1t is that so many colored Amer
leans with such glorious career be.
lore them are contented to remain
all their lives, with no loftier ambi,
ton than that of conducting a medi-
OGRE business in some unknown vii
lage.
Why do they not, inspired by the
true American spirit, rise superior
to their destiny? 'Man is the archi-
tect of his own fortune" is a trite
but true adage Failure is attrib-
utable only to ones own mental OF
moral Deficiencies. To him who
earnestly desires it, success will
surely come, and coming will bring
that reward, to gain which is mans
highest earthly guerdon.
EDWARD BAKER.