New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-12

a
Chamber of Commerce We're in that !nstru-
ment, described "A great number OF mer-
who have. by voluntary agreement associates
themselves for the laudabe purpose OF proInot-
ing the trade and commerce OF our salo PIoNs
lnce"; and we wonder whether 1t ever entered
into the Imagination of those merchants that
they were laying the foundations OF an orsanlzd-
ton which at any time in its future would
be able TO point to such noble achievements
as are to-day found among the cherished pos
State of New-York
GEORGE HIS CHARTER
We read the statement in their charter that
this great number of merchants" were "sensl-
BILE that numberless inestimd BILE Dement'S nave
accrued 10 mankind from commerce, that they
are in proportion TO their greater or less appii-
cation 10 il, less opulent or potent IN
all countries. and that the enlargement OF trace
will vastly increase the value of real estate as
well as the general opulence of our said col
ony' and we wonder whether they had mint
or conception that their successors IN THIS DAY
and generation would not only snow most
glorious record of their success in aid or giving
the numberless inestmab BILE benefits OF com,
merce to mankind" but that this record Would
be gained under the Inspiration OF AIMS anu i
purposes higher and better than the mere IN
crease OF the Value OF Teal esI4te " IL 70
lenCe Of their city and State. We read the re-
quiIement in this charter that the meetings OF
the co poratiOn shall be held in the great rooH
of the building commonly called the Exchange,
situate at the lower end of the street called
Broad-St in the said city of New YORK ; ana
we wonder how large that great room was, and
whether the widest fancy of the incorporators
Of 177O could have pictured future home for
their Chamber of Commerce as magnlnceht aS
this.
In considering the evolution Of commerce
from small trade and barter, one OF us incl
dents which should impress us, perhdPS, o us
than all others, is the elimination IN TINS process
of evolution of the meanness and overreachlnS
greed which petty trade so frequently attracls
and fosters. They were little traders ana petty
money changers who driven from the
courts Of the Temple Of Jerusalem, charged with
making the place OF their assemblage den or
|
then or now the amount of trade should IN every
case fiX the character of the trader; but II Is
| nevertheless true that the commercial organ
izations of to-day cultivate a broad spirit OF
business fairness and develop merchants and
traders whose word is as good as their oond'
| whose dealings are open and honest. and whose
business assemblages are guarded and con
trolled by the eXactions Of probity and upright
ness
If we justly appreciate what these things
| mean, we shall realize that commerce has done
| an immense service TO humanity. by charging
| within its wide influence the acceptance of the
| laws of honest dealing among civilized COM
munities, and by curling mans besetting sins
| Of selhshness and greed
MORAL BENEFITS.
We shall thereupon be led to apprehend the
| especial benefits in moral sense that have ac-
crued to own countrymen from the work
| and example of the Chamber of Commerce OF
| the State of New York. and OF kindred instttu-
| lions scattered throughout land. They
have brought together a vast number of our
citizens and made the American merchant who,
| TOO great TO be mean has. by bold enterprise
and brave venture. challenged the admiration
| Of the world; equally as important as this in its
moral complexion and significance, they have,
by the adoption and enforcement OF rules for
| their government. illustrated TO a people apt to
chafe under enforced restraint how usefulIy
they themselves may voluntarily restrain ana
| regulate their conduct and. beyond all, they
| have directly and by example leavened the mass
| or our citizenship with a love OF scrupulous
| honor. and largely contributed to the preserva-
| ton OF true American devotion to fair play. Do
| / eXaggerate when l say that all this amounts 10
| OF
| l speak within bounds. may not put to the
| credit OF commerce the gift to our people OF a
| steadying force more than ever needed in these
| days If we are 70 stem the tide of misleading
| influences and dangerous tendencies?
| What have said must not be understood as
| IN the least intimat!ng that commerce should be
| an altrustIc or benevolent AFFAIR, managed on
| lines OF amiability and concession. Such con-
ception would be absurdly at fault Commerce
is born Of enterprise. and enterprise in this busy
| busting age. is born Of struggle and competi-
ton: But the struggle and competition need
| not be to the death. Alertness and keenness in
securing business opportunities do not by any
means import manufactures OF all else save
| ruthfulness and ravenous snatchng
| nave attempted TO suggest how practical
| business activity can be mingled with enlight-
| eminent and social betterment and how com
| merclal organizations have already woven them
| together They are estopped from dsclaimine
| their obligation to continue the work. II rests
| WIN tnem not only to enlarge and strengthen
| by increased enterprise the fabric they have
! thus produced. but to make it brighter and more
| beautiful by adding to 1t a larger infusion OF
| that which touches the welfare Of mankind in
| every moral and social phase and condition
THE MISSION OF COMMERCE.
1t may. therefore. be Justly said that COM
| merce. by what Il has already done by what
| lies yet in its path undone. and by what it is
| able TO do. has created for itself a mission
| which cannot be fulfilled by increased effort di-
! rected solely 10 gaining mere business advan-
| tages. This mission does not exact an abate-
| ment OF commercial struggle and connection.
| but IL so far fixes their limit as to enjoin that
| with such struggle aHd competition there shall
| also be willing cooperation in endeavor 10
| promote every beneficial purpose which com
| merce can draw within its sphere
! rms mission was impressively recognized and
| us obHgatlons fully confessed not many months
| ago When representatives, of the commerce OF
| the United States met in delightful hospitality
ana brotherhood the leaders Of the CONNIE rcia
| organizations OF Great Britain
II was the president of the London Chamber
OF commerce who said: Working together for
| the common good of all mankind. we may keeE
the door open for trade: we may spread civiliza-
| uon protect the oppressed and establish peace
among nations"
1t was the president Of the Association OF
| chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom
| Of Great Britain who said: we have the high
| est authority for saying that blessed are the
| peaceHakers- l sometimes think that COM
| HeFce mas done even more than religion in this
| respect Differences OF religion sometimes sep
| arate nations, but commerce is never militia Mt
| II binds US together in links of gold like mar
| riage rings"
RIVALRY IN CIVIC RIGHTEOUSNESS
1t was the president Of the Chamber of Com
| Herce or the State of New-York who voiced the
| sentiment OF every conscientious American and
| every truehearted man when he said: Our
| only rivalry exists in seeing how we can emu
| late each other in doing those things which tend
| Tor civic righteousness and truth. Banding
| ourselves together hand in hand shoulder 20
| shoulder, heart beating with heart let us emu
| late one another in endeaVorng to extend 10
| the ends OF the earth the blessings of our civil
| ana religious liberty, to tell the world Of The
| holy brotherhood of man.
ca rl IaFrrr