The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-05-06
ACCUMULATION OF WEALTH.
1t Can Only BE Done Honestly by Civ.
ing Value Received. ~

ing value Received.
One OF the cardinaLtraits OF q gen
uine moral character is honesty. II
Is bond OF social and commercial
!, confidence. 1t is the basis of rea
prosperity. I'VE feel like not only en-.
dorsing the sentiment that an ''hon.
est man is the noblest work of God, q
but also adding that an honest man
Is the bedrock and bulwark Of society
and the state.
A dishonest man is carbuncle up-
on the neck, felon upon the finger
or the social body. He causes a sight
OF irritation: trouble and inconveni-
ence;'he works confusion and loss; and
not infrequently communicates poison
to the entire social system.
There is much complaint OF a lack
or strict honesty in the land today,
and there are many evidences to sus-
tain the complaint. We can scarcely
pick up a paper without reading or
thefts and defalcations, and the ope-
rations of fraudulent and swindling
schemes, and the extortions of cor.
porate greed.
Coincident with the carnival of dis
honesty is the prevalence of the gam
bling mania, and may it not be that
these two things are somewhat related
as effect and cause?
The speculative spirit is wide
spread. 1t permeates AMI infests all
classes OF society from the lowest to
the highest. In the lowest it finds
expression in crap shooting and in the
devices Of gambling dens. A little
higher up, as men grade society, it
finds expression In laying wager on
the baii game, and the cock fight and
the horse race. Among the respccta-
| BILE 1T finds expression around the card
table Of fashionable parlors and draw
ing rooms, and reaches the climax of
expression in what Is commonly known
as dealing in futures"
! There are many men who would
| not bet on {. horse race or stake money
on agame Of cards, but they will put
up money as margins on cotton con-
tracts and grain futures.
Doubtless there is a lawful dealing
in futures. AS things are, il is possi-
Die that in no other way could large
dealers in these products protect
themselves against serious losses in
certain cases in the course of bona
tide transactions.
But for the mass Of men who en-
gage in this kind of dealing, it is
nothing but gambling. They are
protecting no legitimate interests,
they are simply and solely indulging
the gambling spirit. Their dealings
amount to nothing but wager laid
upon the future price Of a product.
1t means that one mans gain IS an
other mans loss, and it leads to
risks that are not legitimate and
Safe.
Eut Without arguing the question,
let us consider the result. The safest
rule by which to judge of the moral
cnaracCsr OF any thing is the-= cid
one given by the Master Teacher,
By their fruits ye shall know them"
What are the fruits of dealing upon
the exchange? 1t saps the essentials
OF sterling manhood, honor, patient
industry and economy.
If l can make $500 by venturinp
SlOO upon margins, why hesitate to
risk on the venture the Sl0O in my
hands as trust, | can soon pay it
back, and have a nice surplus for my
self
If can make $500 on the exchange
in a day or week, or even in a
month, why need be plodding along
for $50 or $50 u month? And why
worry myself with stinting and econ
omiZing at every turn and living
plainly and frugally? And thus the
essentials Of noble, vigorous manhood
collapse under the touch OF the ma
lign' transactions with their golden
anticipations.
THESE dealings have untitled many
a man for any employment requiring
concentrated and persistent toll: they
nave made thieves of young men in
stores and banks: they have made de-
iaulterS and embeZzlerS Of those who
nave had trust funds in their keep
ing: they have brought many family
TO poverty, and many good name to
shame and disgrace, and many life
with bright prospects to a suicides
grave and to dark eternity.
These transactions kindlc a desire
to get rich in haste, and he who
makes haste to be rich will rarely, if
ever, be honest. 1t will ever be true
that They that will be rich fall into
temptation and snare and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts.'' The
gambling spirit SO prevalent today in
low and high circles, in the den and
in the pit, is Il giant foe to honesty
1T is Subversive Of that ancient com
mand spoken from heaven, Thou
shalt not steal"
II you would be an honest man,
keep out of the Niagara rapids of
speculation. There are deadly falls
just ahead You may never get rich,
but there is something better than
riches. This is not popular doc
trine ut this hour but that it is be-
cause the popular vision is disorderad
and distorted But believe me, there
is something more valuable than
money and that is unsullied man
hood.
| do not condemn money getting.
On the contrary, | praise it. Make
all the money you can and save all
the money you eau, SO you use it for
God and humanity. There is no vir-
tue i'll poverty. On the other hand
there is fearful sacrifice OF power
and usefulness.
Put yourself down to it; make
money, but see to it that you need