The Washington times., 1904-03-07
COmmeTCialiSm.
Secretary Cortelyou Explains His Idea
of It.

Secretary Cortelyou Explains His Idea
In his address before the Lumber
Dealers Association, Secretary Cor
telyou made some interesting state
ments about commercialisIn, which, in
one form, is the bugbear of most SEN
sitive people today. He said:
There is, undoubtedly, n eommercialism that
would dwarf the national life, that would
place business success above business honor;
that would contemplate the profits Of trade
without the ethics Of trade; and that, if fol-
lowed TO a large extent, would make the
American name shame and reproach among
the nations.
But there is another commercialism that is
founded upon the traditions Of the fathers
that seeks 10 secure the markets Of the world
by the American traits OF thrift and fair deal
ing; that weaves into every fabric as a prime
essential a moral fiber; that combines the fine
qualities which have made the names Of our
really great merchant princes and leaders in
the business world synonyms Of honor and in
tegrity
Most of Mr.. Cortelyou's speeche.
contain something worth serious at
teEtion, and this is not an exception.
The true commercialism, which Is
founded on thrift and far dealing, is
at present struggling with the false
commercialism founded on unthrifr
and false dealing It may be seen IT.
this town today. There are houses in
which goods sold are worth the
money; in which the word of the clerk
can be depended upon. There are
others IN which it is always uncertain
whether the article purchased will last
a week or not, and in which the clerk
glibly pOnrs forth assurances obvious
~ not true. 1t remains to be seen
whether the people as a whole want
tinsel and frippery, or honest goods;
and the decision rests largely with the
well-to-do, since the poor must take
what they can get, and sometimes
cannot get honest goods, however long
they may look, for any price which
they can afford to pay.
There Is a small percentage of our
population which Is inclined to take
up the English cant about trade" to
contemn the man or woman who earns
a living, and point to those who live
on their fathers money as the su-
perior beings. These people are the
dIy-rot of our civilization. But the
American is stiIl sound at heart; and
If he often seems to regard the man
who makes money as the superior cit
.izen, II is likely to be because he recog-
nizes the fact that money is, before
the world, the only sign We yet have
Of ability. The honor of an honest
merchant who treats his employees
well, the ideal Of an honest manufac-
turer who viii not cheat his eusto-
mers, the character Of an architect
who viii not turn ont a scamped Job,
are worth all the pedigrees in Europe.
1t sometimes happens that good blood
and fine character 90 together; then
the good blood Is worth something.
But II may be doubted whether, man
for man, the American has not more
worthy ideals than the European. A
shrewd American IN a recent novel
made the comment that people talk
most Of the unimportant things; We
talk money in this country, and not
sentiment; ON the other side they talk
sentiment and not money. We have
not yet reached the point Of having a
class Of educated, intelligent young
men, belonging to good families, who
are frankly looking for an heiress to
paw their debts.