Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-09-30
THE PRICE
OF A SOUL

10 ohiiN thhi laidAAhPh " " 49, 80
publication that gave TO Mr.. Rock
efeller's business methods even a neg
ative endorsement, Mr.. Bryan asked
for the return Of the artiele.)
What is soul worthi This is not
new question; It was asked nineteen
hundred years ago by One who could
measure with accuracy the value Of the
immortal part OF man. Christ presents
an unanswerable argument when he in
quires: .What shall IL profit man
81 he gain the whole world and lose his
own soull Or: What shall man give
in exchange for his soul'"
Is man ever tempted to part with
this priceless possession9 Is he ever
tempted 20 put anything above iti The
Master never wasted time or words
The fact that He called attention to
this subject is proof positive that the
world needs the warning uttered by
Him.
In complying with the request Of the
editor Of the ---- for n brief arti-
ele. I do not know that / can do bet
ter than to suggest few ways in which
a soul can be bartered away and then
point out the relative insignifcance Of
the things sought in exchange for IL.
Will man put a price upon his souli
Probably not, II the proposition is pre-.
sented to him bluntly, and yet many
who would be indignant at the ques
tion If clearly stated do actually enter
into negotiations, although sometimes
they are scarcely aware Of the nature
Of the trade.
Tolstay says that the crime begins
not when the murderer takes the life
Of his victim but far back when he de-
cides TO ignore the promptings Of his
conscience and to follow his selfish inn
pulses the final act being but a nat.
ural result Of his earlier determine.
tion. And 30 a. may be said that n
man puts price on his soul when he
deliberately prefers anything else TO
its highest welfare
Among the things that have been
weighed in the balance against the
soul may be mentioned money, social
position and political power. Money
deserves the first place because IL not
only tempts more people but because
it is often used to purchase both so
ciaI and political prominence. So ruin
ons is greed that Glove Of money" has
been described as ''the root Of all
evil" Certain IL is that love Of money
has in a multitude Of cases silenced
and never seemingly more than now.
Mr.. Rockefeller Is at present the
target Of the paragraphers and he is
probably the most conspicuous exam
pie furnished by this generation Of
the man who hahitually stiles his con
science until It becomes too "seared"
60 be OF service 20 him. lie doubtless
regards himself as pious man; in
fact, be Is quite punctilious In attend
ing upon the ordinary means Of grace,
and vet his life.record shows extra.
ordinary moral ohliquity. He has so
long accustomed 20 putting himself 10
putting money-makiug above ethical
considerations that he can bankrupt a
competitor through the rebate system,
brihea college with donation or evade
court summons with equal eompla-
eency But Mr.. Rockefeller is not
alone in the use OF iudcfeusible bust
ness methods. He enjoys an odious
pre-emineuee, but be has many would.
be rivals. Whenever man Is caught
In wrongdoing, he is quick 10 reply:
s'They an do IT," While this indiet.
ment is too sweeping 20 be just, il must
be admitted that there is entirely too
much truth in the charge.
Misrepresentation of wares, the adult
teration Of foods, the polming OF Of
''just as good" substitutes these are
tho petty devices OF trade Then come
tho watering Of stocks, the underscll.
ing OF articles In one territory while
the price is maintained or raised else.
where, the manipulation Of the mar.
ket, etc, etc. Besides these, there are
railroad Determinations excessive
rates franehise-gTabbing, etc. This
business dishonesty Is not confined 20
tho ignorant Prof. James, Of Harvard
college, recently deelared' "There is
not a public abuse ON the whole east
ern coast which does not receive the
enthusiastic approval of some Harvard
graduate" The men who engage in
dishonest practices in business have at
some point in their lives considered
the matter, and putting their eonsoi,
euiious scruples aside, have chosen 10
make the getting of money their chief