The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-24

ten for a religious periodical but
was refused publication because
of the Rockefeller paragraph.
Not being willing to omit that
paragraph or to write Tor pup
licatiOn that gave to MIR. Rookie
felIer,s business methods, even
negative endorsement, MIR. Bryan
asked for the return OF the
ar.icle.l
what Is a soul worth? This is not
a new question: 1t was asked nineteen
hundred years ago by One VINO coulu
measure with accuracy the value oI
the immortal part of man. ChIisl
presents an unanswerable argulnent
when he INQUIRIES: what shall IL
nrofit a man &c he gain the whole
world and lose his own soul? Ut:
What shall a man give in excndhse
for his soul?' ..,
Is man ever tempted to part win
this priceless possession? is ne ever
tempted to put anything above IL!
The Master never wasted tlfne or
words. The fact that He called at
tention 10 this subject is proof posi-
tive that the world needs the warning
uttered hv Him.
In complying with the request OF the
editor of the -------- LOT piieI
article. | do not know that l can 90
better than to suggest few ways III
which a soul can be bartered away
and then point out the relative lnsls
nifcance of the things sought III ex-
change Cor IL.
will a man put a price upon his
soul? Probably not, if the proposition
is presented to him bluntly, and yet
many who would be indignant at the
question if clearly stated do actualiy
enter into negotiations, although
sometimes they are scarcely aware OF
the nature Of the trade.
Tolstoy says that the crime begins
not when the murderer takes the life
of his wictim, but far back when he
decides to ignore the promptings or
his conscience and to follow his seiHsh
impulses-the final act being nut q
natural result of his earlier determin-
alton. And so it may be said that
man puts a price on his soul when he
deliberately prefers anything else 10
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 1T not
only tempts more people, but because
it is often used to purchase both So
cial and political prominence. So
ruinous is greed that love of money
has been described as "the root OF all
evil" Certain it is that love of money
has in a multitude of cases silenced
conscience and never seemingly more
than row.
Mr.. Rockefeller is at present the
target of the photographers and he is
probably the most conspicuous eX-
the man who habitually STILES his
conscience until it becomes too scar
ed to be of service to him. He
doubtless regards himself as pious
man; In fact, he is quite punctillous
in attending upon the ordinary means
of grace, and yet his life-record shows
extraordinary moral obliquity. He has
so long accustomed himself to putting
money making above ethical consid-
erations that he can bankrupt a COM
petitor through the rebate system.
bride 81 college with a donation or
evadc a court summons with equal
complacency. But Mr.. Rockefeller
is not alone in the use of indefensible
business methods He enjoys an odi-
Gus pre-eminence. but he has many
would-be rivals. Whenever a business
man is caught in wrong doing, he is
quick to reply: "They all do it,
While this Indictment is too sweeping
to be just, it must be admitted that
there is entirely too much truth in
The charge.
Misrepresentation Of wares, the
VI lOOuS, luc VIA
of Just as good" substitutes-these
are the petty devices of trade. Then
come the watering of stock, the I'M
derselling of articles in one territory
while the price is maintained or raised
elsewhere. the manipulation of the
market, etc. etc. Besides these,
there are railroad determinations ex-
cessive rates. franchise grabbing, etc.
This business dishonesty is not con-
or PrnfQSCnr
James, of Harvard college, recently
declared There is not a public
abuse on the whole eastern coast
which does not receive the enthusiast
tic approval of some Harvard grad
nate The men who engage in dis
honest practices in business have at
some point in their lives considered
The matter. and putting their con-
scientious scruples aside. have chosen
to make the getting of money their
chief am.
The lawyer has the same tempta-
tons TO meet: ne has frequent occa-
sions to decide between his conscience
and his purse. When the citizens
committee of Philadelphia was look
ing for lawyer to represent the peo-
Dle IN their fight against the gas COM
Dany. il found that all the prominent
attorneys of the city were retained by
that company. These attorneys
knew that they were selling themselves
20 q corporation which was not only
robbing the city. but corrupting the
"Ity's representatives. Where were
their consciences? And this is not an
isolated case President Roosevelt in
recent speech pointed out that in
every city able lawyers are found who
spend their time preparing schemes
for the plundering of the public And
each one of these lawyers at some time
in his life decided TO substitute the |
love Of money for the law of con-
science. If the lawyers of the United |
States would refuse to prostitute their |
brains to the service of predatory |
wealth. it would not be long before |
exploitation would cease.
Besides those who make a business /
of furnishing legal assistance regard |
less OF moral considerations, there is !
another group of lawyers to which |
those belong who act as LOBBYISTS for |
corporate interests. At every State |
capitol. there will be found lawyers
of greater or less prominence who |
look after the distribution of funds or
cavors, intended to corruptly influence /
oil