The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-24

A few weeks ago John A. Mccall lay
dying in his paIatiaI home. AS presi-
dent of the New York Life Insurance
company he had drawn the criticism
OF nation because Of the manner in
which the policyholders' money had
been manipulated by him and his as
sociates. He had been forced to re-
sign, and there is no doubt that the
harsh criticism to which he was sub
jected fastened his death. Yet John
A. Mccall lay on his deathbed and
insisted that he had not knowingly
done wrong.
And the dying insurance president
believed it. The trouble was that he
had deceived himself. His standards
Of right ana wrong were low. He had
blunted his moral sense until he did
not realize the wrong he was doing.
He persuaded himself that he was
doing right until he came to believe it.
Yet John A. Mccall did commit great
wrongs, and he reaped the harvest
Tt is well known that John D. Rock
efe1ler believes himself very religious.
He pirates Of kindness and charity He
endows colleges and evidently believes
he IS doing great good in the world
with his money.
Yet John D. Rockefeller's business
principles are such that a truly honest
man cannot endorse them. Oppres-
sion. sharp dealing. taking unfair ad-
vantage, deceit. even violation Of law
when it is necessary to win his point
are all in his business code. He is
described as almost a monomaniae on
the subject of money-getting. He has
deceived himself into believing that
what he does is right. And John D.
Rockefeller. Notwithstanding his al,
legged religion and his great gifts, is
despised and hated by the American
people, and today he is a fugitive from
the officers of the law. afraid to go
home to see his little grandson for fear
he may be compelled to tell wherein
he and his associates have outraged
the laws. He is reaping the harvest.
A farmer Is sowing alfaIfa-or
thinks he is-but his seed is made up
largely of the seed of weeds. A little
study on his part would have enabled
him to distinguish between the good
and the bad seed. but he has not in
formed himself. and to his Impractical
eye the seed all appears to be good. He
is deceived. and his belief that he is
sowing good seed viii not save his crop.
He viii reap 8. harvest Of weeds Just
the same.
Mccall and Rockefeller are not the
only ones who have deceived them /
selves. We see men all about us doing
the same thing every day Possibly
they see as in the. same light. Few Of
us almost none-escape deceiving our
selves in some particular.
The politician, the public official.
does it, compromising with wrong' and
deeeiving himself into believing that
he is justified. He reaps the harvest
of being classed with the wrong-doers /
by an outraged people.
The business man does it. stopping to
questionable practices to gain certain
ends. and persuading himself that it is
right to do so. He reags the harvest
of a sullied reputation and those with
whom he has dealings refuse to give
him their full trust.
Men and women in all walks Of life
deceive themselvea in little things and
reap a proportionate harvest Occas- /
ionally one finds a person with a sane
view Of life who is honest with him
self, his associates and his Maker He
is the man who makes few mistakes. |
1t Is important to get the proper. per
speetfve.
BE not deceived; God is not Knocked:
for whatsoever man soweth. that
shall he also reap