The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-04-20
RECIPROCITY.
lListon P. Evans in the Piscataquis Observer.

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rti.ton p. Evans in the Piscataquis ODserver.1
l was sitting in the Office of Hotel
North, Augusta, when the news of the
death of James G. Blaine was received,
and as the event was discussed the hotel
porter asked, "What did he ever do to
make him so important?''
Gail Hamilton wrote bulky book IN
telling what Mr.. Blaine had done. but II
he had done no more than advocate reel
procity with other nations, and negotl-
ate some treaties along that line, he
would rank high among American states
men.
Doubtless some of Mr.. Blaine's ad-
mirer's think of him as the author OF
reciprocity, but he was not; it was of
divine origin and we find it mentioned
very frequently in the history Of the
Children of Israel. God made treaty
with them that if they would keep HIS
laws and serve Him faithfully, He would
reciprocate with prosperity, and the rec
ord shows that He did.
But the value Of reciprocity is not con-
fined to God and man, nor to nation and
nation; it is vital principle in the deal,
ings of man with man and is recognized
time when money is dear does not raise
its interest rate to regular patrons and
those who carry good balance. The
wholesale dealer exercises it, and favors
the customer who gives him his patron
age year in and year out. do not mean
that there is unfair discrimination, but
when favors can be given they 60 to the
men who have already given them. l
might say right here that the Standard
dictionary says reciprocity is derived
from the Latin word reciprocus, mean
ing returning.
The principle of reciprocity carries
with it an element that is of vital I'M
pCrtance in individual success. l have
in mind three ministers, all of whom
asked favors of the cal newspaper IN
the way of announcements. Two OF
them reciprocated by giving the pub
Usher their business when they needed
job printing; the other asked no less in
the way of notices, but when he needed
printing done the work went to another
office
An these ministers left their churches,
the first two deeply regretted by their
people, but the other, although fully
their equal in ability, was asked to re-
sign. The element of character that led
the two to reciprocate with the printer
made them popular with their people,
while the lack of it in the other made it
impossible for him to get in right with
his people.
This lack oe reciprocity is by no means
confined to ministers but is seen on all
sides. A paper published in another
county contained not long since a severe
criticism of the Freshman class of the
local High school for sending out of the
State for its class pins and of the prin-
cipal of the school for encouraging them
in doing so. The idea was that the local
dealers had to help support The school,
and the scholars who were thus helped
should have reciprocated when they
could
We see it illustrated when the credit
customer goes to another store when he
can make cash purchase, or worse than
that, when he sends his cash to a mail
order house. We see it illustrated in
the man who leaves his family physician
with an unpaid bill, and without cause,
and employs another for cash. Both
these men Tor it conld easily be the
same MANI have been accommodated by
the merchant and the physician and
should have reciprocated with cash when
they could.
A striking example of failure to re-
ciprocate was the case of an educational
Institution which was helped by popular
subscription when repairs were made on
its building. A hardware dealer made
liberal subscription, but when he wanted
to furnish some of the material he found
that it had been bought out of town and
at price higher than ne would have
charged. By this means the building
fund suffered and the feelings of the
dealer were hurt
When reciprocity in its best sense
(Which is that Of the Golden Rule) is
practiced by nations, wars will cease;
and when it is practiced by individuals
and bodies of individuals, there will be
such condition of peace and harmony
as the world has never seen.