IS BUSINESS INTEGRITY CONSISTENT WITH BUSINESS SUCCESS?

BY

GEN. B. F. COWEN.

HE satisfactory solution of this inquiry necessarily involves an analysis of the subject,

and the examination of its parts,

which may be stated as follows:

1. What is understood by integrity as applied to business methods? and

2. What is the highest business success?

The answer to our interrogatory caption will depend largely on the answers to the other questions stated, and it is therefore proper and consistent with the best methods of discussion to examine the latter first, which we shall endeavor to do.

Integrity has been defined as moral soundness; honesty; entire freedom from all corrupting influences or motives; uprightness. The word is used more especially with reference to dealings between men in the fulfilment of contracts, the discharge of agencies, and the performance of trusts, but is

also applicable to all transactions between man and man, whether of the character referred to or in the ordinary, every. day affairs of life.

The definition of the word is broadened by looking at its synonyms, one of which is probity. Probity is defined as tried virtue; approved moral excellence; strict honesty; sincerity. And all these qualities must really exist in and inspire a man's action to entitle him to be classed as a man of integrity. We are not now inquiring as to the reputation but the character; not what a man seems to be, but what he is. Unfortunately there is a wide difference in the present organization of society between character and reputation, and we may see illustrations of fact almost every day. It is not an uncommon thing in our criminal courts to see men on trial for crimes extending through years bring witnesses to prove good reputation, when all the other evidence goes to show that they have been men of bad character for the greater part of their lives. Their crimes were secret; they had lived double lives and practiced deceit continuously. Then, again, a man may be of good character, innocent of wrong-doing, simply because he has never been tried. His good character is not probity, because it has not been tested and proved to be genuine. His virtue is a negative quality, because it has not been tempted and approved. [Integrity implies an entire surrender of self to honorable methods, and especially to those forms of injustice and wrong-doing which might favor one's self, and for the doing of which men are so fruitful in excuses; and has especial reference to honesty in trade, in the transfers of property, and the discharge of trusts.] Thus it will be seen that a man of integ rity must frame his life after the most rigid rules of propriety; the most exacting requirements of the strictest moral, social and commercial rectitude.

Nor is it sufficient to establish a character for integrity that

a man strictly observes all legal obligations and requirements. It is little credit to a man that he voluntarily does all those things which the law prescribes and which the appliances of our courts are especially adapted to compel him to do, and to punish him if he neglects or refuses to do, and his integrity must be tested by some higher standard.

There are obligations known in legal parlance as imperfect obligations, which the laws do not reach and cannot enforce and which are not legally binding between man and man, and for the fulfilment of which we are accountable to God alone. Among these are charity and gratitude Of the same general character are natural or moral obligations, which, though not enforcable by legal process, are no less binding in conscience and natural justice, as for example, when an action is barred by the statute of limitations, the natural obligation is as binding as ever although the legal obligation is extinguished.

No man can long neglect the imperfect or natural obligations of his position without a loss of character, and a growing disposition to evade or disregard his legal obligations. The man who refuses to pay his promissory note simply because it is sixteen years old, would not hesitate to refuse its payment were it a year or a month younger if he could do so with impunity.

If

That he keeps within the law is not the best, nor is it a safe criterion by which to try a man's character for integrity. Human legislation is not the best standard of integrity. The statute books do not erect a perfect model, by any means. there were nothing to hold society in order but acts of Congress and of legislative assemblies this would be a sorry world, and yet how many men there be who recognize no other standard. It is a noticeable fact that a majority of men consider even that standard too high, and spend largely of their substance to evade its requirements.