The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-11-18

Among the many evils which grow out of depreci-
ated currency, is that which seems to foster mans be-
setting sin, covetousness and which gives peculiar fa
cities for over.reaching and defraudng another
Standing the place of gold and silver to deprecate
it, is like the old crime ofcpplng the Kings coin; for
while every one can do this at will while taking and
assert its full greater value when parting with it, the
injury to morals is amazingly great.
In every bargain there is temptation to conceal the
truth and morepresent the fact in PLAIN language to
he-and be guilty of the awful crime of perjury Thus
is afforded an atmosphere in which covetousness, hth-
erto 9ent up in The sickly cells of Jewish hearts. may
come forth and erect its unblushng face, and walk in
the open Streets and ener unforbidden into the shops
and warehouses ofreguar dealers Yea, even profess
siona men, in this way ofhandlng deprecated curren-
cy are liable TO overeap the bounds of truth and vio>
late the integrity of pure conscience. At the moment
in which the wrteI is making these remarks, there is
80 much truth in them, and their exenpfcaten has be-
come so common in America, that the awful reality cea
ses to affect u.s. As it Is when epidemcs prevail in
sickIy cities deadly diseases and dying not
heedcd because they common.
In the year of our Lord 1914, when there war
between two nations whose interest was, s and ever
will be, to live as friends there dweled in a lovely
city two respectable persons, the physician, the
other a bookseller. They had both accumulated con-
siderable substance, of which each observed be
than ordinary tenacious; and when tho times ofds
probation of certain bank bills came, said of
tnem that they took the bills in at one price and put
them of at another. When some of their religious
friends demonstrated (or they both of them were pro-
20. III :,,Io hill
after the manner Of making and unmaking ministers pc
cuiar to certain secs they justified the deed by con-
siderng baLk bills as an article of merchandise.
Flow this might suit the morality of those who deal
solely in the article and make known their TERMS and
whose prices are graduated by rule well under>
stood, is thing; but in matters OF private dca with
young. old and inexperienced persons, The
different. Scarcely day or an hour, would pass, with
cut their falling prey to the temptation of violating the
rule of" doingunto others we would they should do
unto u.s." They seemed to lay tsa aside, and agree to
support each other in the practice which evidently to
all pure minded Christians, sure to take uway their
innocence by fastening to be rich.
Ithappened that the Doctor wished to make some i'm
provements his estate, which he had acquired by his
practice; 10 accomplish which, considerable sum OF
money WaS'requWeu 10 oOtdh Ihe apecle anu speClo-
paying bills, was while the war lasted. Dext to mpos
sible. Deprecated currency must, therefore, be the
medium through which his END could be accomplished.
Accordingly, the books containing the accounts
with his customers he marked to be collected against
ench customer certain part of the debt DUE for the
present. leaving the balance to be paid when the cur>
rency would be more valuable These several parts,
in the aggregate, made the requisite; and having
duly entered all the items his memorandum, he sal-
lied forth in person to collect his money and visit his
patients.
flo had but one story to tell to them all, viz. that as
he in want of little money, he had called only for
small part Of what was due him; and as he could not
stop to make ou; the accounts in lorm he hoped they
would pay him that little he wanted freely, he giving
receipt for the same. "We have but deprecated
money they would answer. "l know it" he would
say but you must consider the case and give lit
lie than the face othe receipt OH that account for
that reason. Now take this receipt and hand me the
money, and IA much than it's face as your consc-
onces will allow" Andtrue il was that thew did all,
hemg thus appealed TO- pay him more "for conscience
sake; which proves that our country was then in the
inf ncy Of this temptation in degraded state as
we fpdt now By some means or other the moral
seu,agllas become indeed polluted. But to 60 on,