The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-08-14
Paw as YOu Go.


advantages to be derived from following
it in the early days of the Republic and
the business and benefit of its observance
are no less now, when the liberty and in
tegrity of the Nation are to be re-estab-
lished. As a general rule it is applicable
and obligatory at all times and under all
circumstances. The spirit Of this pre-
cept is essential to the honesty and hou-
or, and to the true greatness and inde-
pendence of States and of single citizens.
Doubtless there may be cases in which a
departure from the strict letter of the
rule is admissible. But the exception is
too often wretchedly abused. BY what
right do we tax and burden our future
energies and abilities beyond the neees-
stiles which the future may present? If
! it be not wrong to the creditor, is it not
cruel self-iniustice to the debtor? "Suf-
fcient to the day is the" liability "thore-
Of" lowe no man anything" is the
divine iniunction-the true philosophy.
buy what you can pay for, and what you
can't, do without This would save mon
ey For the man who sells on trust,
, needs, additionly, the interest on the
ready pay price, together with compensa-
ton for any contingent liability to failure
of payment, and for the bad debts of 9th
ers But beside being cheaper and more
economical, it would also avoid much per-
plexity and disappointment, and lltiga-
J ton and dependency. It would save
much confidence and reputation and
friendship. Ii would contribute largely
to cheerfulnes, health and enjoyment. 1t
1 would prevent financial revulslonS, and
bankruptcies and repudiations.
But pecuniary obligations are not the
/, only ones to &c met with the promptness
: of the pay down plan, That man who
f recognizes no other but a money valua-
} tion-who supplies all his needs with
cash, and who strictly and rigidly dis
t charges all such debts, and such alone, is
but Shylock who knows little of the
worth of the higher, better estate within
his reach. He is more pitiable bank
rupt than ordinary insolvency ever made,
By so much as matter Is inferior to mind.
He who lets his wealth or his dignity
excuse him from performing his share Of
/ the Offices, and of the active labors Incl
a dent to life, has gone down below the
| lowest level of humanity. 1t has been
! wisely ordained that man shall owe him.
, self, first, to cultivate his garden or his
: field, as Adam did his Eden; or to pur-
sue some other mode, Of useful, healthful
industry. Next, to improve the talent
he possesses. He may not, as did one of
2 old, hide it by digging in the earth, or by
other sordid means. He owes his fellow
man to be to him brother. He owes
his country to uphold her in the right.
All these duties he owes to Deity, and he
must ray them as he goes. Twill never
; do to put off till no-morrow what could
and should be done today. The habit,
if it does no more, will fll the tissue of
existence with expectation unrealized--
with hope deferred"
individuals compose communities, and
, communities make up States and Nations.
AS are the people, SO is the public. 1t
is the duty of every commonwealth, by a
iudicious system of education, to train up
its youth SO as thus to become paying cit
, liens. Fer the citizen that pays the best
is the one that shall thus pay best as he
) goes. And when traitors, who had not,
or who needed not such training, insist
, on taking all within their reach of the
, assets of our governmental partnership,
, and going out, it is well to suggest to
them the propriety of the principle---pay
as you 60. When England said to Amer
lea, " You must submit to our taxes and
obey our laws, represented or not repre-
sented," America said to England, "The
, plan is wrong; you must give the equiv
alent for our allegiance, you must pay as
you 60" And She established her right.
And when it is urged that the priceless
heritage of freedom which our fathers
bequeathed to us, shall be transmitted to
, our children, encumbered and involved,
with its title, if not impaired, yet disput.
ed and defed, let US say DWELL adjust
the dispute and square up the account
we willpay as we CO."
And when, as now, with repudlatlon
on the one hand and with piracy on the
other, we are summoned to divide that
heritage, so as to "spoil the whole, and
to the end that, over one portion Of 1t
shall be made more prominent and dis
tinctive that system which reverses our
motto-the system of unpaid labor-wlth
one voice let US join the mighty response,
"pay as you 60" The only government
that pays is one that can and will thus,
in all respects, pay as it goes.
And finally, the only way to make life
pay,-to make it an earnest and satlsfac-
tory reality-is, in all things, well to OBJ
serve the rule, pay as you go.-IndePen-
! 7oa3