Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-02-08
Arc Poor Men seamps ]

A REPLY TO RECENT LETIsR IN "EvERr
EVENING" OVER THE SIGNATURE OF
"JUsrICR"
Msssr5, Edilorb;-The city of Wilmington
must be very different from other cities, and
in deplorable condition, If your laboring
men are lost to all sense OF honor. All
morallsts aud statesmen, all colleges, aeade-
mics and well regulated schools, and all
sensible parents, know that there Is no
more potent aid in the government Of these
several Institutions than a sense of honor.
He is the best teacher or trainer Of youth,
he Is the best disciplinarian, auywher who
infuses into the minds of those whom he
is to control that high sense OF moral obll-
cation which starts back with a shudder
at the thought of a dishonest or mean act.
We have all mingled, more or less, inti-
mately with boys, and know how they
intultively feel towards one OF their num-
Der who, by common consent, IL called
mean. We know how they feel honOred
by being trusted, conidediln, and how il
wounds aud debnsos even a mob. o boy to
withhold confidence. The number OF nisdn
boys who cannot be trusted wisely Ia very
small, and would be much less were II not
for bad training.
The number OF laboring men who are
dishonest, aud unwilling to pay all lawful
claims against them, know 10 very small
and would be much smaller IL corner
groceries and retail shops we're not such
bad trainers Of public honesty and honor
A very large share OF the Indebtedness OF
laboring men is owing 10 the Importantly
Of the dealer. lie dos want 10 sell. He
urges the husband, or more frequently the
wife, to buy. "No trouble about the pay ;
. aaa 49, = -.
amount on the ''pass-boOk" exceeds the
ability to pay after other little bills OF
"honor" not on any pass-book are met
from the weekly earnings. The work
ing man knows he Is charged a heavy per
centage for the 'accommodation" and the
trouble Of putting the account on the pass
book, and 60 having, perhaps, half.a dozen
accounts to settle, the bill which the dealer
had encouraged beyond the debtors power
of paving, is left unpaid. In this way a
habit Of neglect is formed.
Ii II were not for the anxiety OF little
corner groceries TO sell, and II they we're
not 70 very accommodating until the psor
man Is ineItricably involved, you would
hear much less complaint about the
"scamps," OF correspondent "Justce,n II
the hundreds Of Wilmington are ''scamps''
they have been made so. The most have
more than ordinary honor than can stand
ii to be called scamp, and treated BY
society and Legislation as scamp, and
yet not after a while act like one, under
the false adAge 81 may as we'll have III,
game Is the name" OF thief or scamp. j
have never, 10 an intimate or personal
Acquaintance with hundreds Of business
men for moro than forty years, where nc
attachment law existed, heard so much OF
scamps and trickery and saying ''if you
get It before me let me know" as undel
an attachment law.
No good business man or woman woult
trust unknown pertons or persons know
to be tricky, to an extent that would in
lure them, without the assurance from
their employer that he would he respon
sible 10 limited amount, which, BY stip
ulation, he can Withhold from tho em
ployees's wages until he had obtained I
character which will secure credit To an,
amount needed. This plan will rapidly de-
away With the seductius "pass bookn sys
ten, which ordinarily doubles the amour
Of trade. Dealers know il. Said one Il
me this day "If l were farmer or me
ehanic l would sooner pay thirty per cent
interest than 10 keepan account at a store
and then make money by Ii.
Mr.. Editor, have no "aI 10 grind' o.
favor to curry, In thus writing, or per
sonal interests in any way to suhserve
II Is simply from what / believe to b.
the evil tendency OF the attachment Law
and lowering of honor among laborini
men, and from lite effect in driving laboreri
from our State. A remark was made {,
me some months ago that should have
some weight In this question. "No poo
man " said the speaker, will stay in Ken
or Sussex, unless he is so poor that he car
not get away. l am helping a man will
my credit relying upon bis honor who has
all the tools and implements Of his.aftcr
his beds, bedding, dishes, stove and ever
the cradle Of four months babe, sold
under this oppressive law, not for an in
disposition but for an inability 10 pay biz
store bills. A bed worth thirty dollart
was sold for one dollar With a dis posi-
ton to work far beyond his strength al
his means Of living were cut off, He II
rapidly working out Of all indebtedness
Such instances are numerous 10 tails State
Mr.. Justice " will talk long before he car
convince any one but man anxious Il
sell goods that the distress Is son the sia,
Of the dealer" II so, they love dearly
10 DO distressed. A FRIEND TO ALI.