Middletown transcript., 1875-02-20

most urgent pToslSiVus oI Tue DlStnc
law. Heaven never ordained that a
man should live off his fellows. The
very first commandment given BY the
divine law-giver to man was work !
and all through the sacred scriptures
are found passages, where labor, in-
tegrity and the payment Of debts and
strict performance Of promises are en-
joined We wonld not give toss Of .
button for the religion or honesty O.
any man who is not made thereby the
more conscientious in the discharge o.
bis obligations and the keeping Of his
promises
When young man, endowed by biz
Creator with good health and vigorous
intellect. strong, and sound Of limb
wastes away his time in idleness. while
at the same time be is heavily in deb'
to men who trusted him in former
times, yet because he has frittered
away his patrimony in foolish specula-
tions, or in absurd attempts at making
haste to be rich. or in wasreful extrava-
gance, quietly folds his hands and
makes no effort whatever to pay bis
debts, that mans religion or professions
Of honesty are vain. It matters not by
what means man got into debt, if he
has entered into an obligation, whether
verbal or written, be is bousd in all
honor and honesty to use every means
in his power to meet that obligation.
He cannot do this by sitting down 10
idleness and limiting his exertions to
saying II can't" Honor and honesty
require that he sAoald 60 to work and
,cork himself ont Of debt.
Men in tbsse circumstances often en-
deavor to sooths their consciences and
excuse their Indifference to the payment
Of thsiz just debts and the retention Of
moasy that rightfully belongs to their
creditors, with the plea that "they
must live," and that "it takes all they
have to keep their families" It is not
absolutely necessary that men in strait
ened circumstances should live in the
same style as the wealthy do. It is
this very trying to keep up appear
ances," and live as others do, that
brings SO many men into debt and the
hands Of the sheriff. Labor entails no
disgrace upon anyone. On the con-
trary it is ten thousand times more hon.
orable and more commendable to work
as day laborer. than it is to ride in
new carriages and drive fast horses
that in reality are the property Of cred
itors
1t is not getting into debt, that we
are now condemning. We believe, and
it is pretty generally conceded. that it
would be far better for all branches Of
trade if business could be done strictly
for cash, but under the existing state
Of things this seems almost impossible.
To oue is not dishonest in itself, nor
but to owe and make no
effort or sacrifice to pay, is both dis
honest and disgraceful. A man may
often be disappointed in his calcula-
tions and be compelled to ask for an
extension Of time in which to meet his
obligations. All this occurs in busi-
ness transactions every day. and there
is nothing wrong in it, and if the man
is known to be careful man, and punc-
tual in attending to his business en-
gagements, the time be asks for will be
readily granted without murmur; but
if, because he cannot meet his obliga-
tions when due, be ceases all efforts,
and sits down and slothfully waits for
something to turn up in his favor, or
for the wheel Of fortune. or liberality
of friends, to bring him the means Of
cancelling his debt, he is utterly un-
worthy the respect or sympathy Of any
body.
Men may be, and often are, unfor-
tunate. Misfortune is not dishonesty.
Men have often, in the legitimate pros
ecution Of their business, made unfor-
tunate investments and lost their all,
and become unable to pay their obliga-
tions. There is nothing very dishon-
orable ia that, but a strictly honest
man will at once 60 to work and en-
deavor BY every means in his power to
repair his misfortune, and as rapidly as
his exertions enable him to accumulate
the necessary funds, be will pay Of bis
old debts; and when this is done be
feels himself q free man again, and
will be more cautious as to
how he runs into debt.
The credit system seems to be almost
indispensable to commercial prosperity.
A reasonable credit is frequently vast
accommodation to men in every kind Of
business. 1t often enables men to con-
tinue their business operations when,
through the want Of money, they would.
otherwise. be compelled to cease. It
is taking advantage Of this aecommoda-
tion that is so unjust and SO deserving
Of censure. This it is that destroys
confidence, and cripples the operations
Of trade.