The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1875-05-15
RUNNING IN DEBT.

HI u0UL Is, unfortunately, one Oh
the leading characteristics of
large portion of. the American
people. In no nation and among
no people is it so prevalent as
among us. It is very common
for men to borrow money and
purchase merchandise when they
cannot see their way through. and
have no assurance of ever being
able to liquidate the debt, and if,
as often happens, a failure is the
result, the consequences are la
mentable to the debtor as we'll as
the creditor. In considering this
subject we assume that no honora-
bic man will contract debt with
out intending to pay it TO the last
farthing, and there are few things
more CALLING to an honorable man
than to be hoplessly in debt. Sor-
row and remorse haunt him all
his days, he has no rest, no peace,
no hope this side the grave. A
man hopelessIy in debt is the
veriest slave on earth. He has
nothing that he feels is his own,
he is ashamed to meet his credi.
tors and look them in the face,
and he goes through life with a
load of obligations resting Oh his
shoulders that he knows he never
can discharge, he has no relief
until mother earth OpensI to re-
ceive him and the clods hide him
from human view. oh, how
many men have we known who
started out in life with prospects
bright and fiattering, who have
been utterly ruined by contract
ing debts. Some not able to bear
their weight Of misfortune and
disgrace, have lost their reason
and become inmates of the insane
asylum, many have been hurried
to premature graves, and some of
them by their own hands! The
demon, debt, has pursued them
through every lane of life, until
discouraged, disheartend and I'M
manned. they have sought relief
by passing in their checks" and
thus paying the last great debt of
nature. The facilities for con-
tracing debts in new and I'M.
developed countries are very
great. Men see, or think they see
prospects of acquiring wealth in
a very short time if they could
only obtain a certain amount of
money or credit. They seek and
find bankers and merchants as
enthusiastic as themselves, who
advance the desired amount. How
seldom have such ventures been
successful? 1t is our experience
that most of them result disas-
trously, and often to the utter
ruin of both lender and borrower
We would not altogether con-
denim the credit system. 1t is
necessary, and no civilized COM
munity could long exist without
it. Business would stagnate and
commercial prosperity would
cease, if their were no credit
among men. But if we had the
power we would deeply impress
upon the minds of our cou ntry-
men the necessity of being more
guarded about running into debt.
A man should never contract a
debt unless he has resources that
make it sure that he can pay it
at maturity, except in cases OF
dire necessity, where from sick
ness or other misfortune he is I'm.
able to provide the necessaries of
life for himself or family. In such
cases no honest industrious person
is ever allowed to suffer. How
often do we see in our towns, men
who do nothing. In the language
of the Bible, "they toll not Meth.
er do they spin," yet these mer
generally wear good clothes and
board at the hotels, all on "jaw
bone" These men are the ones
who are always wanting to borrow
ob@aio o~od;t -, A.