The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-29
REPUTATION.

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actual meaning, and there Is no wor,
more abused by men who discuss poll
tics, than Reputation. Unfortu
Dately for the people Of this country
and particularly so far rs the Southern
States are concerned, the word bids faiI
TO bc n prominent ono In the politica
vocabulary, us long rs the Radical part,
has lasted or Is destined to retain life
National, State. county, town and parish
debts have accumulated to such an ex
tent under profigate and vicious gov
ernmcnt as to make heavy taxation in
cyitable, and In the arrangement 81
these burdens on the people so as &c
avoid humiliation Of industries and
shrinkage Of values, there will occur
no little confusion among parties in
tercsted, and In many Instances the
misapplication of the word Rcpu.
diation. While I'm private life,
when practiscd, 1t subjects individuals
to the appropriate designation OF
cheats, and In nations or States, when
assumed to escape the obligation OF
honorable or legal debts, It Is always
thought indcfensiblc and disgraccful,
the epithot Reputation must not be
used as scarecrow TO dispose people or
States to submit to fraudulent de-
mands, or to any bla ok mailing pro-
cess In the financial world.
As we understand the meaning OF
the term, IN Its political sense, It is the
refusal on the part OF q people to pay a
just and legal public obligation or debt.
Against Republication, as thus under
stood, we do not hesitate to record the
solemn protest Of the DEMOCRAT. Just
us we would condemn the action of the
private citizen who would distinctly ig-
more and refuse to pay his honest debts,
80 we must condemn the communities
that should do the same thing. 1t is
not only dishonest thus to deny just
debt, but it is serious obstacle placed
in the way Of the general business re-
lations between men by the elimination
Of everything like good faith out Of such
constituting 50 large
and necessary part OF ordinary com
mercial dealings. Hence, too, ample
statutory provisions are made in all
communities for compelling
the proper observance OF obligations.
But while the moral and legal obliga-
ton exists with both individuals and
to pay just and lawful debts
the common safety Of such individuals
and communities also demand strict
scrutiny into all claims presented
Tor payment against either Of
hem. II it be wise, Just and
,nly honest for man to pay what
nc really owes to the utmost Of his abili-
". it is folly and unwisc prodigality or
,owardice to pay what he does not owe,
simply with the weak and sentimental
dea OF maintaining a reputation for in
iisputable probity. SO far from such a
course Of conduct being exemplary, or
wen Indifferent, it really tends to en-
courage immortality and to inGict a
,rave wrong upon society. This is suf-
iciently evident, without dwelling upon |
he subject. But il what we have stated |
$ undeniably true in regard to indi-
'iduals, tits quite as much so in the case
4 communities, only the aggregations
Il individuals, with the moral law re-
pecting their contracts as binding in
he ono instance rs the other. In fact,
is more imperative that communities
such as States, cities, etc. } shall be more
ealously careful not to recognize and
o pay illegal and unjust demands; for