Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-07-25
For the REPUBLICAN.
HOME PROTECTION.

MADEIRA, July II, 1871
Mr.. EDrroR Permit me 10 communicate a
thought or two through your columns. Though
belong to what the wealthy call the poor class
Of people, and live 10 comparative obscurity,
have, nevertheless, an idea Of the difference be-
tween freedom and oppression. have my pri-
vate life idcas Of what Is an injury TO us as class
Of lAboring people, and Of phai could save many a
home and tar payer and, therefore, contribute to
the wealth Of our State and county.
In these days Of Sheriffs' sales and struggles
for the necessares Of life, the laborer curses his
luck and wishes for some place on the face Of the
earth where he profit by the sad lessons Of the
past four or Eve years. And yet the laws Of our
State says, with iron determination, I will nail
you 10 he cross which you have erected and kick
you 10 the ditch which you have innocently dug.
That we have done dashing and reckless bust
ness on the hopes of times ontinuing prosperous,
is sounded In every mans ears until II Is an ac-
knowledged fact and has become perfectly monoto-
nous Everybody cries Jeger saiesmen and sharp
ess, aud more producer more homes more in
dustry in the way Of all kinds Of productions !
fewer men clinging to public works aud depend
ing on them for daily labor at such wages as they
see ft to pay and greater inducements for men
to till the ground. These cries are old, old but
the cry for real homo protection is just as new.
say give us law such as understand our
neighbor Statc-0ho--has, which allsws every
resident Of the State $1,000 worth Of property,
such Us he may see lit to claim, and all the judg-
ment and exemption notes which be may sign can
not sell il, II he secs Gt TO claim II rs necessary
for the support Of himself or family. Follow this
law up and see IL 1t is just one. Suppose (as
they do in Penbsylvapia) a mans creditors sells
his property 10 common judgments, leaving him
$500 worth, what Is n man to do II barely
leaves him a comfortable home, much less his
teams and stock, which are necessary to till the
soil. Does he dare gather such facilities about
him while he has other creditors ready to seEc II
No Such step would be foolish, knowing that
his labor is needed for the support Of himself and
family. Doos he have q desire to pay his debts
by increasing business within his own vocation,
the sharpest creditor $50 callod) is the hrst TO
soire the fruits Of bis labor. ask men Of com.
mon sense what farm and home can be managed
or 5000 worth Of propertyi | say none His
home and business is no longer protected. He
must become a day .laboror for some company or
person at just such wages as they see 81 to pay.
Since this Is true, how can Il be where a man
has signed judgment exemption notes, which will
sell anything that Is loose from his body In
stead Of producer aud tax payer, which the laws
Of our State should protect, there Ia one more un.
fortunate individual depending on the wealthy.
But, says my noighbor, men should not incur
debts unless they see q way TO pay. We might
as we'll say that men should not get drunk, OF
call the majority Of good men In the country fools.
One would be just as sensible az the other. Some
men will contract debts just as long as their credit
allows them. Another says, +" II would be queer
law n, after a man has signed note, he has the
privilege Of refusing to pay H." That is Just the
point the laboring class Of people should see.
This privilege, any man can see, does not prohibit
any person from allng bis bond to the letter, u
he has any homes. principles in him. II will as
sure him the privilege OF paying his debts, and
yet save his house. But Il does, to a certain ex.
tent, loosen him from the grasp Of the rich
Should misfortune overtake him, his wealthy
creditor cannot sweep away his property and
thereby leave him no way TO pay the contracted
debt. But such a law would certainly Kill the
business Of some Of sharp collectors. They, in
stead Of trying to get persons names to sharp
paper, would, In all probability, be less ready to
trust or have their employers trust Consequently,
the cash system would begin TO take its place and
the business Of our Justices and Constabes and
other Law officials would be wonderfully decreased
AZ long as the law does not give the laborer some
chance Of this Kind, fay the protection to home
labor and the sons Of toll In our State Is a fraud
The iaboring class Of people will contract debts
and sign notes, and Why noti II 10 the business
Of business men to have them do 20. When bust
moss men have accounts 10 settle up, they study
the ways Of collecting debts from poor customers
lust as we'll as the student studies his task Col
Ieoting 10 their business, and they would be eoun-
ted small in the dealers ring u they could not
ollect hard bills The man who tills the soil 10
not an attorney nor business man, neither can
he be- He cannot take time TO study the sssrps
Of business. lie must do long days works and
many Of them. Il II wrong TO have q Law which
will protect his home, and, At the same time, afford
him the chance Of being an upright, sw-sbiding
citizen.
Man IL ctr ong, but his heart is not adamsnt. IL
II any wonder tha, our public works and country
10 swsrming with men out Of employment, when
the chances 90 open 10 the dealers and 20 closed
to the urwsry isborert DO not say that .reh .
law would roll all The great burden from our hack
but Who will honesty say that u Is right and lus
AZ n fsf y. "