The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-26

On last Sunday the Rev. Mr.. Cronin deli
vered very pointed sermon in New York
city, on the need of religion In business, tax.
ing for his text che that is surety for a
stranger shall smart for it," Thinking that
IL is appropos, we take the following synopsis
from the Sun:
He said: I'm the days of Solomon, when
trade and commercial pursuits were carried
on in q much more primitive way than now,
men had their troubles and failures and fnan-
cial histories, in accordance with the times, as
men Of the present time. Men were as ready
to get rich, and didn't care much how, 50 they
got wealth, very much as the speculative
business man of to-day thirsts and works to
get up in the world"
A great many people are determined now
a-days to rise In the world. It becomes with
them an absorbing, feverish ambition-sO
much so that they live far ahead of their
means. Speculation comes in to do this work;
the work that honest, patient labor ought to
do. Legitimate means are laid aside for il
legitimate MEANS sacrificing strict honor
borrowing money, obtaining securities with
tify, mortgaging homesteads and furniture
that ought to be kept sacred for the comfort
Of the tamily-all these proceedings for the
sake Of getting ahead.
It is worthy action to help one another
but to help man into false financial posi-
tions that he cannot sustain, to sign notes, to
secure temporary loans, to push him on into
vague speculatiOns Is not kindness, it is
downright injustice, it Is building up q sys-
tenn Of commercial dishonesty, setting dis
bringing TO ruin the business basis of an in
telligent and progressive people.
In this city there are hundreds of men
whose credits are all they have to run large
and apparently furnishing business, and
when crash comes, somebody who trusted
them loses and suffers. These shrewd men
Of New York, who have worldwide reputa-
tl0n for keen business sagacity, go right along
trusting such adventurers with hundreds OF
thousands of dollars, blind as to the real
status OF the system until heavy losses open
their eyes to q perfect and almost licensed
system of swindling and fraud Suretyship
has become sort OF Legitimate business
branch OF adventure that is common as day
light Men can raise money on worthless
paper; get good mems names, with the bait
OF percentage, upon which to obtain money
for speculation, as easy as more open-hand-
ed thief can steal peanuts
The wheels of business will run smoother
II 1t Is kept rolling on the smooth, even rails
Of honor and truth. A young man going into
business in New York to-day has got to make
his debut into crowd Of sharks and sharp
ers. When pure principle reigns in practical
business matters we shall have less mon
5trOuS failures and less wholesale lying.
IL man cannot serve God in his business
he cannot serve him anywhere; If his Chris
tianity don't make him O better business man,
It's because he has not got enough of it; and
II Christianity ever was needed anywhere it's
in business circles. All this argument that
business is business, and Christianity is
is false.
II your religion is good for anything, it's
good in your business. II it's good for any
hing, it's good to fight the devil and all the
vexatious temptations that assail men In
heir business, and tempt them to become
'obbers, thieves sneaks and sharpers.