The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-01-30
SHALL WE ~REpUDIATE9
The Religious View of the Question
A Ringing Article by the Rev.
DR.. Brown.
FROM NE Central Presbyterian, 23d.l

FROM ne Central Presbyterian. 2}d.l
When the cry of Reputation is raised in n
state we pass from the domain OF politics in
to that OF morals. and it is the duty of the re-
iiCiouS press not 10 remain :: raSSlN" >pccfa-
tor OF such II transaction as that Which LETT its
indclihlc brand upon the name Oi Mississippi;
forty years ago. We are glad that tAc Rr.l--
iOus Herald has spoken, and we AL 0uc!it 10
speak, ut least those who stand within the
pale of The churcl-p!cdgcd to low" no mai
fc>Siun have rcnouncrd il every form the
hidden things OF dishonesty
Society rests on tue confidence that men
rcposci in one another, and tia: community
wlIe:c me- Spc1ll; The truth and arc Scrupu-
iOuS in the Observance of tHclr promises Is Il
c immunity whore men feel secure. and
where the irncSt and most >:th!" govern
in"nt will br established. II Is ON the ch;tl;Ic-
ter OF the people that hfcr all &nVernmcnt
must rest. #:II when the fountain o: good
morals is once poisoned the decay OF the
tn" state has commenced. Shall the
State set the example to the people OF 4 viola
ton of contracts? shall the state put tue
citizens in Jail for taking his neighbours
goods, or turn him over To the Sheriff for not
meeting his notes, and then ahroeatc ut her
own unrestraiped pleasure the contracts
which she had made" Who does not know
that the State OF Virginia is poor: Whose
heart does not bleed at thc-not poverty. but
the de itltution which prevails among those
who fifteen years ago drove their carriages
and never felt, the want OF money: Our
iieidS were wasted ny war; our labor was dis
organized bytbc emancipation Of our slaves;
we lavc had I2d crops for \ series of y"ars-
thoughts ana iioodS-and the State de't has
been Growiuc in the meantime. 1t Is y heavy
load to carry-a very heavy load. The most
way to get rid OF ii would he 10
throw thrBu-dcn down and rcfiSG 10 carry
it amy further. Is that The Christian way o!
meeting Il dur? The Christian carries cross
e. ~."avicr than that, and he i moi ali"w"d 10
throw them dOwn-or only ut ~" l'rrii OF
the Joss of his crown. Are Christian men
ani women looking At triS thing Us Christian
mon and women" DO they realize the fear
Iul re- pOlsi1iiitF OF u deliberate refusal To
Pay an honest debt? There a:e a>pcc:S OF
his Question wiIrl deeply ALL tIr l%r'l;t-
ton al ia" Christian church. 70: ;htr" arrH"llr
VIII" stand hi:'i in it w!i'. are i'tdinE. ia Us
crusade AGAINST the pIyiic:.t O.: the stats
dcI:. We do not inipugu tEulr EioilNcS: we
only feel that they have not measured the
Si@njcanrc Or the effect 81 hat they are do
ing. With such re,atiunS Of this Subject AS
are property and only political III" church
has nDthinl TO 10. disputed ;GciS must be
lcf: for those tuwhn'a t!cy b".un": hni wilt
conceded facts and the mOrai obligations con-
ncc;ct Will them til" Christian church ana
al who have the opportunity TO Src:tk on les
behalf are 70 t:Ic las: degree concerned.
We say. then. that there * hut ono dis
Cnargc from an honest debt Il receipt Ia luii;
unless there i ai absolute inability 10 pay II.
nf Which We shall have Nor" TO say IT aa"'lt-
- time. .AIIy other idea or course OF aG,iulI
is Il dclusiOn and not i snare. and no amount
Of >uphistry can ever truly ;ppcaSc M en-
ligEtcned conscience until exactly that, ?ni
Il cent less. is returned which Was ori"i-
ual!y received. II | borrow Sl,N III gold II is
my business 70 return 500 in: oJp will never
diclarg" that debt. B.t suppose | can't pay
Ii. Il j. great misfortune; u heavy LOAD 10 car
ry down tothh grave. IoI nu=hI not To havc
contracted drhl WHICH it turns out .%ou can
NOT pay. Why did you 20 in dcht: Why do
NOu not rather initiate George Muller, who
go ,rta ,h,N f.,.4 : - va, mi ia, t.f Ilr s.+n ns1N
no man anything? Moreover is II quite Ger
iaIli that you cannot pay?