St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-01-25

time, may be granted for a compensa-
ton. Money is loaned, real estate Is
rented, other things let. Borrowing Is
a principal wheel in the business world.
| propose to give this wheel knock
with my hammer. Obviously the law
against apprOpriating another's proper
ty requires that what is borrowed should
be returned at the specified time, whole
and sound, and the compensation agreed
on for its use, paid. But there are
cases which to a certain extent form an
exception. Money borrowed fOr use in
business. is obtained for the purpose OF
consumption, and looks to further pro-
ductiOn for returns with profit The
lender of active capital knows this fact,
and shares the risk of business. If
there be no misrepresentation at the
time of borrowing, and the business be
prudently managed, unavoidable LOSSES
do not subject the borrower to charge
of fraud, provided he bears the loss, so
far as his property covers it, and repays
his creditors if he he afterward able to
do so. Bankrupt laws, absOlving the
debtor from legal claims after settle
ment, may be just. But such laws do
uOh OIlC
ton to pay what he borrowed, with in
terest, if future prosperity enables him
to do it; and more especially if he
knows that those who shared his former
losses are suffering, while he has re-
covered his fortune. And | rejoice to
have learned recently of a case where
this was actually done by a man who
failed some years ago, and who used
part of the profits of subsequent years
to repay in full the amount due his
creditors.
SPECULATING WITH TRUST FUNDS DE-
NOUNCED.
But what shall we say of men using
borrowed money, OF trust funds put
into their hands for safe keeping, in
hazaldou speculation If one chooses
to risk his own in adventures, so be it..
But to take the savings of the poor, and
for the sake of large gains employ them
in wild cat schemes, is Il fraud which no
lack of dishonest intention can eXcul-
pate. This is what insurance and trust
companies and savings banks have been
doing, whose failures have caused so
much misery to the poor and unsettled
confidence in the financial world. Some
of these pan ties were of high repute for
honesty and religion. They intended
to pay. But they made haste to be
rich, and wanted to live sumptuously.
And all the waters of the ocean cannot
wash out the crime of devouring widows
houses and robbing the orphans scant
provision against starvation, from then
dishonist souls. In his confession, Gil
man, the tolger, says that when he re-
ceived the money of other people, and
gave his note for it at seven per cent.
that he came to feel that the money
was his own. That, he says, WAS his
great mistake and has nest full of dis
honesties in it, Money obtained on a
promise to pay is not ones own to spec
ulate with or spend in eXtravagant liv-
ing. Some men seem to feel that giving
their note is to acquit themselves of Il
pecuniary obligation. Dickens SatiIic-
ally touches on this weakness of human
nature in the scene in which he portraNs
Mr.. MIcaw Der, rising with great dignity
to express the weight on hIs mind aris-
ing from slight pecuniary obligations
which he was under to Mr.. Twaddles,
after alluding feelingly to which he
says Il beg leave to hand to my friend
Mr.. Thomas Twad,lles my |. o. u. foI
forty-onc, ten, eleven and il half. And
am happy now in recovering my moral
dignity, and to know that | can walk
once more erect before my fellow men
Yet the poor wretch had not IL dime ia
pay his |. Q. U. with. There are plenty OF
Micawbers who when they have given
their note, which they have no means
whatever to pay, have Il feeling that
the money they have obtained the uSo
of is their own. 1t is not theirs, and tC
squander borrowed money in specula
ton and extravagant living is to break
the eighth commandment.
GIVING DOES NOT ATONE FOR STEALING
More than this, to give it away fol
no matter how useful il purpose is equal
~ dishonest. A report of Il recent con
ference of churches in Massachsett,
shows what loose notions respecting the
right of property have found place even
in the church. The question was under
debate: HAS person a right to give
i'll charity when he is unable to pay hi,
debts ?" One preacher argued that con,
tributions to religious enterprises are
debts we owe to God, and we are under
as much obligations to pay these, IL
those we owe TO man; and this view
seemed to win general approval. On,
voice only was raised against such glar.
ing pharisaic immortality. OF course we
are all in debt, more or less. A bust.
ness man may be in debt for part of hi,
capital, or his house may be mortgaged
The question is not if man who OlUeS
ought to give i'll charity, but who owes
what he ought now to pay, and is moi
able to pay. The first debt we owe tt
God is to be honest to men. God pre-
fers Justice before sacrifices. The Phari-
sees taught that mel might cOnsecratt
to religion money needed to support
parents, and then be quit of the obliga-
ton. Jesus denounced such doctrines
as making void the commandment Of
God. If l take dollar owe to my
neighbOr and which is now due, and
put it in the contribution box without
his consent, | give a dollar that is not
mine but his. And L have no more
right to do it than l have to pick hi,
pocket and give the money to the poor
Gilman said he loved to give away
money better than to spend it on him
self, and when he knew his affairs were
irrecoverably ruined he went right OIL
giving to charitable and religious OBJ
jects, and kept up Il reputation for lib
erality, when every dollar he gave was
no better than stolen property. l say
to you if call comes to you to give
and you know that you have not means
whereby to pay your honest debts, dc
not give cent. 1t is defrauding maj
to help Gods cause, and tell you Goo
is not poor enough to need such help
but he abhors robbery for offerings
no e., fl
able.