The Dawson journal., 1884-10-09
Paving of Debts.

ever Immoral, but Ii he Will only
keep his credit up and pay all of
his Just debts the world is inckn-
ed to lose sight of his many other
intirmities and estimate his repu-
tation by his credit. We do not
pretend to affirm that this view of
the case is q correct one; on the
contrary, we believe that it is not,
but our opinion does not alter the
fact that men are generally esti-
mated by their credit. If it be
true, then, TINT mans reputation
depends upon his credit, the
promptness with which he meets
his debts, how important is it that
every man should always stand
ready to discharge these claims,
however small. Nor is it the
amount of wealth one possesses
that always gives him a good cred
it and standing among his neigh
bors. 1t is often the case that a
very poor man enjoys a better
credit and therefore a better repu-
tatlon than a very wealthy one,
for the former is always prompt
in liquidating claims against him
while the latter is careless, and
often times must needs be sued
i'll the courts before he can be
brought to settlement atall. We
have often heard it said, "there is
a man in whom | have perfect
confidence; he will give up the last
cent in the world to protect his
credit, to pay his debtg; his
pocket knife and pencil
are even subject to his debts.
Such q man as this is not only
sure to be esteemed and held in
high regard by his neighbors and
merchants, but he can always find
friends and can always obtain
credit should he need it. Upon the
other hand, the most despicable
character usually to be found in
q community is that man who
neglects the payment of his debts
However virtuous otherwise he
may seem, if he neglects to pay
his debts, he is a dead cock in
the pit" A man without credit
cannot hope to have friends, anC
a man without friends had better
be dead and in-heaven, for the
comforts and pleasures of such {
man in this life can be easily gath.
cred upon the point of very fine
needle. Why is it, then, that some
men have such an utter disregard
of their credit? There can bt
but one answer to the question
1t is the absolute, utter depravity
of their hearts. The idea that
man should profess to take the
Bible as his guide and practice it.
precepts and at the same time
neglect the payment of his honest
just debts, is too preposterous anC
ridiculous thing to contemplate
for a moment; for if there is an
one thing that this book of book.
does teach, it is cove, thou, nj
man anything" How, then, cal
a man protesting to be uprigh
Just in the sight of men and hi.
Creator, neglect or forget tn,
payment of money which is thu
property of scme other man
Church member, do you pay YOU
debts promptly, or is your profes
sion mere hollow. sounding brass
Do you wear a long face on the
Sabbath and lecture your fellows
for sins not half so heinous in the
eyes of God as that one that you
yourself, are guilty of-the nor
payment of your debts? Whatev.
er else may be said Of other crimes
and other sins, there are but few
if any, worse than the failure of a
man to pay his debts, provided he
is able, and if he is not able
to do it, then, he ought not
to have contracted them; so, after
all, he gets very little sympathy
from the world in any event. The
JOURNAL is aware that this is a
very plain, incisive article upon
the subject of paying debts, and
that many will feel that it is di-
rected personally at them, but
then, ifit will accomplish good, we
are willing to bear the blame, fol
it must be admitted that there is
not that high sense of obligation
and responsibility 'cherished
upon this subject by the masses
that its Importance demands.
Every man ought to be brought to
feel that "if | don't pay my debts.