The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-03-30
4 THE BORROWING HABIT.
Why tho Young Should BE Taught to
Shun the slavery of Debt.

tUC oOHHOWINS r'Ao'is
why tho Young should BE Taught to
Shun the slavery of Debt.
In all crusades against evil IL is es-
sential to find out as near as possible
its primary source. No wrong-doing
ever springs up at once, full fledged in
society. 1t is usually the gradual
growth Of certain habits which, in
their earlier stages, were not regarded
as of much Importance - were not
checked as actual sins, and which
have thus crept insidiously into char
actor and life, to develop at last into
something which is fully recognized
and censured as iniquity. There is no
more striking example of this than the
many forms of dishonesty, which ex-
cite righteous Indignation afresh at
every reappearance. We arenaturally
and justly shocked at the absconding
clerk, the detaulting cashier, the
faithless trustee; but we rarely pause
to consider how these unhappy men
have come to such pass. 1t has been
no sudden plunge from innocence to
guilt, but gradual loosening OF the
principles-a slow deterioration OF the
character-that has at length made
snch crimes possible. While we may
not be able to trace, step by step, this
downward process in any given case, it
is safe to say that many, If not most, OF
these overt acts of dishonesty had their
root in loose habit of borrowing.
Now, in itself, borrowing can not be
called culpable act. 1t is often
great convenience We need knife,
book, an mbrella-perhaps a small
sum of money, which we can not easily
obtain at once; friend is near
and willing to lend; we borrow it, use
it, and return it promptly. So far
no wrong has been committed, no harm
is done. Our friend has been glad to
oblige us, and we are grateful. If the
same limits and conditions were always
preserved no further evil could ensue;
but often these limits are gradually
extended; we borrow more and more
freely, and become less careful and
prompt in the return. Sometimes we
seriously infringe another's rights,
without any intention of wrong-doing,
simply by delay in returning borrowed
property. The courtesy and Kindness
that lends freely is often sadly imposed
upon and compelled to withhold its
favors. From this habit to that of bor-
rowing sums of money on slight occa-
sions is not difficult transition. OF
course there are times when necessity
iustifics man in asking a temporary
loan, although an ancient writer well
says: "If thou hast of thy own, borrow
not, since thou hast no need OF it; and
if thou hast nothing, borrow not, be-
cause thou wilt not have any means to
pay" Bnt it is not usually those who
are in the direst poverty that are the
most inveterate borrowers. 1t is much
more frequently those who allow their
desires for superhuities to outrun their
ability to obtain them that resort to
this dangerous and insidious practice.
Ali such desires grow by what they
feed on, and become more and more
exacting, while the strict rectitude
which can not brook the long continu-
ance of a debt is gradually impaired.
The victim of such snare finds
himself increasingly involved in its
meshes; il becomes ever easier to
borrow, ever harder to repay. OF
course this can not continue forever.
People, after repeated disappointments,
decline to lend with SO small a chance
of return, and he then resorts to darker
and more questionable methods of OBJ
tanning the means to crafty desires
which have acquired such tyranny over
him. Temptation comes, opportunities
arise; he thinks he can restore what he
before he realizes what he is doing, he
has committed crime. 1t is but the
elimination of a long process, during
which self-indulgence has been fasten-
ing its clutch upon him and the princi-
pie of integrity has been loosening its
hold. Is it not. then, all important in
the training of youth that exactly the
reverse process should be inaugurated
and fostered? Is there any education
so essential as that which teaches the
young to restrain their desires within
the limits which their own honest in
dustry can supplyP Our youth are
brought up to value freedom as their
greatest blessing. They learn it from
the lips of their teachers; they breathe
it in the atmosphere around them.
Slavery would be to them degrade
tion to which even death would be pre-
ferable. Let them also be taught to
dread and to shun the slavery of debt
to prize above riches, or honor, or
luxury, or pleasure that independence
which owes no man any thing but love
and good will. Such habit of thought
and life would make the crimes of faith
lessness and fraud impossible. Char
acter thus purified and made whole
some at its source would continue to
flow ON in clear and unsullied streams
for the moral health and vigor of soci-
ety.-Philadelphia Ledger