The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-12-18
HONRSTY IN BUSINESS,
a Pew words About square psAling-Tho
Source Of Much Trouble,

A Few words About Square psAling-Th'
Source Of Much Trouble,
TO ne Editor Oflhs hBitlla4e4,
sIR;-Ii ever there was q time in Ih'
history OF the country when there wa
q disposition upon the part Of agrsat
many 70 keep from paying an homes
debt, that time Is now, and l think II Il
the duty Of the pulpit and the press "a
cry aloud against the evil dishonesty tol
II Ia one Of the leading evils Of this day
and age. The class that have refer
ence to in part are those who when they
went in debt knew at the time that they
did not intend 10 pay II they could avoid
doing so, A merchant In FaiFmont told
me q few days ago Of 9 case o tthRt kind,
a man owed him ten dollars, and when
he requested him 10 settle bis account
he told hun that he never would pay q
cent OF 1t, though he acknowledged that
the debt was Just, He knew that the
merchant could not make It of OF him,
and he now goes 10 other stores TO spend
his time aud what money he can com.
mand. | have had such rascals 70 deal
with in my time, There are also men
who have put their property out. OF their
hands 10 defraud their creditors, !
know one Of that kind In this country
who, when requested 10 pay a debt by q
lawyer, said that he never would pay
the debt unless he was compelled TO pay
1t by law, which course was finally
resorted TO,
have no reference to men who are In
debt and would pay II they could, l
know that men are often compelled TO 10
in debt for the necessaries oil life, and
also to borrow money to carry on their
huainess, but what | am down on is
dOuble.dyed ~rascality. The Bible says
on this subject, do Justly or deal justly
with each other In all the transactions
OF life, The New Testament, using the
language Of st. Paul, says: "0we no man
anything" and also that we are not 10 de-
fraud one another, and while Il Is said
that man Is the noblest work OF God and
the christian man IL the highest style Of
man, honesty il the leading trait in his
character. Every Egyptian was COM
manded by law annually 10 declare by
what means he maintained himself, aud
II he omitted 10 do 1t or gave no salts
factory account Of his way OF living he
was punished with death.
Benjamin Franklin said, "Let honesty
be us the breath Of thy soul and never
forget TO have a penny when all thy ex-
penses are enumerated and paid, then
shalt thou reach the point Of thy happi.
ness aud independence shall be thy
shield and buCkler, thy helmet aAd
crown. Then shalt thy soul walk up
right, nor stoop 10 the silken wretch be-
cause no has riches; nor pocket an
abuse because the hand which offers 1t
wears a ring set with diamonds,"
don't believe that honesty Ia simply
the best policy. We are commanded 70
be honest, policy or NJ policy.
There are many persons in debt by
their extrayagant living, In trying toape
tho rich.
II Ia the imaginary wants OF life that
plunge men In debt, trouble and bank
ruptCy. Our real wants In this life are
only four things-iOod, rliment, home
and friends, Christ said, "If you have
those things, Herewith be content, for
| will never leave you nor fOrsake YOU"
But who believes that declaration? But
ew out Of the great mSSs Of mankind.
We are u highly favored nation, and
yet truth compels n TO say that ras-
cality or dishonesty, to q great extent, Is
at q premium, while honesty and virtue
are at a discount. W, Fl. WILEY.
Palatint, Marion Co., Dec. 10, 1889,