The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-01-19
To Christian People in Debt.

To Christian People in Debt.
That there is a widespread condition
of financial distress in the United
States it is not possible to deny. Nor
is this condition limited to any one
class of people. Manufacturers, mer-
chants, farmers, mechanics, and day
laborers are all feeling the effects of it
in some measure. But the chief suffer
ers are, perhaps, those who are in debt
beyond their present ability to pay.
Many men who contracted obligations
when business was brisk, and who had,
or thought they had, good reasons for
supDosing that they could redeem their
paper at maturity, now find themselves
in the closest of close quarters.
AS to the causes that have brought
about the prevalent distress we do not
care to indulge in any speculation.
Such q venture would take us quite
outside of our legitimate field as reli-
gi0us journalists. On that score, how
ever, we may properly say at least this
much, that an adequate and satisfac-
tory diagnosis Of the situation must
i1clljc lie consideration of many and
complex facts. The demagogue who
can rattle eff an explanation of the
problem Of national finance in ten min
utes Is either purposely dishonest or
else too ignorant to know what he is
talking about. To listen to him is a
mere waste of time.
Instead Of entering upon the thorny
and difficult path of discussion, we de-
sire to give some practical advice to
such Of u upright readers as have
fallen into financial straits. If what
We have to cay should seem common
place, We beg to justify ourselves by
calling attention to the fact that the
same remark is applicable to all the
tgahtie8 of our daily life. With such
preface, then, let US make a few re-
marks.
I. Every man who is in embarrassed
circumstances owes it to himself to in
stitute a most rigid economy in all his
affairs. Extravaganza is never allow
able TO Christians, even when they
have the means to support it. When
1t Is INDUCED at the expense of other
people, it becomes a positive sin. The
actual needs of life are few and SIM
PIE. Wise indeed is the inspired e
hortation which says: Having food
and raiment, let US Herewith be con
tent" It may not be easy for you to
give up the luxuries to which you
nave been accustomed; but easy or
hard, you ought to do it at once, if
you are not able to procure them in a
perfectly honest way. The notion that
economy is a niggardly and uncomely
thing needs to be rooted out of the
popular mind; in certain cases it be-
comes n Of the noblest and most
beautiful things in the werId.
Ne persOnally/know many men who
are willing to practice self denial on
their Own account, but who cannot
bring themselves to restrict and limit
their outlay upon their families. How.
ever generous the instinct may be
which ls at the bottom of such feeling,
TIE TACT remains that il as wrong to
spend what you do not own for the
qualification of yourself. In most
iAmule7, too, a candid statement on
the part of the husband will bring
ABOUT a perfect understanding on this
SUBJECT. Nine wives out of ten will
10 whatever they can to help their
husbands through tight places, and
even the children, if they have been
rightly trained, can easily be made to
see the Dropriety Of restrained expec-
G'Vo'e. The loss of property and the
,acihg Of hardships have often in fact
i11 70 the closer cementing of family
Z. No mar in distress should suffer
L.1IssIt to indulge in a relaxation of
N'' industry. However uppromising