The Burke County news. [volume] (Morganton, N.C.) 1899-1901, 1899-02-24
Aaluded the people with the idea that tney

WeYo carefully ob.ervant. CatIok "
selves directors, they did not direct. 1n.s
inspecting the books. No time to DC 80:
Then they had no business to accept the
position. It seems to be the pride OF some
moneyed men to be directors IN a cleA-
MANY Institutions, and ali they know IS
whether or not they get their dividenos
regularly. and their names are used as &C.
coy ducks to bring others near enough 70
be made gam@ OF. What hrst OF all Is
needed il that 500 bank directors and in
surance company directors resign or at
tend to their business IS directors. Tho
business world will be full OF fraud just as
long rs iraud is 80 easy. When you arrest
the president and secretary o; a bank for
an enbezz!enent carried on for many years.
be sure to have plenty OF sherifS out tho
same day TO arrest all the directors. They
are guilty either OF neglect or completely.
We must especially deplore the misfor-
tues OF banks in various parts OF this
country In tina: they damage the banking
institution, which is the great convenience
OF the centuries and Indispensable to com
merce and the advance OF nations. With
one hand it blesses the lender. and with
the other It bicsses ths borrower. On
their shoulders are the interests OF privats
Individuals and great corporations. In
them are the great arteries through which
run the currents OF the nations life. They
have been the resources OF the thousands
OF flnanciers in days OF business exigency.
They stand for modatiOD, for facil-
ity. for individual. State and nationa! re-
lief. At their head and in their manage
mont there are as much interest and moral
worth az In any class OF men, perhaps
moro. How nefariOus, then. the behavior
OF those who bring disrepute upon this
venerable, beniSnant and God honored in
stitution.
Wa alSn Hop1nva ohrco ~ frpsf f,n3c IA
cause the abusers fly in tho face Of divine
goodness which seems determined to bless
this land. We are having a series OF unex-
ampleo national baryests. The wheat
gamblers get hold OF the wheat, and the
corn gamblers get hold OF the corn. The
full tide Of COG mercy toward this land Is
put back by those great diEts OF dishonest
resistance. When God provides enough
food and clothing to feed and apparel this
whole nation like princes, the scramble OF
dishonest men to get more than their share,
md get It at all hazards. keeps everything
shaklng with uncertainty and everybody
asking What next?" Every week makes
presidents and bank cashiers have been
apeculating with other peoples money. and
how many more bank directors are in i'm
bscile silence, letting the perndy go on,
the great and patient God only knows! Ny
opinion is that we have got nerr the bot
'''i. ~ iil'l htS OCCA pIiChCtl ~ tlS
great bubble OF American speculation. The
men who thought that the judgment dav
was at least 5000 wears of found it Ia 1898
or 1897 or 1896. And this nation has been
taught that men must keep their hands
out OF other peoples pockets. Great bus
inesses built on borrowed capital cave
been obliterated, and mon who had moth.
Ing have ost all they had. I believe We
are on q higher career OF prosperity than
this land has ever seen. II. and II. and If
II the first men, and especially Christian
men. will learn never to speculate pom
borrowed capital If you have a mind to
take your OWN money and turn 1t into
kites to fly them over every common in the
United States, you do society no wrong.
except when You tumble your helpless
children into the poorhouse for the public
to take care OF. But you have no right to
take the money OF others and turn 1t into
kites. There ia one word that has deluded
more people into bankruptcy than any
other word In commercial life. and that 10
tho word borrow. That one word is re-
sponsible for all tho defalcntions and en-
bezzlements and financial conservation
Of the last twenty years. When executors
conclude to speculate with the funds OF al
estate committed to their charge, they do
not purloin; they say they only borrow.
When a banker makes an overdrait upon
his institution. he does not COMMIT q theft;
he only borrowa.
II l had only q worldly weapon to use on
this subject, l would give you the fact.
fresh from the highest authority. that
ninety per cent. OF those who go into Wild
speculation lose all. but I nave a better
warning than II worldly warning. From
the place where men have perished-body,
mind. soul-stand of. stand Off Abstract
pulpit discussion must step aside on this
question. Faith and repentance are ahso-
lute.y necessary. but faith and repentance
are no moro doctrines Of She Bible than
commercial integrity. 'Rend-r to all their
dues. Owe 10 man anything And
whlle l mean TO preach faith and repent.
nnce. more and more 10 preach them, l do
not mean TO spend any time in chasing the