The Natchitoches enterprise., 1899-03-02

they eat not their own bread Out Tue
bread of others in shame pelo'e ~ -
and men. Oh! the curse OF debts oth-
er.famllies wear tineries ami put on alrs
of responsibility when they owe 10
widow, to an orphan, or 10 poo1
laborer in want, regardless OF lne WIZ
of God saying that such an ouILaSr 10
CRYING to Heaven for vengeance. again.
NH tho curse Of debts. Finally, other
families think that because they owe 10
rich man, they must hot Iro1nie
themselves about paying ;heIr dept. But
m. Law OF God. I0rbidding them TO
keep their npIyhb0r's goods, t"rblds
mon 10 keen the goods of the rich
AZ the goods If thr poor; and wheih-
or lhey keep the goods OF the rFh
or the good of the poor, the Church or
God tells them: restitution or uhiiiha-
ton. Again and again, Oh! the curse
of debts.
THE NEW FORM OF SLAVERY.
In North Louisiana, debts are the
bane Of the country, and the curse OF
Debts gors by the sweet name OF 'Cre1lt
System +: that IL tue Won uhuef the
sleeps clothing. Many uOOr planters.
both white AMI culnreG, are p"r9rtuall'
indebted TO their merchant. they take
their provisions from the merchant on
the sweet credit system to pay vita the
next crop. Now, look at the wolf un-
der the Sleeps clothing. The mer-
chant sometimes will allow them but
short rAtions, because they owe too
much. He will, of course honestly, sell
dearer to them, lie 'auSe he sell OH ere
dit with II risk of being never paid. lie
Will time aud again watch them thar
they do not ,fnn sway, leaving their
debt unpaid. A more grinding slavery
than this | never saw. though l lived
several! years in Louisiana III the time of
The old slavery: and, that is the new
form of slavery for bo:h white and col
ored people. The Bible tells the new
slave Ito 20 TO the ant" and learn wis
dom from it. NO, no; while the ant |
e+Te during winter what it made last
he eats during wilter what he |
VIII make or not make next summer:
the ant has standard Of wisdom rather
loo high tor him! The new slave should |
-eize upon the first opportunity to take
after the AMI, 50 wise and 50 free. But,
no, 70; that would mean hard work and
strict economy; that would be up hill
work: SD when the crop comes and Old
iebts are paid, he feels about going TO
work rs the man about to take medicine,
who says: might as we'll he it later
IN; and, thoughtlesS does he drift into
lew debts, slave Of debts after the
,rop as before down hill work.
My frienGs, the God given means to
10 away with that 'credit system" that
.nslaves you and your children, Is labor,
teady labor. Labor il the irdeDtnd
nee Of man; the hardy worker can go
. his work With proud heart, he de
Dends only on himself and on God AL
mighty Who gives hun bis strength and
viii power. Teach your children how
o appreciate work. how to love work.
low to go to work with will; and free,
they will get on. Teach
our children now to keep working, and
pure, noble life will De theirs: ''run-
lng water does not get corrupt" Teach
our children how to rely on labor, and
Ocicty will rely on their honesty: the
tcady laborer does rot need and scorns
he idea to take home piece of bread
hat Is not earned by honest labor.
These a-r, my friends, the blessings OF
abor, which call upon you and your
and with my whole heart and
onl | say: from the slavery Of deb's,
oliver lis, o Lord.
This Pastoral shall I'D read IN all the
'hurches and Chapels Of the Diocese.
I ANTHONY DCRIER,
Bishop Of Natchitoches.
" order Of the Right Rev. Bishop,
A. ANDRES,
Vicar General.