Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-07
.THE VOICE OF THE TEMPTER."

Bonds are weIl-named. The bonded
debtor Is a bond-slave to the creditor.
Bondholders not only hold the bonds.
but the men, the lands and all things
subject to the bonds; and therefore
every device. pretext and allurement Is
employed to seduce men and nations to
sell themselves and posterity for some
seeming good. or some apparent neces-
sity, or some tempting qualification In
the present that puts them under bonds
for life, liberty. property and happl-
ness to usurers. to whom they and flu
ture generations must pay perpetual
tribute in the sweat OF their faces. to
live and enjoy tho water. the light and
the air.
Already the world and its inhabitants
are mortgaged-in the grasp Of "thc
dead hand"-for public and private
debts; already we hire ourselves and
rent our lands and other holdings from
the cent. percenters and other sharp
ers; and at the accelerating rapidity
under mortgage upon mortgage before
the nearing next century shall be out
OF its teens. Public and pricate bonds
have long. been mountain-high. divid-
ing up the earth and Its people by lofty
ridges Of inaccessible and impossible
heights. City bonds have accumulated
until in some regions even the highest
steeples of the city churches are buried.
or lost In the fog Of ever arising inter-
est. But now. counties are creating
bonded debts on every account to pro-
vide Investments" for the speculative
and ,usurious classes-the parasites Of
all public and private enterprise and
progress.
1t is so easy to issue bonds. especial
ly OF long dates, that the bucolic minds
Of simple county supervisors are easily
imposed on by the prospect Of great
improvements on borrowed money not
to be paid for many years-not realiz-
ing that the long date is the most de-
sirable feature for the lender on good
security and the most onerous and
dangerous for the borrowers. who are
thus enticed to other bonded debts, and
to compound and extend the first under
the taking scheme and name of 're-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. q delusion and q
ssnare, whether for individuals, COM
3nunities, or nations; as the lower rate
BE interest sometimes offered as u bait
5s sure to be offset by preponderant
l5Sain to the creditor.
e9aIt was formerly railroads that Sc
# red county subscriptions for which
8lnty bonds were issues-the State
5 ng forbidden by the Constitution to
IA ounty has learned to its cost and
ow that it would have been we'll
8le inhibition had included counties.
sRS#A 1t is the Improvement OF common
ty roads that is urged to require
Justify the issue OF bonds. No
these roads need Improvement,
Investors and contractors are ready
8ager to take the bonds and the
cts. But If the people OF n
or district, are not able and
to pay sufficient taxes to i'm
the roads, they are neither able
! ling to incur the greater burden
+ sbonds and interest for borrowed
to be expended in contracts.
# Aunty establish a good road sys-
plan Of Improvement that will
the Judgment and interests OF
lie, it need not cost much In
& hich is so scarce In rural re-
I'D under the management of
3rited and competent men in
- @ popular confidence and re-
Rplaced. 1t will not be dinl-
lure voluntary contributions
eams, wagons. implements
5t Is sufficient for the gradual
ant betterment of the high
4leralIy acknowledged util-
zt5 k;slty. Even a zeal and en-
such work are not impos-
Eicult, to arouse.
{ eded, or IL the voluntary
s. State must help in the
81 can; and this is by dcd-
bor OF her convicts and
city. town and county
& enfent. In the adjoining
Carolina tlis labor has