The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-11
State Appropriations.

Winston. N c., Jan. 10. 1908.
To the Editor: l am by no means fond
of writing for the press. but l think we
all should be actuated by patriotic mo-
tives and do all in our power to preserve
the credit of our commonwealth. Credit
is the biggest thing in the commercial
and business world indeed according to
actual statistics, it is over ten times
as big as even capital itself. About 80
per cent of the the business of the United
States is done on some system of credit.
1t has often occurred to me that the in
vidual or government who allows his
credit to suffer IS either a knave or a
fool The last two or three Legislatures
have seemed to me to proceed on the idea
that this poor old State of North Carolina
was possessed of unlimited resources and
appropriated and appropriated till there
was nothing to appropriate. and our Gov
ernor and State Treasurer found it neces-
sary to go to New York city and borrow
100000 to maintain the credit of the
State. And 1 see from the Governor S
recent message that he recommends that
the State go still further in debt-sell
her bonds for 100000. Now don't gain
say the proposition that our Governor is
rest of us poor mortals, is liable to make
mistakes, and | respectfully submit that
this is one Of the greatest errors he could
have made. ] for one do not believe in
assuming debts for our children to pay.
True, small family or government debt
is sometimes healthful and necessary
stimulus 10 renewed effort. | know it is
rather popular and prevalent idea for
towns, counties, State and indeed nations
to run heavily into debt and leave them
as an unwelcome incubus for our posterity
after us. But this is wrong-radically
wrong. 1t is contrary to the biblical in
junction, and the Bible is the best bust
ness guide | have ever seen or read
Aside from it's sacred inspiration and di-
vine origin and it's teachings of future
reward and punishment, it possesses the
hest and most wholesome rules for every
day business life. Now, the family Is
the unit-the smallest form of govern
ment and the incipiency of all govern
ment. / have no right as the executive
head of my family to assume any obliga
lions in the way of debts (absolute nee
essaries excepted, of course) and leave
said obligation for my wife and Deepen
dent children to discharge when I shall
have passed from the stage of action
Neither have I a moral right to live in
| a style Tor even permit any family to dc
sol that | know | cannot possibly afford
And this is the milk in the cocoanut-
| the analogy complete. The State is moth
ing more than a large family. If my
neighbor has an income of Sc, 900 per year
and | a salary of $1,000. of course il
would be the height of folly for me tc
try to keep up with him in the matter
| OF personal expenses-family appropria.
tions-caTiages, horses, servants and
| numerous other business. Now. we are
| a poor people, North Carolina is a poor
state, and we can no more keep I'D witt
Pennsylvania or New York States in an.
propriations than a poor school teacher
| or minister with a salary of $500 OF
$1,000 per year can keep a pace with a
| large wholesale merchant or trust mag.
| nate with ten. twenty or hundred time,
that amount to appropriate for the com.
fort and conveniences of his family anf
J friends. l love our educational and eIee-
mosynary institution. / have never seen
| the time in my life that | did not in ad.
dition to assuming my proportionate pa ri
| in the burdens of taxation regard il az
4 pleasure-nay, sacred duty-to an