The Borrowing Habit.

Why the Young Should Be Taught to Shun the Slavery of Debt.

In all crusades against evil it is essential to find out as near as possible its primary source. No wrong-doing ever springs up at once, full fledged in society. It is usually the gradual growth of certain habits which, in their earlier stages, were not regarded as of much importance—were not checked as actual sins, and which have thus crept insidiously into character and life, to develop at last into something which is fully recognized and censured as iniquity. There is no more striking example of this than the many forms of dishonesty which excite righteous indignation afresh at every reappearance. We are naturally and justly shocked at the absconding clerk, defaulting cashier, the faithless trustee; be we rarely pause to consider how these unhappy men have come to such a pass. It has been no sudden plunge from innocence to guilt, but a gradual loosening of the principles—a slow deterioration of the character—that has at length made such crimes possible. While we may not be able to trace, step by step, this downward process in any given case, it is safe to say that many, if not most, of these overt acts of dishonesty had their root in a loose habit of borrowing. Now, in itself borrowing can not be called a culpable act. It is often a great convenience. We need a knife, a book, an umbrella—perhaps a small sum of money, which we can not easily obtain at once; a friend is near and willing to lend; we borrow it, use it, and return it promptly. So far no wrong has been committed, no harm is done. Our friend has been glad to oblige us and we are grateful. If the same limits and conditions were always preserved no further evil could ensue; but often these limits are gradually extended; we borrow more and more freely, and become less careful and prompt in return. Sometimes we seriously infringe another’s rights, without any intention of wrong-doing, simple by delay in returning borrowed property. The courtesy and kindness that lends freely is often sadly imposed upon and compelled to withhold its favors. From this habit to that of borrowing sums of money on slight occasions is not a difficult transition. Of course there are times when necessity justifies a man in asking a temporary loan, although an ancient writer well says; “If thou hast of thy own, borrow not since thou hast no need of it; and if thou hast nothing, borrow not because thou wilt not have any means to pay.” But it is not usually those who are in the direst poverty that are the most inveterate borrowers. It is much more frequently those who allow their ability to obtain them that resort to this dangerous and insidious practice. All such desires grow by what they feed on, and become more and more exacting, while the strict rectitude which can not brook the long continuance of a debt is gradually impaired. The victim of such a snare finds himself increasingly involved in its meshed; it becomes ever easier to borrow, ever harder to repay. Of course this can not continue forever. People, after repeated disappointments, decline to lend with so small a chance of return, and he then resorts to darker and more questionable methods of obtaining the means to gratify desires which have acquired such tyranny over him. Temptation comes, opportunities arise; he thinks he can restore what he takes and avoid detection, and perhaps, before he realizes what he is doing, he has committed a crime. It is but the culmination of a long process, during which self-indulgence has been fastening its clutch upon him and the principle of integrity has been loosening its hold. Is it not, then, all important in the training of youth that exactly the reverse process should be inaugurated and fostered? Is there any education so essential as that which teaches the young to restrain their desires within the limits which their own honest industry can supply? Our youth are brought up to value freedom as their greatest blessing. They learn it from the lips of their teachers; they breathe it in the atmosphere around them. Slavery would be to them degradation to which even death would be preferable. Let them also be taught to dread and to shun the slavery of debt—to prize above riches, or honor , or luxury, or pleasure that independence which owes no man anything but love and good will. Such a habit of thought and life would make the crimes of faithlessness and fraud impossible. Character thus purified and made wholesome at its source would continue to flow on in clear unsullied streams for the moral health and vigor of society.—Philadelphia Ledger.

source: The Waterloo Courier
location: Waterloo, Iowa