Systems of Indian Philosophy

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Mahavir Jain Vidyalay

Page 93

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THE SYSTEMS OF INDIAN PHILOSOPHY
diated their debts many years ago. They were rich states and the money borrowed from abroad made them richer, by opening roads and constructing canals for the benefit of the people. The Rev. Sydney Smith who lent his money "the savings from a life's income made with difficulty and privation" it was he who was the loser. He addressed a remonstrance to the House of Congress at Washington which he afterwards published. "The Americans", he said, "who boast to have improved the institutions of the old World have at least equalled its crimes. A great nation after trampling under foot all earthly tyranny has been guilty of a fraud as enormous as ever disgraced the worst king of the most degraded nation of Europe."
But the state of Illinois acted nobly though it was poor. It had borrowed money like Pennsylvania, for the purpose of carrying out internal improvements: When the inhabitants of rich Pennsylvania set the example of repudiating their debts many of the poorer states wished to follow in their footsteps. As every householder had a vote it was easy, if they were dishonest, to repudiate their debts.
A Convention met at Springfield and the repudiation ordinance was offered to the meeting. It was about to be adopted, when it was stopped by an honest man. Stephen A. Douglas was being sick at his hotel, when he desired to be taken to the Convention. He was carried on a mattress, for he was too ill to walk. Lying on his back he wrote the following resolution, which he offered as a substitute for the repudiation ordinance :
"Resolved that Illinois will be honest although she never pays a cent. "
The resolution touched the honest sentiment of every member of the Convention. It was adopted with enthusiasm. It dealt a death blow to the system of