New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-18
THE TRIBUNE
City Governments and Police.

its doctrines with regard to the Poor, when we
consider execrabe. Our correspondent IS an ui-
ira Free Trade man, and carries the MAXIM Lei
us alone as far even as Malthus. hct INC ueS'
ttute poor starve-what right have they 10 mar
ry and rear children when they have no means
Of subsistence We protest against any such
doctrine-Gjyc them first chance to labor, to
earn and live comfortably; then if any choose
idleness. drunkenness and filthy dens, there is no.
thing more to be done fer them. But we are sure
nine tenths OF those who now exist in squalid mis-
erv would do better if fair chance were afforded
them Al any rate, let them be tried before they
are sentenced Ed. Tr,
Peddlers, Fruit-Stnnds. Cricrs, etc.
Tothe Editor II The Tribune
In the Tribune Of the 18th INST, you mention
that the City Government appears about TO take
measures to suppress the membranes of side
walks the hawking, screaming, and, | presume,
all the noise and obstruction made by the host Of
people who get what they call an honest living,
in way that is excessively annoying to all lovers
of quiet and dccency. hope the Government is
in earnest, and that it will not leave single one
Of these nulsances at large.
You object to the movement, not because you
are opposed to it in itself, but because YOU think
that the Government should first provide honest,
undegradng labor for all who are wishing to work.
The doctrine of "The Right to Labor" is, be-
lieve often insisted on by YOU 1t is my belief
that you are in error touching this matter. The
doctrine resolves itself into this-that the comnu-
nty is bound to support all who are poor, but has
q right to exact labor in return for that support.
Europe, at least England, affords the strongest
reasons for believing that the number of persons
receiving such support, if all claimants received
il. would increase faster than the means of sub.
sistence and that, at no distant time, all men in
the comm unity would become mere drudecs to
support the breeders of human animals all capt.
tai would be consumed; all produce equally d.
yided and savage Ignorance would return. The
Poor Laws in that country do not diminish the
number of distressed persons. They give support
only to limited number; and this number is but
so many added to the list of degraded sufferers.
Starvation is the check constantly operating, and
the only effective check to the increase of
the savage portion of the race. 1t is be-
leved by many humane persons that a total abo-
hton of all public provision for the poor would be
the best thing for them; for in this case the num-
Der of degraded persons would not increase at such
a rapid rate, and, by their numbers and competl-
ton, reduce wages SO low that the prudent and
industrious aborcr cannot live in comfortable
manner Benefit societies and private charity
viii not fail to assist the really deserving for the
rest there is no remedy--they must disappear
They who will marry and beget children in dirty
coll, To all IN IN
honest laborcrs Of ii.
Instead of the provision you propose, it would
be better for the government to abolish promptly
all those employments which keep alive a crowd
of degraded persons; and moreover, TO knock
Down all the filthy and dilapidated tencments that
harbor and breed such human vermin. Put a
stop to all peddlng, hawking, night-scavengerng,
and all employments that can be avoided by SCI
ence and good police; let the respectable me-
chanic and laborer be employed in constructing
sewers; let the shopkeeper supply what is wanted
without bowling through the streets, or cucumber
ing them with his barrels; let all dirty holes and
dirty work be avoided as much as possible and
then the vicious and miserable crowd will disap-
pear, like flies when the filth they live on is re-
moved.
A word to the Council. There never was Il
better opportunity for q body of men to d!stln-
guish themselves, and gain the good wishes and
admiration of a community, than there now IS
for these Councllmcn. Here is City without
organisation or order in lis Police; without the
means adopted by other Cities of removing the
noxious refuse without wholesome restraints on
the noise and mlsbehavlor OF the roWdles and
noise makers so offensive has 1t become that
hundreds retreat to the country during the hot
season. and thousands more would do so could
they afford it. And here is the testimony of ply
scians, engineers magistrates and others toprove
that all these evils can be removed by a proper
application of the principles OF science, and even
without increasing the annual cost OF government.
AS matters now stand, the intelligent members OF
The community, who know what evils they suffer,
while other Cities enjoy the blessings OF good
order-these members loathc and detcst the gov
eminent: all patriotism is dying under the
scourge of coward dronedom, and Society Is be-
coming dSunited al It's foundations, the affections
OF the united people. Let the Councllmen-or,
II the majority will not at once do 1t, let j few, or
only one ot thcm-make determined effort to
put the City in the best condtion-not the
second best, but in tie best: let them or mrn
perscVerc, devise plans, study what has been done
by other Cities, and proposed by men of science,
and not say it's of no use. Even one man Of such
resolution with only moderate abilities, could
change the whole character Of the government
lie would not yield to others; therefore, sooner or
later, Others would Weld to him. The Press has
for years been advocating such Improvement the
intelligent portion of the community desires it,
but does not organise to demand it but let the
government dash forward boldly and thoroughly
and it will be sustained Ii it doubt this, still let
pass the DEGREES that ought to be passed, and
give an opportunity for the people TO veto them,
but no, keep up the state of disorder and discom-
fort merely because there is an appearance of IN.
willingness on the part OF the lower class-ior
only this class presents any such appearance