New-York daily tribune., 1844-02-09
1r,. prevent.on CT Paupertsm.'

,.:-,,-,ni, The world has tried long enough 10
Daiarre ts charities so as to minister TO all press
ing wants and provide against all utter destl'u-
~, and The result has been that Need has ad-
vsnced faster than Aims has been able TO hurry
ON It's track and at this moment, alter neaiiy
thirty years of general peace there are more pes
,-arv and destitution, in our own Country and IN
the world, than there were twenty years ago
These facts are beginning, as it is high time they
should, to arrest the attention ol the thousi''u'
and philanthropic. Those who have any larger
idea than that of providing to-day ior the needs
of today perceive that Pauperism grows WIN
more systematic provision to render Paupersm
comfortable-that the diffusion and regular nurs-
ino Of this disease of Society have subtracted
mncb from its responsiveness, until even the natu-
raj and wholesome pride of the INDECENT IS sink
;ng under the facilities for sloth and the assu-
-.nco of decent subsistence which our Aims
Houses now present, and the larger the accom-
,,odations the more numerous and pressing be-
come the applicants, until in this City at least,
# is doubtful whether cleanly, comfortable Aims
House accommodation for .Gtythousand psupers
would not all be put in rcqusltlon within short
time after it had been provided How long can
we afford to go on in this way? Remember that
Pauperism is hereditary diseasc-ihat the beg
gars of to- day are rearing up and training s"arhs
of bergars for the next generation, IN addition to
those that the friction Of our Social machinery
is constantly making out OF new materials
There is no estate or caste in Chrlstendom IN
crcasing so fast as that OF beggary.
Such facts as these have induced a number OF
philanthropic and discerning citizens of Boston
to form Society for the Prevention Of Pauper
ISM before which an Address on the greattheme
it contempates was delivered some time since by
DR.. WALTER CLAIMING. This Address we long
since read thoroughly and laid by, meaning to
write an article upon it the very first time we had
an hour and column to spare for it-and In
this resolve months have glidcd away We take
it up at last, however, feeling that the theme Is
TOO imminent as well as important to be thus
postponed to everyday matters-that 1t must be
discussed and rightly disposed of-Let US CLEAN
few of the thoughts from DR.. Channing's Ad
dress
Poverty is very ancient institutions and the
duty of mnstering to its needs is explicitly, lm-
pressvely, repeatedly urged in the Law according
to Moses. Regular contributions levied on the
Rich to support the Poor are at least as old as
Athens. Christianity, however, was the first to
recognize the Poor as rightfuy demanding rev.
erent love and kindness as well as subsistence at
the hands of the more fortunate The Church
early became, and for fifteen centuries remained,
the great focus and dispenser Of Aims throughout
the Christian world, and such, in Catholic coun.
tries, it remains to this day. But its charity,
profuse and kindly rendered as it has been, has
always been dispensed on the principle and with
the view Of relieving the wants OF the destitute,
never with the idea Of searching out the causes
and abolshing the existence Of Pauperism. OF
course, it has steadily increased the number OF
Paupers. Since Luther's time Protestant nations
have pretty generally undertaken to make civil
provision for the Poor, and with no better sue
cess. Pauperism and its burdens are ever m
crcasng and, though the independent are Sc
verely taxed, the destitute are poorly fed, and
begging, in thousand forms, is constantly ap-
pealing for casual charity. The whole business
grows daily worse and worse.
Neither the Church nor the State has steadily
cherished the idea of preventing Pauperism.-
They have provided hospitals for the sick, but
suffered the infection to spread unheeded. Yet
the thing needed is not so much to make pauPers
as comfortable as paupers may be, as to cXtln-
gush Pauperism and provide against It's recur
renee. This is the work which this Society has
undertaken, and which must every where be
earnestly contemplated, unless we arc willing to
sec destitution and degradation demoralize as
well as famish half the land.
Who is the Pauper He is miserable being
at best; often vicious lazy and dissipated How
did he become what he is His condition is not
its own cause? where is the cause? DR.. c.
answers-In Society itself. But how is this
Or. Claiming answers, with abundant proofs and
illustrations
|. Every Social institution or custom which
separates man from man-which produces dis
tnct classes in the community, having distinct
prveges-which is daily operating to build
men-such institution or custom produces Pau
pcrlsm.
2. The Political institutions of Society, or
their administration, frequently become causes OF
the EXTREMIST and widest National and individual
poverty.
3. The intolcrant spirit OF Party often leads to
the production of Pauperism.
4. AL employment of CapItalby Society, or by
individuals with its sanction, in producing or
dispensing that which ministers only to debasing
appettes or habits, lmaking or selling Alcohol,