New-York daily tribune., 1845-04-29
THE TRIBUNE.
The Rich and the Poor.


form the sta pie Of DUDLEY SELDEN's Speech at Ma
,ional Hall IN the City OF New-York few even
ings ago. For the most part the eloquence OF the
hustings is becoming commonplace and spurious
enough-a political speech Is apt 10 be q fdrrago of
balderdash slang and old Jokes, and political dis
cussion generally, what is buta mere re-chopping
Of cut straw
There are graver matters TO be considered in
connection with our political and social tendencies
than those which relate 10 the distribution OF Offlces
and the inrlgues Of dexerous politicians. Such d
mere scramble has the competition torplace become
that the great body OF the people growing indt-
ferent about the manner IN which the public posts
are fllled and while the sriies OF aspirants and the
struggles OF cOntendng rivals agltale the surface of
the political world, the elements OF other agtatons
slowly gathering IN The bosom OF society
These are rather social than political IN their com
pleXon or rdtiIer they are the results OF political
tendencies carried into social relations The dem
agogue has seen the indications OF the times, and
his language Is now directed TO the exciting Of
lealousles and anlmosltes oi the poor against the
rlch the employed against the employer, and he
denounces the Inequalities which are found In social
life as ourdges upon the principle OF the equal
Tlehs oil all men.
The Rich and the Poor Are these two disnc,
classes permanently established in our system the
one hereditariy rich and the other nherng poverty
az an entaed succession No there is not any
such organization OF society here. The rich are
generally so by means oil their own industry and
skill Under our laws disownlng primoge nilurc
il descends by Inheritance, II seldom happens that
the sons Of wealthy parents are themselves so
wealthy as TO be independent OF labor, or that they
will long continue so II they are. The likelihood
nthe generalrun is thatthe poor men OF one genera
will be The rich men OF the neXt--and rice ucrSd
Again VINO are the Rich and who ale the Poor
II by the former are meant those who live upon the
proceeds Of invested capital entirely, and by The
latter those who>are compelled to live by labor
rrey then there are but few of either sort In
hulL nf he MI
mediate classes, those who possess more or less
wealth, who unite labor and capital together, ia
some proportion or other-they constitute the great
masses oil the American People.
To the general subject Of the relations between
the more and the less wealthy, the rich and the
poor the possessors of capital and the OF labor,
MIR. SELDEN devotes the main portion OF hls speech
And this Is the real point 10 which the thoughtful
consideration of the best and ablest men IN The
country ought to be directed Dwelling together
in one community forming parts OF one body social,
the rich and the poor-subect TO vcissitudes which
may al any time bring about mutual changes OF po-
sltlon-hold important relations TO each other which
may be engened by. cordial harmony and good
viii on both sides, or emblttered by rancour and
strife, according as the duties and obligations OF
both are well or i'll discharged.
The rich look TO their tlle-deeds as guaranteed
by aw--to their property as secured 10 them by
law: and they must look 10 the masses OF the peo
ple Tor the support of the law and the uphodng OF
the guarantees which sustain the social organlza-
fIOn. Thus al bottom the rlcll, VINO are not 'lie
maoliy are dependent upon the non-rlch who
constitute majority for the safe possession and
enloyment OF their wealth. II Is true this depen-
dence rests upon the strong idea and sentiment oi
right which would revolt IN every honest man $
mind al the thought of violence or outrage against
the property of others But yet II is great Thing
TO have the mass OF the community sensitive TO the
convictions of justice, intelligent TO perceive and
conscientious 10 do what is right; and 1t Is Tor
those who have the means ol contributing 10 the
he nrD
whole community, 10 take care that fatal neglect
does moi occur on this point.
Now what are the obligations OF the rch--what
are their duties as the pUSseSsors OF wealth IN The
mids, of a mass who are not possessed ot wealth
Letus here quote MIR. Selden, upon whose general
train Of observation we have been enIarglng
In the first place much been done by the property
owners In this city for the advancement of the comfort Of
those who Labor and intend 20 show that much more can
be done and ought be done Let however cali Your
attention TO soGle particulars IN which the rich Of this cay
have exhibited great generosity towards the poor. In the
yreacause education heyhare without amurmur consent
cd 10 be very heavily taxed For the purpose oi contrbu
irg the public health aud rendering more comfortable
tho condition the poor they have asscEted tn incur debt
equal dollar in twelve Of the whole real estate OF the
CITY, supply this metropolis with pure and whole
some water YES let tell that the amount of that
expenditure which rests motSagc on the real
the city equal 10 one house and one " IN every
twelve. hom end Of ;he Island to ile other They
have gone Iurfer They have furnished 10 salc extent,
the opcratiycs and poor with public grounds intend
10 call your attention this point ltts further IL
is property IN itls cry 10
these advantages specially designed for the poorer classes
10 increase them. How largely the sum OF human hap
pness may augmented by the oeray both OF Govern
men and Of private individuals And say II Is the dniy
ns is The interest of the rich that the comforts and
enoymentS OF the poor be enlarged Let them increase
tie exteu; OF the public grounds-let these grounds
be beauted with flowers. aud fountains and starcS-et
The poor man. when his daily toll 10 over. have rcSct
where he and his family have an hours relaxation and
rational eoymcnt-whcre his eye may be graiaed by o.
eets and where strains OF inspiring music may
minister 10 his delight
wha, do III countries where dcspotc government
prevails In Parisin Bcrlii-n Vienna, we see public
grounds filed with beautiful objects OF nature and OF art
thrown open the man OF to-shau not freeincn who
have acquired wealth. 10 much for freeren as Kings do
for their slaves 1t tre that IN those European cities
the pcope are oppressed and their labor poorly copen
sate Yet how much has been done by sovereign power
for the comfort aud enjoyment OF the roo And wha Is
the result? The poor Of Paris. OF Berlin OF Vienna are
Substantially preserved by the constant expenditure ON
the part OF the government for the purpose OF furnishing
the aeoving classes with rational ainusenentS Inc s
tens OF the Tuilcres and the Champs dElysees, with
their bands OF music are open ALL and there when the
OF the day accomplished, labor enjoys seIi and Is
led nscnshly to esteem the which has supplied tha
ample means OF recreation misht present similar en-
nplcs the other large cities Why cannot :hat DC done
10 city Ike this Are no: the laoorcrs enues ~ =
the rich able furnish Il. Ought they not 10 ur
nsh it, Why Il could be exsy demonstrated tat IN Co
ing this :he rieh would be advancing her own nteres5
The consequence OF expenditure In This way would be 20
make the city stat more attractive 20 travellers and Nr
gers the value OF property would be crcaScd the con-
don OF The poor would be improved and the expenses Of
all civilized and refined this provision has been
made for The poor.
This is Speaking 10 the point. II, is much bet
ter style OF speaking than ,ha; which seeks en-
sspera,e the Poor against the Rich, and which
tends. by an inevitable reactlos. 10 aena,e the
Eich from the Poor But II in Monarchies such
careful fore,hought and benevo!en, solicitude are
exercised for the Poor by classes who are fixed
hereditarilv in their positions oi superiority, what
should be expected from Republicaa comniu-
ritv, "Here." says Mr.. Selden, tand the remark
will apply to Baltimore as well as 10 Nsw-foik)-
here in this city, of all other p!aces-here where
fortunes may be made more rapidly and preserved
with almost greater certainty than in any other city
in the world-here is the place where The hich
should look 10 the wants. wishes and comforts OF
the Poor. Here we should have our numerous
and extensive public Places, ornamented by statues
raised to men who had better claims 10 lmmot':l y
than the warrior who had slain his thousands ralSso
10 men who have done some service 10 the wotio ;
10 the Mechanic who has invented some new thins
The lo,,. ,t,al.