The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-11-25

no" approaching, when the necessities OF the
poor among US are more keenly felt-when want
has lesst to cheer, and stands in need of more TO
support 1.-THE subject Of our public charities be-
comes topic Of great and lively interest TO
every feeling and we'll regulated mind
New York is prosperous city, the centre OF
our commerce; labor is here in constant demand.
and yet We see paupers among US; and that terri
bic blot of modern vilization-paupe rism-
seems to increase among u.s. BY pauperism, we
will here say We do not mean mere poverty. In
every community there must be some poor, and
there are sure to be some who are infrm, weak
and helpless. All cannot be equally rich--some
Will prosper above others, and some will be
poor. But by pauperism We mean labor,
strong, hearty labor, able to work, willing to
work, and yet pining in distress and want,
either from the absolute destitution of work, or
from the stinted and inadequate remuneration
of their work. There must be, and there is,
something egregiously wrong In the social sys-
tenn, something "rotten in the State of Dem
mark" when either of these two categories are
witnessed; and we regret to hear and to see that
they not only exist, but, as we observed before,
are increasing in our fourishing city. When
we enquire into the cause of this lamentable
evil, it is more easy to respond to the enquiry
negatively than affirmatively We can say then
that the want of contributions from the rich, the
want of public sympathy, the want of public
me- ans, and public goodwill to apply those
msans-all these are, negatively, not the cause
of this vicious condition of modern society. For
we spend annually large sums to provide for the
wants of the necessitous. There are no
poor laws in America. and yet there is
no country where the poor are so we'll
provided for; and for good reason, namely, be-
cause we do that willingly and cheerfulty.
which, in other countries, they do by force and
by law; and no one need be told that willing
kindness goes much further than forced charity.
What then, is the cause Of this evil, in the teeth
of such large amount of money paid annually,
by our city and its inhabitants, for the poor
an amount which, altogether, we believe, may
be put down at half million of dollars, exclu-
sive of the sums expended by different bene-
VIOLENT societies and institutions. If no mis-
takes were made as to the cause, there would
be no mistake and no difficulty about the re-
medy. But 1t is precisely on this point that all
the remedy-mongers are out at sea, and all their
plans make woful shipwreok. We apprehend
there is only one cause, and only one remedy
That cause is to be traced by going back to first
principlesit is to be found in the vicious selfish
ness of man; and the only remedy is to make
selfish, greedy and covetous men liberal, kind
and good. This is the problem to be solved
this is the great difficulty. Until mankind shall
be filled with the spirit of Christianity, and
Glove one another" 1t Is clear as day light,
they will do evil to one another; and here the
whole matter lies, namely, that where man is,
there is evil and sorrow-two elements insepa-
rable from each other.
But while there may exist doubts and differ.
ent opinions as to the Cause of this great evil it
must be confessed we are at no loss for rene.
dies; they come upon us in all sorts of shapes
as thick as blackbcrries. Now is the time for
panaceas, and inventors of remedies; and even
those that have been Kissed and hooted off the
stage for their notorious imposture and utter
failure; such as the visionary tribe of Fourier
ties, vote-yourself- a-farm-ites, and, i'd genus
omne, still presume to come forward again with
their deceitful promises, their lying schemes,
and abortive fantasies.
We are, however, far from wishing to class
among the above mentioned dreamers the plan
proposed in an article published by one of our
contemporaries of Saturday last, over the sigma
ture of GA Citizen" 1t is well written arti-
Gle, containing many correct views and just
principles. The immediate plan, however, pro.
posed by this benevolent writer, though very
fair and plausible, we deem to be quite imprac-
ticable. We would gladly join to help in the
good work, and aid to put down this ulcer OF
society, if it could be done; but we more than
fear it never could be carried into effect by any
plan hitherto brought forward. similar plan
was set on foot in this city some years ago, but
it speedily became mere stalking horse for the
pride. ambition and covetousness of those who
got hold of the management Such would ine-
vitality happen to the plan proposed by GA Cti-
zen.''