New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-26


r. Is doubtful and ditfcuit But there are others
chiefly OF ,oreign birth and mendicaut habits, VII
are so degraded in spirit and welded to debass
ment, that the task OF Interesting them IN eli rt
so as to effect their own rescue is welInigh hope
less Those only know vino have male the trial
how much OF time, aud means and exertIOn. are
sometimes expended on this Rbect class, without
any seeming compensatory results, But ever
such are not abandoned in disbursement tor
this would augment the number Of the ignorant
and depraved, and riYet upon the community the
lntolerable evils OF rapidly increasing panper
ism. Some OF this class have been reformed, and
others may but IL parents are irrecamable, it is
not thus with their children. The offspring OF the
poor are as susceptible to kindness and TO the I'M
preston OF all good influences as the children OF
the rich Consequently, among the most unPro-
missing is found vast field Of usefulness and the
Nlsiters improving the abundant facilities afford
ed for the moral and mental culture OF the young,
by the admirable system Of Sabbath and Public
School instruction. are enabled to draw multi
tudes from ignorance and exposure to vice, and
place them IN circumstances the most favorable
to their future virtue and responsibility. Though
ALL in this respect, may not have been done
which the deplorable condition of thousands re-
quires yet. in no previous year has so much
been effected 70 diminish juvenile mendiciry, to
check the growth Of the pauper class and ID res
cue those who had fallen into it.
Another prominent object in the labors OF the
year appears in the more careful regulation Of the
Gmount and duration OF reltef. In this particular
no new principle has been introduced, for it has
ever been a fundamental rule of the Association,
not to give than is necessary, to prolong
relief beyond the duration of the necessity which
calls for it. IN former years, less attention was
given to this rule than il merited: and injury to
the henehciaries as also an unnecessary and bur
densOme increase OF dependents and expenditure
IL Re- IL, Of i
ing from so salutary a regulation, becoming IN
creasinglv manifest, special efforts the past year
have been made for its more general Observance
aud the results have been so beneficial, II IS
boped such efforts will not relax until the opera
ton Of this important rule becomes universal.
Another marked feature in the operations OF the
wear has been the effort 70 diminish the number QE
5tose who habituaiiy depend on aims. 1t is well
known to be the benefcent design OF the Assocla-
zion, to elevate the poor to the condition OF self
seaport rather than to Sustain them by charity
And there being great reason to fear that the re-
lief of the same families, however deserving, from
wear to year, would initiate against such result
the principles OF tue Institution and the best lnte
rests of the class in question: alike required the
use of such measures, as would tend to break up
reliance on gratuitous aid, and urge all physically
able, to earn their own subsistence. SO mpor
tapt appeared the subject TO the Board that they
caused circular and an a. alphabetical list, contain
ing the name and residence of more than twelve
hundred such families, to be distributed among the
Visitors, inviting their cooperation to effect such
a reform as the object in view required. They re
commended that such families be visited In
friendly way. be reminded how long they had
been aided. and that all able to work, be faithfully
warned against depending upon this or any other
charity. 1t was believed, II they could be III
duced to improve the season when expenses are
diminished and labor most abounds, SO as to save
a small sum each week for deposit in the Savings
Bark, many would thereafter be able to subslst
without aims, and sense of sclt-respect and
praiseworthy independence promoted. olihclent
time has not yet elapsed to reveal the ful! effects
of this movement, but enough has been developed
to show that it was seasonabla and proper, and
will be attended with excellent results.
The Board in this connection would remark, that
those who have long received the aid and KIND
attentions of the Association, without giving any
evidence of improvement thereby show their con
nection with class that is not likely to be eieVa-
ted by ordinary means, and some other mode OF
action with respect to them should be adopted
The nature of that action, the circumstances OF
each will Indicate 1t does not iolo| that al
such persons should be denied relief, this, the de-
sign of the Association and the dictates OF human
ity may alike forbid.
AS corollary to these various iabors, there hG'
BEEN n striking Elimination IN the number OF tht
dependent poor, as compared with the previous
year. During.the year ending Nov. l. 1919, 6,67;
families were relieved containing 29,8 4i persons
In the course ofthe year just closed, but 725 fam
lilies Were aided, comprising 25,762 persons, thus
exhibiting decrease OF 8i7 families, numberln!
ssh persons The cause of this great dlsparit,
in the relief Of two successive years, may in par
be attributed to the prevalence OF the cholera il
l84g but as will appear, this does not accoun
| for all the difference Two processes being il
operation to increase the relative number OF The
poor twas perhaps q reasonable expectation tina
! they would increase above the ratio OF the popua
ton Many Of the rich and prosperous are re
moving from the city, while the poor are rapid,
pressing in. especially by foreign emigration. Il
/ the three years and SIX months preceding Sept. Q
1850 the almost incredible number Of nc, 3l5 alel
emigrants landed at this port, exclusive of th'
multtudes OF the destitute who arrived here b.
/ the ports of other States and the British Prov
| inces. 1t is not known what per cent. OF thu
above continue here, but it is certain that most 0
the provident energetic class go into the interior
while the idle and thriftless chiefly remain. An,
though special department has been formed 10
the care of INDECENT aliens, yet, rs many of then
refuse this provision and throw themselves on pr
yate charity, they greatly increase the aggregate
OF the needy, and become an oppressive burden
to this Association. Notwithstanding, however
the immense influx of foreign Immigrants, ant
the peculiar exposure Of the city to pauperism
from this and other sources, it does not appca
| that the outdoor poor are increasing above tht
ratio Of the increase OF the inhabitants, but tina
they ere actually Ja1llag 6clo1r il. And though
some have expressed their belief that the tenden
cies of this Institution, however wisely conducted
were to augment the dependent class, the contra
ny appears to be the fact To show, therefore, the
tallacy Of such opinions, which implicitly condemn
as mischeyous all organized charity, ard to set
at the same time the influence OF the Association
in this respect in true light the following stats
tics of the ree granted by it since its formation
are subioined And let it be remembered that il
is not a },,5o,j reasouings, but facts and figures
| which furnish basis for all Just conclusions or
such subjects
Ys, Fan.le. rs'e,ed Pefs1a- fei-y,d,
1nf2t4...........,.62jl -80j2
=. ai5,.........57g7 258l6
e. iai6,............-547G 1855
.lgt7..........55 $50 25,ll6
.I849..............53i0 1850