Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-12-27
Relief Society Of Cleveland.

Such is the title of an Association recently
formed in Cleveland, for the relief of the dcsti-
tutc. They propose permanent organization,
with suitable agents to collect funds, ascertain
The condition Of the ncccssitous, and supply their
wants. The editor of the True Democrat has
some excellent remarks connected with this
subject, in which he characteristics the bcstowal
Of money for temporary relief, as "thc lowest
species Of charity"
We think so too. True if men arc starving
or freezing. they must be fed and warmed: pres.
cnt suffering must be relieved. and present want
supplied in this land Of abundance. But to
trust to ineideatal charities Is to secuse the con-
tinuanco and extension of want, and invite i'm.
position upon the benevolent. besides being a
most uncconomcal method of distribution
Under this arrangement, those who have means
nrc too often satisfied with very passal dis
charge of their obligations, while tho recipients
feel themselves degraded as the objects of chari-
ty, and thus become ioosers of ono most essen
tial requisite OF their future happincss-self
reliance.
Charity! Charity! is a word in every body's
mouth whether its practice be in their lives or
no. 1t is the grand remedy for all evils, the
price Of all indulgence, and the sure passport
to heaven. lie who shall substitute the idea of
.jt'sticc in the popular mind, for the prevalent
ono OF charity, will do an immense service to
the world. The mass are engaged in practicing
injustice and then rcmedyng the evil by the
bes:owal of charity.
Charity to the poor-chArity to the hcathcn
charity to the slave--charity everywhere,
when ignorance, suffering or want is found,
whatever its cause. 1t thus becomes cloak
for the practice of injustice, and an excuse for
pcrpctuating existing systems Of wrong
The slave asks no charity of any man or any
government. lie demands only justice. Enan-
eipate him from prejudice and chattolsm--
place his own body under his own controll-
give him access to the means of life and snowl-
edge, and be has no need of your charity
There are multitudes who will contribute in
charity to buy an abscondirg slave, who will
at the same time give the whole weight of their
social, ecclesiastical and political influence. to
perpetuato the system which renders the pur-
chase necessary, and which hold millions hope
less of any escape.
The starving millions of Europe; the unpaid
laborers of our own land. The toiling, shiver-
ing tenants Of our city garrets and cellars, ask
no charity. They demand only just equiva-
lent for labor. Land fer the tillcr-homes for
the laboring homeless, is what justice demands
and which obtained would give independ-
cnce to the laborcr. Charity never looks so far
as this. 1t supplies present wants--imposcs
dependence for the future, thus enslaving the
poor and agrandizing the rich.
DISTINGUISHED woman asks no pitiful bestow-
al Of charity-she asks not the condcscending
attentions of gslantry on the protection of CHI
valry. These were checrlully rendered by the
barbarism of the "dark ages" She demands
oply justice,
Tho bostowal of charity is an assertion Of su-
periority, ungratcful and degrading to the rccip-
lent. The rendering and reception of Justice is
a recognition ofiraternity aud equality. What
moekery of humanity is everywhere presented.
Tie successful in the scramble for wealth and
power, tannting their victims by doling out
eoppers in charity-whilo wringing dollars from
their weary sinews and exhausted mind.
We would By no means bo thought to speak
d'sparagingly OF efforts such as those proposed
in Cleveland They should exist wherever
want demands present supply 1t is perhaps
the best that can be done. But we would have
the benevolent look further. To the removal,
If possible, or at least tho mitigation of tho
causes, which induce poverty and want in the
very midst Of oycriowing abundance Our in