Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-06-24

oi 'he poor among mem, Eugene Sue.
We know not where to find AN asser.
ton more false. In the sense in which
the phrase is employed, the world owes
no man a living. The mere TACT OF sx-
istence does not give a right 10 food
and drink for there must be something
done to earn these necessaries, and
entitle us to their enjoyment. This
scarcely needs proof. To be convinced Of
it, we have but to contemplate the re-
suits that would follow, If mankind gen.
orally was to claim the rewards, with
out the toll Of labor. With almos, tho
solitary exception Of the Anglo. Saxon
race, and with many exceptions even
among that race, the whole world Of
man would choose idleness rather than
work, passing life away in one eternal
siesta. Civilization would come 10 a
pause, would retrograde, would die out.
What the lazzaroni Of Naples are, what
the Hottentots were. that all humanity
would be. under the dispcnsation OF no
work and plenty OF pay. We should
have world that would he, from one
end 10 another, intellectually and moral
ly. only a vast, stagnant marsh.
And yet this sophis,ical idea OF these
wouli-he philanthropists, in conse-
quence of the industry with which it has
been disseminated, has taken consider
able hold Of The popular mind. Though
few practical men are prepared to nd-
mt il. IN so many words, ye, mos,
tacitIy act rs If the poor had right to
claim support from the State, without
giving any return. Most OF the aims
houses. in the United States, are man.
aged, in truth, on this principle. The
pauper 10 never, or rarely, expected to
work, and indeed considers II an out.
rage to he asked. Often he demands,
in his sturdy des,iiu,ion, a winters sup
port, with as much air OF right, as il he
had founded .he poor-house himselc In
many cases also, perhaps in the mnjori.
~, he 10 not IA native Of the Common
wealth where he claims assistance ire-
quently not even Of the nation. In a
word, there are thousands annually ask
ing and receiving aims, through the
length and breadth Of the land, who
never make the slightest return, bu, who
eat up III ragged idlcness, a portion Of
the hard earnings Of those who do
work, the latter often being less hea lthy,
and living more poorly than the fat,
lazy pauper. Would il no, be but sim
pie justice to compel all who receive
aims. and who are not bcd-ridden, or
otherwise disabled, to labor in return
for their maintainance 2 Ought no,
work-housts, in fact, to supersede
aims houses, at leas, to great extent 7
Again. There are tens of thousands
of the poorer sort, in our various great
cities, who, while partly supplying them
selves, live partly nlso Oh the aims Of
the charitable. Every body knows we
presume, one or more kind.hearted
ladies, who make It ticir business. TO 20
about among their acquaintance, solicit
ing old garments, groceries or money
for "iamilIes in disress.h In many
cases these charities, We have no doubt,
are properly bestowed; but in many
cases, as We know from experience the
kind visitors are imposed on. II IL a
frequent trick with the idle and dssolute
among the poor-and these generally
are poor because they are idle and dis
solute-to endeavor TO enlist the gym.
pathies Of the rich, by artiul tales ~
suffering, and 10 spend the aims, when
they are obtained, ain rio,ous living."--
We well remember the Indignation with
which a lady once told us that, having
taken one Of these applicants at her
word, and gone - visit the family, she
found the husband, who had been de.
scrlbed to her as sick, sitting before 0
roaring fire, with bottle Of rum besid,
him, while the vile, and quondam beg
gar, sat in the other chimney corner
smoking n pipe. A gentleman oi a
city, officially connected
with the relief OF the poor, informed Nc
that in his town, in order to prevent
fraud II was resolved TO issue tickets on
grocers, and not to give money; but il
was soon found that the many paupsrs |
Ihus relieved were in the habit oil put- |
ling their tickets together, and railing
or the lot, the winner getting the pro-
reeds in tea and sugar. or rum, and this
among the people who proiessed to be
actually starving.
Wa do not make these remarks, with /
he intent n Of dlscouraging alns-glv-
ny, but only to do what we can in or
Ter TO render charity discriminating and
ust. We doubt whether good ever re-
suits from besiowing aims on the IDLE,
he dissolu:e, the incurably improvidcnt
We 30 further: We doubt whether It ia
light; for il fosters habits that are in
urious and criminal. Charity bestow-
ID on such person becomes un induce:
psnt 10 continued indolence, wasteiul-