Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-12-24
: rAUPIlIsn n THE UNITED STATES


PAUP81Isk n THE UNITED STATES
On the ground that it is degrading 70 ae-
cspt charity, and wrong 10 bes'ow IL eAcs''
on the sick and feeble, the Buffalo CONNER
Gal very properly argues against the soup
house system which has become SO fashion,
able in the larger cities, and advocates the
establishment Of greater number OF houses
Of industry. I'll. the grea, Law OF revelation
and Of reason, that plenty is the fruit OF m
dustry, and the bestowa' OF ALIAS upon the
able-boiied and healthy, though in some or
many instances, il may be the cause OF
present relief, runs the risk OF inaugufai'hs
4 permanent Generalization
The fact that the greater the advances
which nations make in civilization and re-
finement, the greater is the degree OF sniier-
ing and the amount OF privaton endured ey
n.rt,cular classes, has long been fruitful
theme for the speculations of the practical
statesman ss we'll as the philanthropist. The
poor rates and the poor laws of England
have been immensely fertile of difficulties
TO the rulers Of that country Tor the last TIVE
hundred years, and in France the scarcity OF
bread has often been the immediate cause
of dangerous instructions and sometimes OF
revolutions. In this country poverty has
not vet been the parent OF such momentous
consequences, though the suffering, during
the last winter, was perhaps as great in New
York and other eastern cities, as in London
or Paris; and the intimate commercial re-
lations which steam has introduced between
the trading mar,s of Europe and America
place the poor of the respective cities upon
an equality as regards the means OF procur-
inc the necessaries of life. 1t is true that
much the larger portion of the mentieant
population ofAmercan cities, are foreigners;
bot ths, fact in no degree lessons the clam
our Of their appetites, nor, TO their credit be
it spoken. deadens the cosmopolitan charities
of the benevolent; but the additional fact
that large number OF these foreign paupers
lege ofvo,ing. very materially increases the
difficulties of dealing with poverty, which
not only a suppicant for food, but is also
the possessor political power that tells
upon every election.
When we remember that all our habits
and our whole system of government are
permanently opposed to any thing like me-
tropolitan Capitalization, we are disposed
torejoice that country places and the coun-
Try generally, are not likely to be injurious
~ affected by the pauper difficulties which
beset and perplex the larger municipalities
but when we also remember the intimate
political connections which subsist between
all parts of the country, the question comes
nearer home, and we are forced to feel that
the psuper vote ofNew York City may have
direct and decisive influence upon the
election of the general government
As regards the Presidential election, it
has at times been a common saying that,
,sas goes the city of New York, so goes the
Ottle, anu as goes Tue State, 80 Soce 'He
country,"-and facts have frequently veri
fed the saying. The probable features o
he next Presidential election give thii
saying more than ordinary importance
Ii may be assumed as certainty, that al
the Southern States will be unit in sup
port of the so-called "Democrstic" candi
date. 1t is further admitted that that can
didate must receive the vote OF at least one
of the great States. New York, Pennsylva
mia, or Ohio, in order to be elected, II
New York, which, however, we by nc
means believe, should unfortunately be that
State, it is far from impossible that the for.
eign pauper vote Of New York City may
hold the balance of power in the next Pres.
dental election, and be virtually the ex
elusive elector Of the President of the Uni
ted States. The bare possibility of such !
fact is sufficient to demand the serious at
tention Of the people, while even it's remote
probability iusti6es the most earnest appre'
tensions for the welfare of the country