Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-11-02
For the spy.
The Times-Our Duties.


When the hand of industry is parslyzed, when
the stalwart arm of the honest laborer cannot
reap its just reward, when the poor and needy are
wandering through the streets, asking for work
that the little ones may be fed at home, have not
our City Fathers something to de- and our men
of wealth a duty to perform
A long, cold, wasting Winter is at our very
doors, and our people were never destitute.
The unparalleled high prices Of provisions have
entirely absorbed the fruits of their labor and
today there are hundreds who know not when the
next dollar is coming.
Last week, man asked for employment. I
told him I could give him none, and he must
husband we'll what had been paid him for his
Summers services. He replied that he had spent
ALL out of food and fuel that, now, four little
ones were looking to him for sustenance, and the
dreary month of November would add another
begging voice. This is but one instance; they
are undoubtedly in every street, and if we would
not swell the number beyond our control, let us,
in speedy council, seek relief
Why cannot the city enter into all the i'm
provements and repairs of thu ensuing year, that
the nature of the season will allow. and mmedi
give the necessary relief to the greatest number
Let all our men of means, in their private enter
prise, adopt the same course. We could better
pay the workman Tor services rendered, than to
support him and his family by s-giving.
By so doing we can wisely dispense oul CHAIR.
ties. preserve the morals of the city, and ride
safely through the storm. to the good time that
is coming
If we selfshly retreat, each into his own re-
serve, we shall give: over the community to de-
struction, and make ourselves the victims of its
msfortunes. The doors of the dram-shop will
be opened wider, and men, listessly wandering,
without aim or purpose, will be tempted to par
take of that which satisfeth not nor giyeth
strength to buffet with adversely, but will only
plunge them into scenes of debauchery, and goad
them on to deeds of shame and crime, Would
that there was virtue enough in our humanity to
stay this wasting evil, by closing, for the Winter
at least, these unhappy resorts.
We have not yet passed the cycle oil the con.
vulsOn. Its immediate fruits will be distress and
ruin, its Protracted evil the depreciation of our
property and the prostration of our prosperity
The extent to which this is carried, depends
on our fellowship in this hour of trial. Our me.
chancs and manufacturers, the bone and snew
of the community, have stood between the storm
and the capitalist Their skill and industry have
given value to real estate, thereby enhancing
the fortunes of the rich and placing them in
position, where, in comparative safety, they are
sheltered from the tempest Yet they cannot
escape unframed; for such crisis as this will
leave no one unscathed, though the degree of
their suffering depends on their action.
These landed estates, these magnificent stores,
these princely palaces all must lose their value,
when the mechanic of Worcester ceases to pro.
duce. In this whirlwind, they have been strip
ped of their all, save their skill, enterprise, and
integrity, which, if fostered in fellowship, will
cast off the nightmare that overwhelms US, and
we shall rise from this desolation. a stronger and
better city. Let all rents be Immediately reduced
at least thirty per cent. This is an important
step, and the earlier it is taken the sooner will
new life be breathed into our wasting energies
and our property saved from ruinous 6epreca-
tion.
Then, let US stop this brokerage, for it has be-
come a serious evil 1t occupies an important
place in the cause of this disaster. Everything
we have must pass through the hands of a bro.
ker. His tax is on the milk we put into our
tea, on our berries beef, and butter. Everything
that enters our mouths pays tribute to him. We
have paid him brokerage ON everything we wear
on our hats, our shoes, and even the shirts on
our backs his tax is upon the raw material, and
upon every value that is added to it by the inge-
nuity and industry of man. We get nothing d.
rectly from the producer. The farmer plants his
peach tree, which came from broker, on piece
of land which he purchased of a broker; he
nurses it for four years, gathers its first fruit,
which he sells to a broker, and the peach, on
which he has realized two cents, zoe purchase of
the broker for six cents, with money that we have
got of broker at two per cent month and
after this manner we do all our business, till we
find ourselves broken. and in chancery, paying a
broker to close up our broken estates. e.
Boy SHOT ny HIS OWN FATHER-A