The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-01-19
From the n. Y. World.
The Prospect ian New York.

L .
thinking man that the present winter viii
be unusually prolific in suffering among
the poor. The financial condition Of our
country has already caused the discharge
of thousands of operatives from their daily
employment, and there is every prospect
that this army of unwilling idlers will be
doubled and trebled before many weeks
have passed. Yet they, and their wives
ANA Their little ones, must live. Must 1--we
Mark the full meaning of those words
When people cannot get work, much less
money, food, clothing, shelter and fuel 1t is
a fearful thought that, unless smitten by
the hand of death, they must live, though
only to undergo the pains ofwant. Poverty
breeds crime-and no wonder. lf-well-to-
do folks could only realize the thousand
and one temptations that dazzle the eyes
Of the pitablc, impovcrishing beings, easily
goadcd into covetousncss by their cruel
hqriships, they would be amazed that
crime is not more universal among them
than * shown by our police records. AS
it is, men and women frequently commit
triAing ofcnsrs for the sole purpose of be-
ING sentenced to some penal institution.
where there actual necessities viii be cared
for.
In view of the Grcary prospect that
looms up. we lay before the public few
reliable facts, showing on one hand the
extent of paupcrism now in our midst, and
Oh the other, what provision exists to guard
against It's becoming an engine Of social
evil, by judicious exercise of Christian
charity. Unfortunately, the demand for
Immediate relief cannot be fnswrred to the
full, as matters now stand. Every benevo-
lent institution is itself more or less impov-
rrishcd, and many aIc obliged to incur
heavy debts in order to partiallf appease
the cry for work, for food and for shelter,
thai is sent up continually before their
doors.
Consequently action must be had at once
equal TO the emergency. Everybody is,
FROM thr nature Of society, Individually i'll
trre,tcd in the honest support ofthe widow,
the orphan tie sicl, and the IDLE. 1t is an
obligation that no person can shake OIL
the safety of families, nay, even of every
citizen depends upon the condition of such
persons Just as clearly as this class OF so
cicty is dependent upon the rest for IN al
lpviqtion CT its sufi,riugs. The matter is
strictly muual-pnd since It's 50, selt-pro
lection and common srnsc, if not philan
thropv, ought to cause every individual t'
discharge his duty in this respect. y dol
lar bestowed upon poor wretch may d.
the means OF preventing the commission
Il desperate act, to Wi.iyh Ter rcclplen
might lave been driven but for the tlmel.
aid that serves to minister TO his pressing
necessities. \ dollar Though it be Tx
a dlop Of rain falling upon Parchcd land
vet it helps little toward It's moisteHinG
The food descended in rain drops. Wild
ows' mites have enormous aggregate val
ucs. All that is needed is a general loosen
ing of purse strings and fclicitous hes
towal of moderate aims. And this, let it b
again remarked, must be done in Orde
TO avert the most serious consequences.
Experience has taught that the majoIit,
of poor people manage TO sustain them
selves from hand to mouth until the md
die of January or the lst of February; thel
they are forced to flock to the various mu
nicipal and religious bureaus for relief !
therefore, the number Of brcgars is alrrad
at this c'nly day, greater than can Dc pro
vidcd for, it may readily be supposed tina
mid-wintcr will find the avenues of Chart
completely blocked up by throngs Of til
sick and furnishing.
As surely as this happens, the brca
riots OF 1871 viii hr rc-onactrd. Menacin
mobs of unemployed men and boys Wi
parade the streets, warehouses may /
sacked and scenes Of bloodshcd witnessed
such as has never occurcd i'll the history {
our city. And to this we are steadily dri
ting on the current Of political and iinancii
troubles. Prompt action can modify thong
81 possible NOT prevent, the.cyia now breed
in Ing. \ procession q unemployed lne'
he mostly German piaUo1ortc r,akcrs, tuImC
on out in the Eighth Ward few nights sine
mt and though small in numbers, and orderl
ds throughout It's march, still it Is signitca1
Of the course, which things will sooner
in later take.
he What our poor want is work, but VOL
Mt they cannot havc therefore, only o.
pr source Of livelihood remains for them, al
he that is, to become recipients of municip
er, and private charity. \ careful estima
re- shows that upwards of twenty thousai
he persons-clerks, mechanics, laborers al
1T ELECTROMAGNETIC been discharged fro
he their situations. Usually such look Sou
re- for work during winter, but this can
itv more be had there than here at preser
to Consequently, these people win be fore
rs. TO remain iii New York, to their own in,
cir vidual and 10 each others detriment
his few weeks their ranks will probably
her augmented vastly, and each recruit will a
her his share to the general amount Of ahjc
use suffering.
EXTRACTING TEETH WITH GUNPOwDE