The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-04-11
LOCAL MATTERS.

The RICHMoND RELIEF AssOCIATl0S.-1t
We're shame and mockcry to believe that the
people of Richmond are ignorant of the wants
and necessities of their poor. Again and again
they have shown by their liberal dOna tiOnS
and energetic actions that they appreciated
the magnitude of the duty that the hand OF
Providence had imposed upon them; they
have responded cheerfully TO appeals that have
been made for Il full attendance at concerts,
lectures sermons, and fairs and yet, withal,
il is dOnLif"L trl,ettCr the RictmoId Retef
.fSSorirtion cpa rci,rj,t me Oeek lDager in e.
iyf,acr No one need be told how much
good has already been done by the Asso-
ciation: all know already that its power TO do
good has only been limited by the small
amount of money at the command Of its mana
gers and all will acknowledge that, without
.uch IN association, hundreds of our poor peo-
ple must suffer that privation and distress
from which it is our duty, as men and Nirgi-
mans, to endeavor to save them There may
be enough money in the treasury of the hsso-
citation TO pay the expenses of the current
week: but at present there is no means of
meeting any necessary expenditures in the
week that will follow 50 that, without imme-
diatp assistance and support, the Association
must and will be dissolved
The explanation of this sad condition ofaffairs
j., unhappily, far too plain and simple. Our
people are warm hearted and generous, but
they are at the same time spasmodlc and emo
tional. They Will empty their pockets for the
poor to-day, and think that their task is ended ;
they will give freely once, and think that all
their obligations are fulfilled. This is not
what is wanted. The Relief Association
requires permanent support. Not ten dollars
this week, and nothing the next and the next,
but a regular fund that, however small in
amount, will be permanent and reliable. The
managers of the Association have already
done much, but they must do more TO carry
out the purpose which their own noble
and benevolent desires have devolyed
upon them. They must canvass the city
for subscriptions and that at once: and then
there will no cause for blaming the hardness
of our citizens. The committee of the Associ-
alton is some thirty in number. Let each
member of the committee, then, go TO his
friends and ask them 10 pledge themselves to
give ffty centS per lcsek TO the Association.
Surely each committeeman can obtain ttcentJ
subscribers, and the chairman, who is so well
and universally known, may obtain twice that
number and then at once there will be q
regular fund of over three hundred dollars per
week unon which the Association can always
RELY Are there not six hundred persons III
Richmond who can and will give ffty cents n
,yeek TO the poor? There are twice, and thrice,
and four times that number, and we say II
without hesitation. No one will refuse his
mite, even although it may involve the relln'
auishment of cigar, a convivial drink, or II
visit to the Theatre; and VHe pt"a is not tted'
we shall be inclined 10 place all the responsi'
bilitv upon the Association itself In the
North there is abundant charity towards us,
but we must do something for ourselves aho
not until no man in this community Is able te
contribute half n dollar to our poor should we
be content to rely entirely upon those VINO
with maghanimous liberality, have already
done so much for our relief. Let our plan De
inaugurated without moments deiay, aho
we are assured that, if properly managed anc
worked il will be so successful that we shal
hear nothing more of probable cessation oI
ALI relief TO our poor.