The New York herald., 1867-02-01

many Weit-meaning people among WS are
constantly at work devising means whereby
much misery and the sins resulting therefrom
may be cured. The Legislature Of the Stale
has under consideration bill intended 10 pro-
vide remedy for what Ia called the great So
oial evil, and pious persons 60 about the streets
at night distributing tracts and good advice
and Offering moro substantial assistance, in the
hope sf rescuing some Of the victims Of poverty
from the end they must too surely reach. Such
good acts are worthy Of oil praise, but il is like
curing . malignant malady by simply telling
the patient he ought not to be i'll The causes Of
our social evil, and they are many. are not
touched To provide comfortable home Is .
good and sufficient remedy for those who need
one; but no legislature nor association Of be-
nevolent persons, be they ever 20 well dis
posed, can provide homes for more than .
small fraction sf the class which they design to
benefit Healthy tenement houses are much to
be desired, but they contain no cure tor tho
evil complained Of.
The true cause Of this thing is poverty,
which in its turn has many causes. Everything
Wo CVuouhhO u ~ PAoocut CuuLmVu,iy uoofs
We appeal 10 every housekeeper TO bear us
out in the statement that house rent, food and
clothing have tripled in price since the year
1860 Wages have not kept pace with this
fearful advance in the price Of all the neces-
saries of life. In some instances there has
been no increase whatever. How much must
the poor sewing girl pay for bare SOON now
in comparison with what she paid Q few years
sincef And them let "a ask, how much have
her wages increased. Every trade in New
York and throughout the country protects IL
self by associations and by periodical strikes
for higher wages. Who ever heard Of
sewing girls ON = strike. II il the
only business which cannot protect
itself, and vet none need il more. The poor
girls cannot afford 10 strike; they cannot afford
enough from their wretched earnings TO create
. fund for mutual assistance, ss the members OF
every other trade can. To stop work with
them is to starve; to fall III Il to lose work,
food and home; to lose health is TO die Many
who turn away their eyes from their "erring
SISTERS ss they are hypocriticaly termed little
thtaA W s"V ,@unsr WniNh uhVv suCM Ous Az "
the streets in the snow and biting blasts Of
winter to get something at any sacrifice where
with to sustain dear life.
Now, let the wise and benevolent Of the
nation apply Themselves to the removal OF the
true cause OF this poverty, and not remain salts
Hed with efforts at alleviaton, that count but
IS a cupfnl Of water taken from the Hudson
The true cause Is the financial condition Of the
country, by which the high price Of everything
10 kept up. Let them contrive to bring about
return to specie currency, thus enabling the
producer. the manufacturer and the retailer to
reduce the prices on their goods. II Is not
three days since the proprietors OF certain
class Of houses in this city held meeting with
view to devising measures "to protect their
interests" The meeting was noticed in some
Of the daily paper. The very best plan such
persons could devise would be to work for =
further advance In gold and the maintenance Of
present high rates for house rents, clothing and
food, and low rates Of wages to sewing girls
While those causes exist the business they mel