The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-11-07
Paupjerisnn.


It is. angular with what different eye
from the great majority of the human fam
lily certain persons can regard the affairs OF
every day life. The orphan Asylums and
other charitable institutions OF New Or
leans are justly regarded as sources of hon
est pride by our population. The charity
of our people has always loved to expend
itself upon objects appealing SO directly to
compassion as the helpless, who either from
youth or extreme age, or sickness, cannot
support themselves and are deprived by cir
cumstances of protectors. We have occa-
sionally, it is true, heard a cynical muir
muir against the system; it would bring the
unfortunate from neighboring communities,
it would breed misfortune by removing the
dread of its results, it would accustom a
! certain class OF people to depend on others
for support instead of their own exertiofts.
! But it was only in the Daily -Netcs, of this
city, in it's issue Of the Both ult., that we
have seen wholesale assault in print ON
our whole system of charity. The article
referred to is a communication and is not
approved editoriallg, hut it is worthy of at
n very small class it is true, bat one which
in time may poison public opinion with its
errors and bitterness.
The principal objection is that the in
mates of such houses are not made to labor
for their own support. We are not fami
liar with institutions withdrawn from Ca
tholic control, but as for our own, it is we'll
known that at the proper age girls are
taken from one department of an orphange
and placed in another where they are
taught trades appropriate to their sex. Be-
fore that time they are made to acquire a
certain amount of education and perform
such little services as their tender age rem
ders possible. AS for other asylums, none
are admitted but those whose infrmities
render them unfit for2self support.
Another serious objection made is as fol-
lows: \
They are housed and begged for, 4he appli-
cants for your charity many times being them
selves supported by your Donations quite as
much as the pauper for whom they Ostehsibly
solicit aid. -- -
Who ever before heard the ideaAsuggestS
ed of devoting ones whole life to the SER
vice of another, and being at the SANG time
expected to support ones self. If Sister
of Charity devotes her whole attention,
day and night, to nursingt the sick of al hos
pital, teaching the children of the poor or
watching, feeding and clothing orphans,
how can sbe"be expected to carry on sep
aratel business by which to make living !?
Tho yarv nronosition is not only ungener-
Lous, but unjust and ABSURD.
Our writer continues:
Now, if churches and individuals wish the
luxury of n private or sectarian asylum, of
course no one can object, but when it comes to
soliciting aid from the city or State, it would
seem if it were policy for tho civil autheri-
ties to establish their asylums, and con-
duct them on principles of political economy.
A singular luxury that! The care of
helplessness, misfortune and misery in their
every phase is a. luxury to those only who
delight in the cross as a bed of roses for
the sake of him who hallowed it by his loYe.
AS to assistance from the public Treasury,
there is certainly economy as weY as hu-
manity in entrusting the expenditure of
public money for charity 10 those whose
motives are not mercen2fy. We are glad
to acknowledge that>fhe Neses itself edito-
rally endorses this latter sentiment.