National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-01-28
BRADFORD. FRIDAY, JAN. 70, 1870.


The condition of the poorer class.
6 in our communities is such at the
present time, as to deserve the at
tention Of every citizen who has any
interest in the general welfare and
prosperity Of our people. There is
a large field open here for the disin,
terested and benevolent labors of
the philanthropist, and the most
generous private and public chart
ties have plenty of room for their
benificent work.
The close of the rebellion left in
every community a large number of
widows and orphans and disabled
soldiers, who are not able to earn a
livelihood by their daily toll, and
who have no capital to invest in any
kind of lucrative business. The
general government has in some
measure attempted TO provide for
these persons, by granting them
pensions, but these pensions are
small compared with the cost Ct the
most common 'ncccssaries of life -
and III no way adequate to support
them from year to year. Many OF
these persons earned considerable
money during the war which should
have been saved, but for want of
prudence and foresight, most of the
earnings were spent us soon as re
ccived, and they are now in no bct-
ter condition, financially, than they
were before the war.
In addition TO those above. men
toned, there are, in every commit
nifty, individuals who have always
been poor. They are not so because
they arc not healthy, strong, muscu-
lar men, with good powers for en-
du ance; nor because they are not
Industrious for many of them lead
q very laboIious life, and perform a
large share of the farming and me :
chanical labor of the country. Nol
is it because their labor does not
command good wages, for the pric,
of labor for the last ten years ha.
been comparatively high. OF course
IN this statement we do not include
those who are habitually indolent
for such individuals are not affected
by either the high or the low price
of labor, as they are not in the bu-
slncss. But why is it that mann
industrious men are poor, and il
many cases in poverty and pcnury
1t cannot be because they cannot
find employment, for in this country
there is work enough for all who are
willing to work. In some cases ne
doubt it may be attributable To mis-
fortune, to tMiure in business tc
becoming hopelcssly in debt 10y be
ing security for a friend or by hay
ing houses and property, procured
with borrowed capital, suddenly de
stroycd by fire, or swept away b,
devastating floods. These are mis-
fortunes that frequently ovcrburlei
people with load of debt which il
seems almost impossible to remove
But these accidents and miSiortunes
happen to nut Few cou>r,rod viii
the whole number of our people,
and in most of these instances thcS,
persons can retrieve their fortune,
If they are resolved and determine,
10 do so. There is "A reason Why $,
many laboring people are poor. L
is because they spend their earning,
as fast as they get them, and man,
OF them sIend more than they earn
and instead of making their condi
ton from day to day better, contin
nally make it worse. They form u,
habit of saving anything. If for
time bciricnds them one day and
they obtain more money than tlci
ordinary necessities require, they in
erase their expenses, 10 tina. the,
VIII balance their incomes. Instea,
of placing n portion of the proccc III
oi the fortunate days work asid,
and making it II deposit towards III,
sum necessary 10 purchase Il hom
for himself and family. where Their
VIII be future comfort and plenty
he spends the whole for those thing
which are not necessary, and coul,
easily be dispensed with, and tn
morrow finds him IN no better COZ,
dition on account of his good Incl,
There is no healthy, industrious maj
who cannot form the habit of savin,
something from the proceeds of cacl
days labor. IL may be not NOR
than tenth or o fifteenth Of hi
days wages. but il is something's
aud when once this habit is formed
the savings will begin to accumu
late rapidly. Let the poor laborinl
man think of this. If he could saw,
Int Ave cents her day, i'm aCO doy,