The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-10-28
the rarity
Of human charity
Under the sun ;"

obNSl III QUIZ
and we earnestly hope that the millions of
money yet needed to repair their pecuniary
losses may be speedily supplied. In this
case what is done should be done quickly.
While we of the South are wearing summer
clothing, and inhaling the odor Of autumnal
roses, thousands of men, women, and
children, in Chicago, homeless, houseless,
and comparatively naked, are shivcring in
the winds and frosts of an unusually early
northern winter, and are literally sitting
in dust and ashes.
We deeply regret in. this connection to
notice among some of our people, and we
are glad to know the number is very small
a disposition to look at this matter in an
improper light. While they are perfectly
willing to subscribe, and do subscribe
literally, for the relief of Chicago, they arc
fond of abiding to the fact that but a few
years ago Chicago subscribed literally to
the equipment and maintenance of soldiers
who burned our towns and villages, and
turned our women and children into the
public street. They profess to recognise
in the Chicago calamity a just visitation
of God, and a striking illustration of the
saying that Courses like chickens come
home to roost." They seem to say to the
Chicago sufferers, "You deserve no SYM
pathy from US; you laughed at our calam-
ity; and we rejoice in the opportunity of
returning good for evil. We are oppressed
by tyranny, and impoverished by taxation,
and we owe it to you and to your kind !;
but out of our limited means we give you
charity, and we do it to show you that we
are magnanimous."
Now we hutnbly submit that this is all
wrong. Whether God has or has not
scourged Chicago for her moral or her po-
litical sins, is none of our business. If we
have a fine chance to pour Goals of fire upon
her already scorched and blackened head,
by giving her foed and drink, we should be
far from rejoicing that we have the chance.
No one should rejoice at human suffering,
and no one should return good for evil
merely to proclaim his magnanimity. There
is no real charity in such a feeling, and
though with it our money may flow like
water, it will place nothing to our credit
when the books are opened in the great day
of accounts. Charity is not pulled up. True
benevolence seeks no counsel from selfish
pride. When women are houseless, and
children are starving and freezing, it is no
time to talk about the sins of their husbands
and fathers, nor to accompany charity with
reproaches, and lectures on merit. The
great and imperative duty is to give, and to
give freely and kindly. "God loveth a
cheerful giver."
We will publish next week an article
from an exchange, detailing briefly the hor-
rors ofthe Chicago conflagration. 1t will be
seen that the demons of murder, arson and
robbery, assisted the ~devouring flames in
their fearful work of destruction. The ne
cessity for relief is urgent, and will not admit
of delay. For the sake of common humanity
let us come up to the rescue. For the honor
Of our proverbially generous people we hope
TO see public meetings called all over the
South for the purpose of relieving the Chi
cago sufferers throughout the coming winter.