The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-01-20

We call attention to the communication OF
''Justiee" in this issue. There is probably
more reason for the suggestion it contains than
many would at first suppose. There are sew,
eral families In the city who have been suffer-
ing great y for lack OF food and fuel. Some Of
our citizens to whom the facts were known
have contributed literally to alleviate the dis
tress of some Of these families.
That such distress should exist here is net
to he wondered at. The great immigration
last year represented all classes and conditions
Of society, and some Of those who came very
probably had but little money left after they
got here. Then there was u decline in the de-
mand for mechanics and laboring men; many
failed to find employment; winter came on,
and it has been an unusually severe one; men
with large families sought in vain for employ
ment; they found, in some instances, that flour,
wood, and many other staples in household
economy were more costly here than where
they came from; and to the pangs Of hunger,
Inconsistencies, and distress of wives and chill
dren, were added regrets, selE-reprOach and
the encouragement incident to honest and
persistent but unavailing endeavor to obtain
employment. While there Is not by any
means SO much poverty and Indebtedness in
our city as may be found in any of the eastern
who are destitute here have special claims for
consideration which, as a rule, the poor of
eastern cities have not. The sufferings of this
kind here do not result from Incidence and
dissipation. Honest, industrious men came,
believing that their industry would be better
rewarded and that they would soon be able to
place their families in more comfort able cir
than they were likely to do in the places they
left. They probably had good reason to think
SO. Every thing possible has been said and
disseminated to lead eastern people to such
conclusions. They came here, and found that
every avenue Of business was thronged with
eager competitors, and, the winter coming on,
and the suspension Of some kinds Of work, as
usual at such seasons. q few who were short of
means find themselves unfortunately in a
strange land, and, from from no fault of theirs,
in a suffering condition, rendered more
grievous to be borne from the fact that they
abandoned homes in which they had never
suffered from hunger, to come here. The fact
cannot be denied that money is universally es-
teemed, and monied men popular the world
over, and that new arrival in any locality is
honored according to the fairness Of his pocket
book. Therefore it is that men not only get a
wrong start, but go in spite of themselves
with constantly increasing velocity, unless
some friendly hand grasps them before they
get to going ''too fast" when they start SHOWN
hill"
Now it does seem to us, that those who fail
ed last fall to get employment-those who
came here with honest motives, and upon the
Of those whose chief interest
it was to encourage immigration, should not
have been obliged to be without work during
the winter; and that those particularly who
have been, and expect to be still further,
enriched by the growth OF the city, the en-
hancement OF values Incident to an increased
population and the development Of CONNER
cial interests, and because Of the encourage
ment they have so widely advertised to induce
immigration, ought to put forth every effort
to accommodate those who have responded to
the invitations to come here, and If our new
corners cannot all be given something to do
Immediately to earn their living, to see that
they did not suffer for want of the ordinary
comforts OF life.
Our people are benevolent, and no appeal to
the charity Of the community has ever been
made in vain; but there are@nany who do not
ask aims, but the means of self-support. This
they expected here and this they should have,
and those particularly who are most interest
ed in building up the town and country
should endeavor to furnish them Herewith.
The city ought to have men employed in i'm
proving the streets and building public works
that will be q credit and ultimately yield a
rich reward. But to enjoy such condition Of
affairs, it will require better municipal legis-
lation than we have had during the past year.
1t cannot be accomplished with city scrip
worth but go or 65 cents on the dollar, when
it should be worth 80 or 50 cents. The city
cannot afford to pay men in city scrip for pub
lie improvements, and just now it cannot
pay them at all, for nobody but str. ct brokers
will take the paper at any price. Make pro-
vision for the payment Of all outstanding
scrip, and to get some money In the city treas
ury, instead Of issuing additional promises to
pay for city graveyard, as has been proposed
in the city council, and provide means for men
to lice and support their families and the city
will grow, as never before. Men should never
have occasion to leave the town or suffer be-
cause they cannot get employment, so long, at
least, as there is so much that can and ought
to be done. And IL men do die, there are
cemeteries already in which they can be bur-
led. First make provision for them to live.