, 1872-11-19

The Question os Relief.

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from Philadelphia introducing Messrs. shippen,
Marcy, and Adams, representing the Relief Com
mittee of that city, and, with the consent Of th9
Committee, he would invite them to come in anl
! take part in the deliberations Of the meeting
The Mayor Of Lowell has been invited to be
present. Mr. Gray then alluded to the many
| noble Offers OF assistance which had been prof
fered by other cities Immediately upon hearing
OF the ire, and the only question which arose
| then was what answer could be made to those
parties: 1t Was necessary that some response
should bemade, and, pending thelnyestlgation by
Which only the extent Of our calamity be known,
q despatch WAS prepared and sent By Mayor
Castor, with the full approval Of the Committee,
to the Mayors Of indianapolis, Cincinnati, Phi1a-
dolphin, Chicago, Allegheny City, Providence,
! and the President Of the New York Chamber Of
Commerce. informing them that pecuniary
assistance would be received with hearty thanks.
the Committee, but believing that the people Of
Boston could provide for the sufferers he offered
the following resolution
Resolred, That while we are profoundly grateful to
IN and Ds @
to US In calamity, and with entire readiness and
Thanksgiving TO accept the il circumstances made
that while our losses have Eeen grea that Providence
has so blessed our people that the assistance
ous!y rendered our citizens te not required
The resolution YVES seconded by Thomas Rus
sell. Mr. Nathan Matthews did not think they
were prepared to say that they would not re-
ceive aid from abroad. The merchants could not
afford to relieve the sufferers, and it must be
done in other ways.
Rev. William B. Wright had found many
young men and women who wero in need of
help, and it seemed to him that there was an
imperative demand for an Immediate fund.
Hon. Josiah Quincy agreed with others that it
was too early to refuse aid, and he moved that
the subject be laid on the table.
Mayor CASTOR hoped some action would be
taken by the committee, go that definite answers
could be given the cities and towns which had
50 generously proffered aid. Common courtesy
opinions as to what should be done, and hoped
the committee would take definite action i'm
mediately.
The question was about to be taken on the
resolution, when Ex-Governor Cladin desired
that Mayor CASTOR might. give his views on
all Of them failed to appreciate tho magnitude
of the loss sustained by the fire, not only by the
two forms Of charity in this city; one Of which
was aid bestowed by the city government in the
usual channels, and the other was private
charity, which existed only to q limited extent,
neither Of which forms, he believed, the people
Of Boston wanted to resort to in order to relieve
the sufferers. As aid would not be asked by
those in need under these existing forms
the question WAS, should we dare to intorpose
and refuse the aid SO generously offered, and
take the fearful responsibility Of standing be-
tween charity and suffering, because We were too
proud to receive assistance He was proud Els
any person in Boston. but in an emergency Of
this kind, where thousands OF people were
turned out OF employment. he knew no State or
municipal lines, but would thankfully receive
the gifts so generously offered II 8 fund could
be raised here sufficient to meet the wants Of
sufferers this winter who would never beg, but
anaEs be sought out and cared for, then it would
bc perfectly proper to say to other cities, We
thank you and elall not need your noble offers
OF assistance. But unless that fund could be
guaranteed on the spot he did not believe it
right under existing circumstances to reject
those offers. The remarks Of Mr.. Gestou were
warmly applauded, and the resolution was laid on
the table by unanimous vote. LII. Nathan
Matthews then offered the following resolution:
ResoLre That the Committee, in behalf Of the cti-
feilo-cieens II aii parts of the Union for the warm
expressions Of sympathy which they have tendered at
cupiary aid which they have made and that theso
friendly offers be and they are hereby gratefully &C.
cepted.
Mr: J. Ii. Wightman hoped the resolution
Dir. P. A. Collins thought it ought to be- un-
deretood what the City Government and citizens
Of Boston proposed to do; but, until it was set
tied that the wants Of tie sufferers could be fully
mot by our people, he did not believe in taking
the fearful responsibility of allowing people to
suffer because VIC we're too proud to receive aid.
He was not 80 6anguine as Soma about employ
ment being soon furnished those who wero |
be laid on the table at present.
Colonel Henry Walker then moved to table tho /
resolution until the situation WIS fully under |
stood by the Committee.
Mayor CASTOR said he would much rather see
the resolution voted down than to see it laid on !
tbs table. Delay meant to kill the resolution,
and if they were to receive aid it must be done
aow, as other cities and towns would soou get
Encouraged at the course pursued by u.s. He
lid not believe tho Committee of citizens under
stood the extent Of suffering that the fro had
caused; but we're they placed in his position
lucy would soon have an opportunity to UNDER
stand that, under ordinary circumstances there
YES much more want than people supposed. |
Already in the parish presided over by the Rev.
sfr. Hea1y there were 1000 persons who had |
experienced the effects of the fire.
Rev. Robert Laird Collier said that the
s50, 600 appropriated by the Relief and Aid Com
eaving any doubt as to its future appropriation,
nut the $50, 900 raised by the citizens in thirty
nlnute5 could not be 30 well disposed ef. Per
onally he should regret to return and say,
Boston declines your offer" when it offered
he citizens Of Chicago such great joy to give !
heir position WIS grateful one to Boston, and
Ee believed that the people of this city wore
ardly on the boundary line Of suffering. Those
rho were thrown out of employment by the FIRE
aust be sought out and cared for, and they
hould not be permitted to suffer. He (nlr Coli
~ WAS afraid Mr. Gray n1istook the situation
Qhen the spring time came and it should be
9 time to ask the doners to take the money
ack.
11r. Shipper, one Of the Philadelphia Relief
Committee, said that no body Of people ever |
anne to Boston without being most hospita-
ly received, and no emergency had ever arisen
j any part Of the country when Boston i,
as not among the first to extend j
8 sympathy and help. Now Boston was i
sked to allow other cities to do the same. They /
id not come to offer charity to her people; but t
My to return the bread ahe had cast upon the
aters. r q fire Or any other calamity should 7
,cur in Philadelphia they could not accept Bos- E
ms aid unless ahe in the present emergency re- !
lived that offered by Philadelphia. He urged | t
.e people Of Boston not to throw wet blanket 7
pom the kind hearts which had been touchedb by t
10 calamity. lApplauseJ !
Mr. Matthew'S resolution was then unani- q
ously adopted, and tho result Was loudly ap- '
auded. b
Mr. Gray said that the result gave him grent y
but be felt it to be personal duty c
bring it before the meeting, and cheerfulfy a
.quiesced in its decision. he stated that be q
anted the gentlemen from Chicago to under