The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-12-16
Winter and the Working Glasses.
WHAT CAN DE DONE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT
FOR THE DESTITUTE.

WHAT CAN DE DONE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT
FOR THE DESTITUTE.
The careful correspondents whom we
have sent to various parts of the couLtry
to describe the condition of trade, says
the New York Times, are obliged to re.
port general depression, and not very
cheering prospects. With every desire
to put the best face that we can upon
commercial affairs, it is impossible to dis
guise the fact that mills and factories are
closing in all directions, and that thous
ands of persons who depend for their dali
ly bread upon their daily wages are De-
ing thrown out Of employment This is
not a merely local symptom-it is found
in all manufacturing districts, and wher-
ever trade has generally been most active
at this season Of the year. We must,
therefore, make up our minds that a very
hard winter is before US, and that the
working classes will be placed in a posi-
ton in which they will need the wisest
advice Of their best friends. Nor will
advice alone be sufficient, for man cam
not keep his wife and children on good
counsel. There will be an urgent neccssi-
,33.."r, ana for the introdnotio-. - So,
form of relief which will keep the work
ing men from want without lowering their
sense Of independence, and without en-
couraeing habits Of idlencss or dissipa-
/ ton
Several meetings Of working men have
been held in this city, aud we have read
the reports of the proceedings with great
attention, in the hope of discov sriug some
suggestion which may tend to enable us
to lessen the difficulties now pressing
upon u.s. 1t would not be lair nor reason
able to expect the working men to find a
remedy for our financial troubles. But
there are many shrewd and well-informed
men among them who are quite as capa'
: BILE as anybody else of Judging in what
way aid can be most uselully extended to
them. Some wild propositions have been
made. The limited Order Of Inter
D nationals" present petition to Cougres'
: in which they lay down the principle thai
l all "pcnnilcss, homeless. and involuntary
t idle persons" are properly the wards o
the nation" and therefore should be sup
) ported by the nation But where tn
u money is to come from to carry cut thi
;, plan, the "lntcrnatonals" do not inform
y us. 1t is easy TO hold meeting am
pass these two resolutions-"( Resolved
y that We are cut OF employment /; (2) Ike
e solved, that the State or Congress sha
'e find us employment" But, unfortunate
G. ly, neither money or employment is to b
called into existence by resolutions
he There are laws of supply and demanc
and equally iuhexible laws which COVER
y the circulation OF money and nll the rest
I'd lutions passed at all the meetings in Il
world cannot change them.
It. Some of the working men mot in III
ne city on Sunday, and passed Il resontlC
ey that work on a large scale must
promptly furnished by the people to Il
ed people" Well, but who are the people
he Are not the men who passed IhIs resol
ed ton a portion Of the people, ard VIII
other portion do they cxpcc. to provi
- them with employment DO they see al
GU class luxuriatng in idleness and wealth
Can you oblge a man to build hou
ne on his vacant lot or to set about refur
ger ishing a house already built, or to car
on his factory at dead loss? ? VIII
money is scarce, the demand for lab
slackens; when people will not buy it
al, useless to put more commodities upon
ro. market. How can Congressional la
in affect such state of things as this ? I
f working men say that Congress o.
bon State should instantly undertake ext,
rse, sive public works. We wish it W
the possible, but when you come to siit it
un. down, the old question recurs-Where
the the necessary money to come from ? II
il is not good time to talk Of increased t
and alton. And then il must be remembe
the that great building or road making ope
nee tions cannot be carried on during the "
any ter months. What can be done in
ken midst of frost and snow and ice ?
dcd There are some works in great ci
ded which are always necessary; but
all. relief thus afforded wil'only reach v
may small number-not one in ten thousa
nam Aud are the girls anc women thrown
hen of employment to be uncared for ? Z
to cannot be set to work on roads or in II
the lio works and they must not be allo
) of to starye.
iDgs A deputaton of workmcn waited u
Iany Rev Henry Ward Beecher tho o
and day, and he seems to have spoken to {
elief to this ciIect--thai be would be very