The Portland daily press., 1874-09-28
"WhhOut Occupation,

AihonS onc uuplcdSduI TtVoldllOHS VI tuc
last census is !he fact that in 1870 no less
than two and half millions of males, over
ten years of age, we're returned as "without
occupation" Making most liberal allow
ance for such of this class as attended school,
the country was nourishing at least a million
OF men, who were capable of work, and had
no occupation. Idling and sponging have so
bad reputation in this country, that there
are thousands who rightfully belong to this
army, but are ashamed to confess it even to
census-taker, and claim occupations which
they have not; consequently, without includ-
ing those whose occupations are so at war
with society's welfare and progress as to be
worse than drones there cannot be less than
two million men who not only contribute
nothing to the common store of industry and
enterprise. but, in one way or another, draw
their sustenance from the accumulations of
others.
Nor can it be said that any one class sends
out this useless army. The INDECENT rich are
hardly less to be censured than the needless
and thus helpless poor, or the very mean and
spiritless who form no small part of the army
"wthout occupation" The criminal and
dangerous classes, as whole, belong to the
idlers: and between the aimless vagabond,
whose helpless need appeals to us for aid, and
the more positive thief, who boldly asserts his
right to property by taking it. there is not
great difference. The latter is more danger
Gus; but the sneak thief is not more con.
temp.ible than the former. Nor is the army
of idlers confined to any locality. II they
were they could be better dealt with. Every
village in the land has its little band of idlers
who ought to work. Every city can muster
battalion whose rank and file eats the bread
of helpless idleness. or obtains it by theft
from honest industry. The recruiting agents
of this army are of all grades. The parent
who is so tender of his son that he allows
him to grow up genteel loafer rather than
have him take place in the workshop, store,
on the farm, or wherever else bread is to be
won by manual or brain work, is recruiting
for the army without occupation. Indeed,
from this source comes, in the first place, the
greatest number of recruits. They get their
instructionat the loafing places, in the gam
ing and drinking saloons. They end their
days in the Jail, poor-house, or as the objects
of private charity.
The wonder is that with this vast army of
loafers and criminals, the workers make out
to get along and accumulate anything. It is
really wonder that states thrive, that rail-
roads and factories are built, and the asgre-
gate wealth of the nation increased. With
this vast army of do-nothings to maintain,
and its vicious ones to restrain, it is marvel
that the area of civilization is not annually
narrowed rather than enlarged. 1t is not
safe, however, to further increase this army,
for the laborers have to toll early and late to
bear the present burden of crime, pauperism
and idleness. Consequently every good citi-
zen should do his utmost to disband this
army, for so long as it exists there is no hope
of the good time coming, or to call other
wise make preparation for the millennium.