New-York tribune., 1874-12-26

is NDISCRIMINATE CHARITY W1SEf
RICH MEMS EXrRAvAGANCE NOT BLESSING TO
THE POOR-IMPoRTANCE OF GUARDING AGAINST
MAKING THE POOR PAUPERs.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: am quite aware that in an over
crowded daily paper Individuals must not enghen ont
discussions, but one word in answer to "a Reader
who bids me remember. If do not outlay E,C00-more
LESSON my daughters reception am falling to dis
tribute my money at sore moment, and am thus even
though the means may be wrong. refusing, by not en-
pOying them, to do good A D." i'll tO-days TRIBUNE
very sen IDLY reminds "a Raider" that though money
be not distributed in uxuries 1t Is the less doing
its good work, IL invested By banks or otherwise.
heard u clergyman In u charity sermon praise
strange ard sad IL may secm-p9rsonll cXtrava'
cancc; for said he "cannot any one unless 1t be the
bind md cod political economist see that extrava-
gauco Is the poor's blessing that much OF all the money
spent in luxurcs, needless ones. would be Other
wise hoar!e ard hence become non-produc!nG" Alas!
aud alas Bastiat tells of two brothers, ami of the
unequal results OF their equal fortune OAe roted ana
wasted, and died prOdigal. The other only supplied
his necessary wants and with the balance of his ncOTe
and capitol gave constant occupation 20 lap1rrrs VINO
produced things useful AMI durahle-thngs which ip-
creased the cOmmunitys welfare, and in their turn
again became productive powers. VINO will say that
the reckless distribution OF tho ono cq aleI the SOBER
distribution and reproduction OF the OTheri
As have said in former letter, refused to give my
daughter expensive reception, because vas touched
with the words of seeker for work 1t WIS torture,
he said, 70 luxury aud c1travagaice all around,
while le and his were hungry. These words and ouly
these saved from n foolish though loving act Bat
maintain, contrary to "a Reader" IL had given my
reception the money spent for it, by Its sudden and In
temperate outlay, would not have DONE even fl this
trying moment, one half the good would do IT applied
1t to the construction OF Ship house, Railroad or 10
any other thing durable and useful Take All inventory
OF the property of the community the day after have
given bail and it will be found that the money spent
for 1t will be the hands of those who furnshei the
wines, flowers, vands, g.; but the viants and the
wines and the flowers have disappeared T,cy are per-
ishabe and evanesccnt Take all inventory Of tile COM
munty's money after have built house, 70 ~, or
ship. and the same amount Of money Will be
found in the hands OF labOrers, aud an equivalent
value, something useful and productive TO the
community, in my hands. In other words.
the entertainment is an unproductive consumption
which in way benefits the community. only afIrins
the capitalist has noEng to shOw. GA the other hand
the construction Of hous. ships aud rilro11 - p.o-
,iuctive consumption Of hlHor aud material that IL.
tue present and nSdr3 the fuiic wei,dro oi
An! sometimes l feel as IL wcre all wrong
on this subject OF ciari'S. Sometimes | gics-
Ism OF other years lived IL Paris the Winter after hat
Queen Cty had pccI almost torn fron las iouioa'iOu
tn. I heard OF IL SOui'l"&ieS ana | "a" 10 p:Hl"r
On the contrary: NOR th!n one honIhla F'chtainid
asked nc then If was sure that cia,ity va, not tho
curse oi inc @ -, ti onisct "f ti KIM
ter against charity. Yet, siIce liberty OF spc,cn
and liberty OF the press arr among Amer
ic.s elOicS let beg readers to AK themselves,
first What charity And when they have 'fOat ont.
distribute it only according to It's rae ineanng went
the other day to an insane asylum not asoI't tnroS
from Brooklyn, and there ouce Gear iIlchd, linG
aud living liz lOatLs sJincntsS That only indIstIbn;o
charity cOlli bung about. | asHc ny,r;f WErn
looked at this sister woman Is tnpfe no honesty
in world {" Is 10 truo that We Will aNa,s
abuse power that these keepers, because they oct
uUney easily for the unfortunate VIII willfny rob the
=
zlg question OF rcI! and lasting I'M
pOr;ancc tO this country, cOId possibly present
itself to than this tntauglei subject Of charity.
MQdiSoaare., NeW-IOrK Dee Il, 1874. C.M.