Wilmington daily gazette., 1874-02-28
From the Westminster Review.
Tho Working CIss5es

= we have already shown that paupefism has
been gradually diminishing UnfortuaateIv,
however the cost Of the smaller amount oT =
ing to the increased expense of living. has
been gradually growing. For the yoqr endinc
llady-da 1870 the amount expended was -
644 3Olt.; for the year 1871, Z, 1856 79N and for
1879, S.0O7 4O3. The increase, therefore. in
the expenditure has been 12o67N. while the
reduction in the number Of persons has been
from 195.0,661 to os1 ,042 on the first of Jan.
each year, and from 973, 2o4 to s77 ,oOJ, ,onrhe
1st of July respectively: while. by the latest
return to September 20 $3.50 the number was |
reduced to I55, ,66i. Passing from the numeri- !
cal aspect OF the question to its more import |
ant moral bearing, we find that OUT OF the en-
ormous total of 961, ,042 persons who were in
receipt OF reIlef on the on the lst January,
1872, not more than 50, 512 Nsre male a5ls 5odiSd
| ddutts, and thai of the total of s77,27C on the
roll OF July lst, 1872, not more than &C. 0jS
were male able bodied adults. and further.
that the bulk of this latter number l.sr5 rei5s..
ed on account Of the temporary SICKNESS Of :Iei-
| seIDes or at hear families. Lastly, 10 SHOW the
real gravamen. of the Indictment brought
against the working classes on this question Of
pauperism 2S9, OF The total of the able bodied
male adults receiving outdoor relief were re-
leyed in the metropolis, leaving Only 40 51r
all the rest Of En2lani d7f Walss. TIE resi-
due consists. of females-prlucipally widows,
children under sixteen vagrants (who ought
10 pe under pollce supervision) and luna ics.
These statistics, showing as thev do the real
status of the English working classes. are
worthy OF the gravest consideration Cbi-
u dren and luuac' les cannot be held moralv re-
sponsibe for their condition. To wha. extent
] their parents may have neglected to make pro-
} vision for those dependent upon them in case
Of their death, it is impossible 20 say but we
take this simple and high ground on behalf OF
the working classes, that the payment Of q
D poor's rate Is, and ought to be- considered n,
such provision and that to brand all suffer
= ing from family Unavoidable sickness as g1',
pers is unjust and cruel. How far collattra
support of widows and orphans ought to bt
enforced is another question, and one whicl
ought to be probed to the bottom Tho ties 4
. relationship are in this respect very locr 4y r.
= = garded amongst the poor and We thiul. th1
# Boards of Guardians ought to exer; them
selves to draw them closer. Family iu1uene
e would be brought TO bear most benfcial
upon the thoughtless, the idle, and the In
/ provdent, if it was felt that The RI
suits in a money point Of view, woald u
b brought home to all blood relations.
!; The true principle Of the English Poor LAY
:. system, purged Of prejudice and sendmer
q and hereditary disgust, is the socially an
J. economically healthy one Of msutga! Css5::anc
,. The Poor's Rate is an assurance fee, or IL
u contribution to compulsory National Een
p TT Society" Why not acknowledged as sucl
Z and by presenting the option to each rat
a. payer Of merging his Poor Law liability IN
oi new and higher range, by slightly advance
AZ AZ payment, left him out OF the obnoxious cat
CORY Of pauper association, and give him Il
nationally assured results of an economic
Benefit Society, worked by existing nation
,ft machinery