New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-24
DOES GOVERNMENT OWE UNEMPLOYED WORK
INGMEN A LIVINGf

TO the EditOr Of the Tribune.
SIR This question, unfortunately for our
country is very different suggestion now from what 1t
was twenty years ago. In the days OF honest ONCE
holders when municipal authorities made appropr-
atoms for fuel in Winters for the poor, 1t
surprising 10 distributors to he addressed with
almost threatening language By sbe-boded men from
the old World, who claimed bounty right and not
as a charity. Ii is explained by study Of
the poor laws OF England which are but neces.
saTy pat and Of meh rentals and low Wages
all the lands held by few families whose ancestors
idle and vagabOnd quartered all
the table lands. IL the poor are made and Kept de
pendent by Government IN order to Keep up INDECENT
landords-then, when superannuaed or thrown out oil
employment the master must feed ms servants as lie
would his unwOrked horses. The Government does in
Great Britain owe livelihood to laborers thrown out
employment 1t was different thing IN our country
from the poor When, however all public works
are farmed out 10 favorites for personal
prey the public treasury when the nigh prices more
than concordance high wages and the laborers can
plunderng falls not GU merchants or men OF wealth but
on the poor working peope-then, poverty and want
the question is a different one whether Government
owes anything TO the lsoorlng people The men that
and fraud have accumulated the peoples property. The
logic, which has led TO connseauon OF the property
be near at hand. Certainly it would be
equity, if it Is not now raw, law thst the
seized and sold and the proceeds be gwen 10 feed the
needy lsborers There Is as yet no such law, though
the people may demand The necessity If present
aud an imminent one. Our cities have redundant
laboring population; many must be unable 10 Obtain
private employment aud have no resource except 10
apply to the public They dong IL Dy argument,
and have suggested two means OF relief ana tnelr aI8u
ments and sug " .tiOns must be met.
IL Is not wise right dismiss the worklngnen as
unreasonable her demands and uhreasonng III lher
argument III the public has not only allowed the orcia
corruption which has brought calamity on the labOIlng
classes but has even approved It, by keeping public
puDderers ia power then the public which makes the
Is ia debt TO the laboriug people. Some az
the laDorers have no expectation OF seeking relief out
side OF our city where they landed penniless i'm
migrants II any public work furnished IL should
! Dc, a. Napoleon, when Emperor well las when Con
| sui learned at Paris. Others are asking IN
| Fortunately through demagogues, for aid tn
| get from seaport cities into indepen-
dent hOmesteads. Their appeal ought 10 be considered
by statesmen, and DOT Dy political uck
sters There is solution of course for the nost Iutr
lion Will though temporary eIpedients must be
New-YOTk and OF other cities must be furnished an hon
cot livelihood this Winter lest they be compelled gam
il by There ~, however. a permanent oution
for the and world vide demands ~ the laborup
classes Ia theory been found n the w0rids past
vlsdum III PRACTICE IL has aNaird Di bic pcfycT sion
Of Goycf nInrnt defeated u bui ~ may be revived per
lul,- Dai be psrp 'thticn. - W. H.
h,c IOIh, Jan. ~, ioH