The Morning herald., 1875-08-30
LABOR THOUGHTS.

!, Editor Of the Herald: 1t is amazing with
what complacency the workingmen of this
country submit to, and patiently bear, enor-
nous burdens. The only general complaint
that is heard is against the expenses of the
governments, State and National, and the
rapacity of officials and office-seekers.
The people have been SO long sodden in
the old theological ideas of a fall, total de-
pravity, of ruined and accursed world,
and guilty and hell-deserving humanity,
that they have come to act as s.though the
evils that afflict the race are unavoidable,
and christians for the most part, have con-
cluded to grin and bear them, get through
the world as well as they can, and finally
escape and land themselves in glory
Men who vote think they have right
to grumble at and discuss political evils
and party measures. But the heavy bur-
dens are quietly borne, while neither poll
ticians nor legislatures will speak Of them
nor lift them from our shoulders. 1gno-
rance and lust are the bane of our civiliza-
tisn, and their consequences are appalling.
1t needs some old prophet with fam ing
tongue to cry aloud. Let me specify some
of the burdens of the people. The people
those who have and produce something,
have to pay for the rearing, education and
support Of more than one million adults
who do not add one dollar directly to the
wealth Of the country, and but for the yno-
rance, misfortune aud sin of the people,
they might be made useful and happy. :.
Let US run over the figures little, and
first of those who are absolute burdens, re-
turn nothing for their support.
There are in this country at present
100000 bar-keepers, whose support costs
at least one dollar per day, which amounts
to seventy-two million dollars annually.
In the United States there are l0O,0
abandoned women, whose living annually
cannot cost less than $5O,000, 600; $4,000
criminals and vagabonds, whose living
costs at least S25, ,000, 600 the liquor that
is drunk, it is estimated, costs 81 ,45O, ,000,-
600, and the tobacco used $l00,OOO.OO0 ad-
ditional. There has been burden of tax
alton upon the industry Of the country of
$780,, 100000.
OF unfortunates we have 10000 insane
and idiotic, costing the people $780, 0O0, 900.
10000 blind, deaf and dumb, not costing
less than S20,O0O,OOO. 75OOO,O 600 paupers
at a cost of $4,000, 600 more, making this
perhaps most unavoidable item of l75,0OO
persons and at expense Of S6O, 100000.
OF those who live, in the main, upon the
ignorance and vices of mankind. We have
1900 quack physicians, who cost at least
81 600 for their support, a tstal of S72, 600.
Forty Thousand pettifoggers, at the same
per annum, ten thousand professional
preachers who really accomplish nothing
towards the advancement of Christianity,
who are paid probably $500 each, annually
or s., 100000 more. But for ignorance and
sinfullness one-half of these professions
could be dispensed with.
But We have, as whole, more than six
thousand persons of this latter class on our
hands to support, whose services would be
entirely superfluous, at an expense Of fully
100000 annually including their
business.
The estimates are approximate, but too
low if not exact. If we add to this esti-
mate the parasitic classes, gamblers, idlers,
wealthy Lazarine, fashionable dry goods
signs Of both sexes, we shall have over one
million so-called American citizens, who
are a burden upon the country, burden
that has been carried year after year, at an
expense as great as the national debt.
Under such burdens, the Isarch of civiliza-
-
struggle to increase the means of material T
comfort if their is not corresponding in
tellectual and moral growth.
Will our working men and women sit
still and do nothing to cast off these bur-
lens; or will they rally only at partizan I
cry, and labor only the sectarian harness,
come let us reason together" --.....-
p. SOVEREIGN.
August q. 1875. ~