The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-13

tlon 10 lciuSe 10 meet MS Hsi1lHnts, was
unseemly to the point of blasphemy.
Work for Unemployed Workers.
We copy in another part OF this paper an
interesting statement which the Superin-
tendent of the Industrial Temporary Home
in Boston has just published there.
We are glad to see the initiation Of n
plan which holds within itself such posi-
bilities Of good. What the industrious
poor need in seasons Of CONNER cial depres-
sion and failure OF employment is the OPP
portunty for at least partially remunera-
tive labor There is small class among
us, and those we believe mostly OF foreign
birth, who hold that the State should
furnish It. The conclusion is not an I'M
natural one, with persons whose habit
it has been TO regard government as n
great agency for controlling and managing
the people. Government say they, plum
ders the people, aud the east it can do is
to feed them. But these are not American
ideas, and we have no sympathy with
them. We do not believe i'm the imperi-
alist theory OF paternal rule, under which
government is merely a hawk among
chickens The people Of republic do not
need TO he taken care of half so much as
TO be let alone. Government is endurable
only because 1t is a necessity; and il
should he kept within the narrowest pos
sible limits. The woes Of mankind have
sprung from it's unlimited exercise Of
power. Every genuine republican is
bound to do his utmost TO restrict its
functions aud narrow the circle of its
operations
But because government should be thus
limited, 1t does not follow that society. or
the community, acting by voluntary
methods, should DO restricted likewise. On
the contrary, the voluntary action OF So
ciety should be all the more extensive.
Governments have tried their rude and
blind methods with pauperism these hun
dreds Of years, and poor show they have
made Of IT, Where they have relieved one
pnuper they have created two. Seeing
this, active benevolence. such rs our chief
cities and towns nre full Of has given and
continues to give literally for the relief Of
the destitute But there has never been
from the beginning to this day any general
system devised which has received general
approval.
Vh' AhliE nH- never lttI lIltfl OH any
extended scale. This is scheme for
furnishing employment at very low wages
10 all who need it.. The number of people
who are thrown out Of WORK by adverse
circumstances AT any time or season. Is In
reality very small in comparison with
those who are not. and who pursue regular
and remunerative occupations. SO that
tine work proposed, even If carried out to
perfection, would require no such extra
ordinary eXertion as might be supposed.
One smart township would hold them all.
There seems to be no reason therefore
against trying the experiment, by vouu-
tary efforts, of supplying work to the de-
serving poor temporarily cast out Of their
accustomed avocations. The Boston socie-
ty has begun by Offering the simplest en-
ployments, and their very simplicity
affords "A testimony to their possible multi
plication. one thing after another may
be added to the list until al length aRricu-
tural operations may be reached; and
when this is done, n resource will be found,
and an industry opened which no one need
fear can he overworked.
The balance wheel of the whole system
must be found in the payment Of minimum
wages for labor, SO as not 10 turn it into a
competitive afInir. So far as mechanical
labor is concerned, ii should be IA shop
into which everybody can go with certain
~ OF finding work that will prevent star
vation' prevent pauperism, and measure
bly, prevent suffering. To do this is the
plain duty Of society toward its uufortu-
mates.
system OF this sort, once foun ded, we
believe would sensibly diminish the pro-
portions of beggary which forever assail
the public sense. 1t would strike an effect
i've blow at sturdy vagabondage. Ii would
also relieve world of suffering among
the worthiest class OF our unemployed in
dustrial population; that class which is too
honest TO steal, too proud TO beg, and has
too much pride of personal character to
go TO the workhouse, or mingle in the
crowd about public soup house.
We hope that the distresses arising
from the exceptional depression existing
throughout the country at the present
time may at least bear some good fruit by
way of compensation for its manifest ills
And we can think of nothing better than
a general effort at the extension Of the
system happily set on foot in Boston.