Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-07-23

matCer In charge are acCuateQ Dy motives
of pure and unselfish charity and an ear
nest desire to ALLEVIATE the sufferings of
those whom adversely and Affections may
ae overtaken, and to reform and restore
@& ety as useful members those who
have tfeugh their own frailties sunk into
degradation. In the other case, you have
large and sovergrown establishments con-
Quoted too often by persons utterly unfit
Tor their position, both by previous habit
of LIE; moral training, or present sympa-
thy with its purposes, but who have been
appointed perhaps because they were too
worthless to earn their living otherwise,
or had taken up politics as trade. What
cruelty and brutality is too often practis-
ed in these public institutions recent in
vestigations, instituted by private parties
in New York, abundantly show. These
brought to light train of barbarities and
cruelties the like Of which were only
equalled by the most exaggerated stories
of the Spanish Inquisition. Nor is it to
be wondered at when we reflect for mo-
ment, that these persons in charge regard
all the unfortunates as so many criminals
against nature itself, not entitled to SYM
pathy or kindness in their Affections, but
deserving of the severest punishment
whenever they cause anneyanceor trouble
to those in charge of them.
6 These UNCONVENTIONAL charities thus
organized and conducted, finding that they
relieve the general public of a greater por-
ton of the burden of caring for the un-
fortunate, naturally enough ask the au-
thorities to assist them from the common
treasury in order that their work may be
the more efsctually done. Now we con-
fess we do not see any great crime or wrong
in this. The amount appropriated to each
institution is small. though perhaps ag-
gregating large sum, yet it is the best
investment the public could make of its
money. If it did not thus indirectly aid
in supporting its lunatics. paupers and
orphans, it would be compelled to do it
directly through its own means entirely,
and without the benefit derived from the
cooperation OF private contributions. All
this would entail the expenditure of an
immense sum of money in the erection OF
suitable buildings and the payment of
salaries to officers, besides the entire sup
port of the establishment when complet-
ed. The stealing and extravaganza which
this would produce would go far towards
doubling our taxes. Therefore we do not
see that any wrong is being done to the
taxpayers in purely pecuniary point of
view by the present system of aiding pri-
vate benevolent organizations. The pub
lie is simply accomplishing through an
agency in an economical manner that
which it would otherwise be compelled
to do itself at treble the expense now in
CURED.
Nor do We see that the present system
is obnoxious to the charge of being 'sec-
tarian," as it is called. Were it so, uu-
doubtedly we should oppose it utterly,
because we believe thing which is wrong
in principle must be vicious sooner or
later in practice. But where no distinc-
tion is made in appropriations between
Jew and Gentle, Catholic or Protestant,
and all denominations without distinc-
ton or discrimination are made the objects
or tue PUBIC bounty, we cannot see WITH
what sort of justice the action of the au-
thorities can be termed ssectarian.- l,
could with as much force be said that be-
cause the officers of the government OF
contractors on public works were members
of different churches, that the administers
ton of these matters were also "sectarian.' y
If it is claimed that the orphans, and pau
pers and others cared for by these private
institutions should not receive any aid
towards their support from the public
purse, because religion after the form and
belief of those controlling is taught, then
the converse of the proposition must be
maintained. that no public money ought
to be appropriated to an institution in
which any religion whatever is taught.
Are we heathens that we are prepared to
maintain such propositionl Or do we
not rather believe that it is through the
benefcent teachings Of religion and the
early moral training incident thereto that
good citizens are to be made of those who
otherwise would be lost to all sense of
right and wrongf Ifthis is SO, then where
is the harm done to public morality by
the present system of so called .'sectarianr
appropriations Itmay be tina. our view
of the premises is wrong, but as we look
at it we think public money thus appro-
priated is most wisely and discreetly
spent.
Suits for Damages.
On Friday last three suits were fled in
the Court OF Common Pleas of Baltimore
city, in the names Of Governor James Black
Groome, State Treasurer Barnes Compton
and State Comptroller Levin Woolford,