The New York herald., 1876-12-14
WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THE POOR?
NKw YoRK Dec 10 1S7G

NEW YORK. Dec IL, 1876.
To THE EDITOR OF rHs HEaALp:-
Too much credit cannot be given to the HxRALp for
devoting mucn OF its valuable space to the interests
OF the suffering poor OF this CITY, The appalling pc
turc OF tho dcstituton among the working classes
painted with much fidelity 10 tact in todays article
mus, strike The reader, though hts heart was
made OF hint. To think that the bone and sincw OF
our people be reduced TO such misery. while will
ing and xsous to work and The bread OF hon.
esty, is an awful reflection the management OF
political and business affairs What renders the pic
turs still more terrible Is It's novelty, for hitherto
although distress was pretty general In New York.
owing TO financial panics and the disturbance OF bust
ness thereby, no such vides prcad hopeless misery
prevailed among,the poorest OF tho poor II IS
useless attempt this fearful condition OF
things its exciting Moralizng and theorzing
certainly out Of place IN tho presence OF
the grave fact that thousands upon thousands are
starving this CITY. Even though our people were
all criminals OF the class they still and
women and entitled to succor IN the name Of our
common humanity. While we house and iced burglars,
murderers and pickpock.,s VIC canuo. refuse to the
deserving poor--,he victims OF circumstances over
which they could not possibly have any contro-the
food and clothing which Is their right
Prosperity ana plenty unfortunately harden the
hearts OF many VINO enjoy these blessings TO the suf
icrings OF their follow beings, and blind them TO
duty which they owe as Christians and patriots 10
their God and their country II Is absurd Tor these
people toplcad that they retain only what's their own
the fruits ot their labor ingenuity and enterprise,
and that their less fortunate ncghbors must patiently
accept the fortune which has como TO thom. sucn
arguments outrage the highest law that has been gwen
by God 10 man, and places tho advocate OF such per-
version OF principle below tho grade Of the brute.
Unhappily however, ther are many such we'll fed
but selfish individuals in our midst and IL is 10 these
that the most earnest appeals for the poor should be
directed
Bnt thcro is another class OF citizens also
wealthy, but tiled with the best possible nentions.
They subscribe 10 hospitals they even build such cdi
nces and cndow them with ample funds. but thor
charity reaches only few ou. oi the many that SUIT
fer For every ono who enters hospital account
OF disease or bodily injuries there are thousands who
and die In the garrets and cellars OF this city.
You give US friehu picture ia your police court
ports OF stawart men begging 10 be imprisoned Tor
the winter for the sake OF the food which they viii
share wNh the most abandoned criminals. These
men, instead oi sacrificing their noblest feelings 10
iul public works such as the paving Of tho
city Streets the extending Of dock system, tho
removal OF distractions 10 navigation in the harbor
oi New York, the opening OF new streets and
and such works, oil which there many yet
quired. What we need - nonest administration OF
the funds that would be devoted to such uses, by
which the expenses would not DO swallowed up by
army Of snccurists and tho political followers ol the
parry IN power or any party !! wosld be bette Tor
should be employed, oven at reduced wages. through
out the winter than tor Mr. THIS or Mr.. That 10 Lave
his small OF corner Ioacrs drawing pay without
rendering any service whatever.
Again, there are thousands Of ways In which work.
wea,,bv citizens xsro only na,rio,,c and charitable
enough sacrifice thck tor foreign goods the
dirc necessities OF their own people,. Cabinet makers,
taors carvcrs and gders, the makers Of those little
household knck. knacks that form the attrastons In
fancy storcs-ioys. wagons and such-coud be en-
poy cd TO considerable extent II We only suppress the
rnge for foreign goods and sustain our manufac-
the Centennial Exposition has proved that in
all these departments OF industry our own workmcn
nm ct i'm pOr a pf
such goods from Europe and our people actually pro-
fer them on thataccount 10 the work OF their cliow
cilixcns As long az this stupid system lasts will
have winter starvation aud misery IN this land Of
plenty.
unless IL is madc by Worth or hat unless some Pa
mlliner has set her hand TO H. who insists
wearing only French gloves, English hose and German
something else. She stops 10 consider that II is
her duty an American woman 10 sustain her sisters
In New York by purchasing the labor Of hcir hands
She complains that the goods are not hne those
imported. and insists on her right 10 buy what shc
picascs with her own money. When the women OF
the Revolutionary days reiuscd 10 wear English goods
and clothed themselves In Lomespun garments, in
order TO encourage the infant industry OF their coun
try their sacrifice shed glorious ignt on their tnIc
and doubtless the roughly clad patriots who followed
Washington loved them all the more tor It, Until the
spirit that made woman divine IN those days oifrial
and suffer- vs. awakened In the hearts ofthc women
oi our time We VIII have slarva,on and misery in the
cities OF the United states
We must relieve the poor, and that quickly. There
arc thousands o. wealthy men IN this community who
can afford TO gve out OF their abundance, and there
are thousands more who can swell the offerings Of
charity according 10 their means. Some will oil miss
s50a week 10 rcici fund, and others eau veil afford
to give nty cents tor the samc purpose.
Now, let the city be dist'iclcd and local committee
OF the clergy Of all formed subject 10 the
control OF central committee 10 be composed Of the
Mayor the Recorder the Chief Jusrces Of the Courts
the superintendent Of Police Cardinal McCIoskcy
Bishop Potter aud such other leading citizens may
be willing to take part IN the good work. Let the
central committee issue an appeal TO the people ask
Ing every one who can AFFORD Il TO subscribe weekly,
little much Tor the relicf of the poorthe amount
received 10 be distributed by the local committees
cording to lists prepared by the police BY lLs
means money clothing, food IRE and shelter can bc
given TO the deserving poor only while those habtu
ated 10 crime and vngrancy. tho thieves and iramts
can be sent 10. the public prisons and aimsbouSos.
Every ono earning salary or weekly wages can give
something Goa. tickets DC ISSUED 10 those need
inr uel for coal being now cheap be purchased al
wholesale for The purpose Old clothes, instead OF
beng traded OF for cheap jewcry aud other tribes
shouid be sent TO tho reiei dcpois Tor dssrbution
What now need is system by which only the poor
will benent By the charity OF the weIl 10 DO II tho
officials and the clergy cannot be induced TO act then
N Gods name let tho young men OF Now FORK take
tho work in hand and savo their pershing fellow cti
zenA J.