The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-12

mart of traffic and centre of population.
In the immediate vicinity the articles of
heavy transport and small value are pro-
duced; far off in the bluegrass regions of
Kentucky and Tennessee and on the broad
savannas of Texas is being prepared the
beef which every day feeds this immense
population, and 10 all these tens of thous-
ands of producers there is no concert, no
plan. No man knows what his neighbor is
to produce. No man knows who will buy
the products of his own industry, ard yet
all the results Of their production are sent
forward to the market. All are in demand
aud all find every day an adequate sale.
Take even broader field. Each one of
our As, 100000 Of people is choosing what
he desires to possess, to consume, to enjoy,
of the products Of foreign chimes. Each
one is proposing what he shall take from
his own labor to pay for what he purchases
from abroad. There have been those who
have kept awake nights for fear that we
should buy everything from abroad and
sell nothing, and, therefore, rapidly be-
come bankrupt. Laughter
Addressing Hon. d. A. Wells, president
of the Social Science Association. he said:
| believe you have been able to save your
self and rescue many others from that ap-
prehension. Applause. You have seen
that it is not necessary for two or three
hundred wise men in the city of Washing
ton to decide and specify what we shall
sell, and what we shall buy, in order to
save us from the calamity which would
otherwise fall upon us. Gentlemen, how
is it that this great multitude of indi-
vidual wills and individual tastes, acting
separately and independently, find them
selves averaged and compensated until
everything tends to and everything results
in the equilibrium of forces. 1t is that the
divine Being has impressed upon every
thing order, method, and law. Ap-
plause. Even the most divergent, even
the Utmost uncertain, even those things in
the individual taste which we cannot fore
see or calculate upon at all, when we group
them in large masses, reduce themselves
to Ineligible forms. Now, l understand
that what you propose to do is to apply
this same method of investigation to paup-
erism, to crime, to insanity, and all those
cases where governmental interference or
governmental intelligence is deemed to be
necessary. do not doubt if you will study
these subjects with attention, diligence and
patience, that you will confer great bene-
factions upon this community, and upon
the whole country. cannot conclude, how
ever, without one word of warning, and that
is this. The emotional and sympathetic
mind seeking out relief for evil distinctly
seen and strongly felt, looking, perhaps,
upon a specific evil, with view somewhat
out of proportion to its relation to all the
interests of society, and going to the pub
Iia for finn nh 20
ify its humane and charitable instincts and
not restrained by any consideration limit
ing Its disposition or its power, no doubt
leads sometimes to extravaganza in the
public charities. | had occasion last year
and the year before to object to the mag
nlicence Of the public buildings being
erected in this state for these purposes,
and the caution | wish to suggest to you
to-day is this: that, while all the heaven
horn, God given sentiments of humanity
may fairly have their scope in operating
upon your minds and your hearts to impel
you to relieve the evils of this character
which exist among US, you want, it posi-
bic, to unite in your action prudence, eau
ton, frugality, and the economy of the
thorough man of business. Applause.
You want, for the sake of the objects of
your charity. that it shall be as efficient as
possible, and that the funds for these ben
efactions shall not be exhausted or con-
sumed without the greatest possible re-
suits being derived therefrom; and you
want, for the rest of the community, that
the burdens for these objects shall not be-
come iutolerable. Applause. While We
exercise every sentiment of humanity.
while we do all in our power to relieve
misfortune and to overcome evils, and ap-
ply discipline aud enforce reform, at the
same tune we must bear in mind that the
industrious millions who keep out of the
poor houses and penitentiaries are also en-
titled to the consideration and care of the
government, Applause. We must see
to it that we do not foster, as 10 hotbed,
the very evils which We seek to remove.
We must sec to it that our methods are
well devised, are prudent, and are effective
and if, as has been sometimes said, in ap
plying the method belonging to the study
of the physical sciences to social problems
if, as has been said, that method in it's ap
( plication to the physical sciences has tend
ed to nurture too much reliance on human
, intellect and to draw us away from nat
, ural dependence on what Is higher anC
, better, when you come to apply these
methods to social life, when you come u
contemplate infinitely, as with a micro
scope the wrongs, the frailties, and weak
nesses OF humanity, we would Tectlfy thai
tendency and our minds would be led
, through these laws, up to the great Source
from which all laws are derived, LAp
plause. Gentlemen of the conference, fOl
the people of the state of New Ork. il
YOUR grand and noble benevolent work
bid you God speed. Loud applause.