Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1877-11-13
FOR THE DESTITUTE.

taken hold on the charitably inclined, in the
form of relief meetings, under the auspices Of
the most prominent and wealthy classes Of
that city. The Interior object of these meet
ings is to raise funds with which to alleviate
the squalor and restitution now prevailing
among the lower order of working people in
San Francisco. A suggestion has emanated
from Mayor Bryant that at least twenty thou
sand dollars be collected for distribution
among the needy and deserving poor. While
this is subject that does not directly concern
this city, yet we claim that the prerogative of
criticising such an injudicious measure, as
similar contingencies have arisen in this State,
and we have witnessed the i'll effects resulting
perjury in the instances in hand are engen-
dered by stagnation in the industrial pur-
suits. The San Francisco laboring classes are
destitute because they are unemployed; they
are willing to toll if an opportunity is offered
them. These people are entitled to the sub
s.antial consideration of their more prosperous
fellow men. However there is another class
in that busy human hive who can properly be
determined ''drones;" they are always desti-
tute; they invariably come in for their share
in all charitable upheavals. This class is
normally opposed to the toiling and spinning
process; they are the human leeches who
thrive upon the industry, energy and charity
of their betters; they are not in quest of en-
ployment; and in the event, which is rare,
that they make feint of seeking work, they
are very careful to steer far from the points
tribution of charity funds, these "drones"
come in for their pro rata, consideration to
which they have no claims. To obviate this
imposition we would suggest that the money
which the good people of San Francisco pro-
pose to raise be not Unfortunately squan-
dered in aims giving, but let it constitute the
nucleus of fund out of which employment
can be furnished to the honest laboring classes
in hours of great emergency like che present
Give them work upon the streets, which are
of much improvement, in the
public parks, on the City Hall and grounds
and about thousand other places; in that
succor the poor and create a monu-
ment to the humane impulses and benevolence
Of San Francisco's people BY the adoption
Of such plan that city will avoid nursing and
raising community of hoodlums and loafers, |
who at all times prefer clamoring to toiling
or bread. The indiscriminate charity for which |
he West is so famous has tended in an incon- |
,eiyable degree to develop idleness and shift
essness in that city; the open hand edness
If the people has unwittingly fostered
md encouraged that infamous hoodlum
clement which morally disgraces the city of
San Francisco in the eyes of the civilized
world. AS yet it is not too late to correct
he evils resulting from this mistaken charity.
t would not only be wise but polite to found
Industries with the money that is annually
quandered in charity which is not charity,
ut a premium for idleness and communism
ear prompts us to take up the cudgel against
ne unwlse measures which are proposed in
an Francisco, for once the improvident and
element is so encouraged in that
ty that it becomes impressed with the idea ;
nat all that is necessary to make the capital
It open his purse will be an assumption of ;
enancing attitude, then the demand of that
ement will become more arbitrary and in
'nsiderate, which will not confne itself to /
an Francisco alone, but will spread over the I
ltire Pacific Coast.