The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-15

NEW YORK. April IA, 1871
To THE EDITOR or THE HERALD:--
II great names mean anything there ought to be
great confidence the object OF the meeting In the
Academy OF Music the 10Th, TO solicit subscriptions
for New York State Soldiers Home But when
project appeals TO patriotic feeling, and has fine
sound In it, great Games arc easily secured, and for
We have learned by experience TO pay very little
respect TO their snap judgment
The proposed s.Soldiers' Homcn Is required to save
$50 'oattle worn volunteers from the county poor
houses where they "hcrdcd with tramps and
thieves" How about herdng the victims of the gen.
eral misiortunes OF society with these .ramps and
thievess Is 1t only soldiers-who certainly had
good deal OF such society, and have since formed
considerable element In itwhose sensbities are to he
thus decatcly considered? Certainly the nrs duty OF
tho public Is to look into these county poorhouses and
whether thcy deserve the general aspcrsion which
is thus thrown upon them; for they concern much
larger class victims Of national misfortune than
soldiers. The social In which they have been In
vaded a larger and more perlous than any bat
tie OF muskes and cannon; and why its victims arc 10
be herdcd with tramps and thieves any moro ruth
lessy than tho soldiers do not yet fully under
stand We do not suppose the county poorhouses
are residences people with choice would
prefer nor would they DO ON any sound
principles Of moral or political economy; but we do
suppose them 10 be about as irec from tramps aud
thieves say the streets OF New York and the usual
society OF common soldiers who go where they please,
Moreover. we think the poorhouse society preferable
account of It's containing aud children, md
a variety any society We have ever soon, which
Is likely to- be found, IN soldiers home.
After twelve years, to go TO work and pick out SOL
diers who did not earn POSITION class, and make
them the objects OF special institutional charity is
to perform not only gratuitous mischief 10 the
morals OF society," but smacks very much OF job, or
OF the segloritying OF the soldier class which we do
not need TO add 10 in America The prediction Tor
mixing soldering aud politics has done US mischief
enough. State soldiers homes to pcrpetua.c tho
local pride OF States IN federal war are them.
proper places Tor soldiers from all the separate
States, who are unwso enough to leave their
own kindred and neighborhood or whose necessities
force them TO II. The proper way TO take care
OF invalid soldiers surviving war Is by pensions only
leaving them .'unherded," but in private homes,
Nine-ientls OF the sufferers be cared for would
probably be In the pcorhouse anyway as the war alone
kept thousands from being in JAIL or IN the poorhouse
for the idle and thrlticss, who will not work unless
Here is u scheme for begging 500, ooo-whlch will
have TO be 500 000to erect building to accommodate
tho 100 OF New Yorks brave sons now III national
homes who have right 10 come home and claim our
care, besides the 4sO-who may be easily twice as
many-n the county poorhouscs Everybody knows
that half million OF dollars won't erect and pay Tor
ried out But that IS drop IN the bucket 10 sup
port only $50 OF them, al New Jersey Home rates,
$4,000 annually must be supplied by the State, and
everybody that knows anything about such institutions
knows that II would probably be twice that sum at
first, ana in the end ten times But the patriotic tide
will probably launch us into this scheme In spite
OF common sense. political economy and all
experience Disbccving in u wholly simply enter
what we presume will be an unavaling protest. We
think II poor plan Tor the soldiers themselves they
are never content IN soldiers homcs poor plan for
the community, as IL threatens TO increase taxes
already intocroble poor plan the country, 1t
the national obligation out OF the hands of The
federal government and 90 weakens the historic memo
VI the 1t Is poor plan for its devlsers who
ten years hence will eat the fruit Of misRken doings
for tho venerable figure fronts the business They
have seemingly never given the matter any serious
consideration lost in their sympathy with its excel
lcntly sounding titlc But why struggle with the
timen,aty tharspos all American ben i1cencc and will
ultimately imp0verIsh much in morals in
pocket II wo do not correct resist II? H. W. B.