Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-12-27
The Spread of Pauperlsm
I'm w Christian Adunnata 1

Inc poor auu struggling become the
order of the day, and when almost
everyb body, from one motive or an
other, is led to listen TO these appeals
and treat them with more or less
liberality. Anything like opposi>
ton appears to intimate heart so
hard and feelings so bunted, that
few have the courage to avow that
thew don't believe in this everlasting
charity, but they are, on the contra
ry, persuaded it manufactures pau
pers instead of lifting those already
down out of the slough into which
they have fallen that it encourages
the very poverty of spirit aud mean
ness of feeling which reconcile so
many to the beggar's position and
the beggar's fare and upon the whole
intensifies the very misery it seeks
to relieve, and makes that misery, if
possible, still more offensive, and
and still more unmanageable. Yet
the more calmly and intelligently
the matter is looked into, the more
it will be found that this apparently
hard and merciless idea has not lit>
tie to be said 10 it's favor. Their
can be no doubt at all that the indis-
criminate charity which abounds in
all Christian countries, is, as mat
ter OF fact, doing great deal to de-
grade and debauch an ever increas-
ing proportion of the people in the
most advanced and civilized of mod
ern communities. Vice and laziness
riot on the liberality of the tender
hearted but injudicious friends of the
poor-of those whose hearts and
hands are open as the day. Their
motives are al, it may be, that could
be desired, and their feelings as ten
der as can be conceived, while it
makes them feel so happy to share
their good things with their less IA
vored brethren, that it is hard to in.
tertere, and still more so to tell them
that thoy are doing positive harm
iestead of fulfilling their work as
public benefactors. 1t is fact, how.
ever, and though it be unpleasant
to state, needs to be told and dwelt
upon. Some make it rule to give
to all who ask, and think that their
record in that case is clear, for if
bad use is made of their charity they
are not to blame. Instead of this be-
ing true, perhaps they are as blame-
worthy class as can be found in
any community. They cultivate
pauperism with all their might.
Can there be anything more NOR
tifying to an American than the
alleged fact that eVery twenty-third
person IN the state Of New York is q
pauper, and that three generations
of that helpless, shiftless class are
not seldom to be met with in the
alms-house. Indeed, throughout
the whole country, the ratio of in
crease thai is going on in the pub
lically-supported class is notifying
and alarming. The improvident and
lazy are augmentiDg at far more
rapid ratio than the self.supporting
and saving and the latter of course
have to bear ell the burden. Who
are chiefly to blame for all this ? We
cannot doubt that the true answer
must, TO q great extent, be, sthe in
discriminating charitable" Flan-
nels and victuals, Goals, clothes for
the ragged and money for the impec-
unous, are all nice things, and it
has been thought, one of the first
principles Of Christian ethics to dis
tribute them as literally and gener-
ally as possible. We would by no
means stop the flow of true Chris
tian affection and pity but we ask
all to think we'll before they give to
every person that comes to their
door with a pitiful tale of want and
suffering. In this country we have
not the slightest doubt at all that
three-fourths of the pauperism is
self-induced, and is perpetuated by
the same vicious indulgences which
at first brought it on. Once the hab-
it is formed it is far easier to "loaf
round" than to go resolutely, and
steadily to work. Let any one look
at the general attendants upon our
police courts, or at the political pri-
maries and ward meetings and what
can he think ? L. it terrible to say
both of and to such, "Let them work
or die !" 1t may be and yet, after
al, its possibly the truest philanthro
Ply and the wisest political economy.
But let our meaning not be mis-
understood. We do not say that
the right thing is for every one 10
button up his pockets, and merci-
Iessly let others fare as they may.
What we affirm is simply this, that
great many had far better give
nothing at all, than to give to every
beggar simply because he is such,
and because they have consecrated
the tenth of their substance to the
Lord and His work. Even those
who are publicly aud officially en-
gagged in the work of charity, and
are shrewd to discern between real
ity and imposition, know how often
their judgment would be at fault if
they were not exercising the great
est circumspection and acting with
the greatest care. A beggar, as such
has no claim upon any one. The
feeling is general that he has, and
this feeling has been originated and
strengthened by ages of indiscrimin-
ate aims giving. But the beggar, as
such is brigand against whom So
ciety is bound to wage truceless
war, by at once trying to make all
who can, help themselves, and firm
~ leaving those who can do this, but
won't, to shift as they may.
We forget not who has said, "if
thy brother be waxen poor and fall
fen into decay with thee, thou shalt
relieve him. Az the beginning of
another winter nothing could be fur
Their from our thought than to coun-
sci remorseless refusal on the part
of the well-to-do TO all appeals tor
charity. But it is net too much to
say to all, "Take trouble with your
aims. See that you are not intensi-
flying the very evil you wish to
abate and increasing the very pover-
erty you wish to destroy. 1t has