The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-13


the system that has apparently
been most successful, in the expectation
that those OF our citizens who have the
work of Relief in charge may find some of
the suggestions presented SO far practical
and suitable for their purposes as to be Of
less or more essential service.
By way of explanation of its adaptedness
to this subject, and without any reference
here to its bearing as party measure, it,
will be borne in mind that the ARGUS has
long been decidedly favorable to the re-
monetization Of silver, as well as thorough
revision of existing revenue and tariff laws,
butt has no expectation that the passage
of the Bland Silver bill or any other Con-
gressional legislation..will produce instan-
taneous, or miraculous relief The utmost
which can be expected of any legislative
enactments whatever, is that they may be
based upon sound and durable basis, and
inaugurate financial policy which will be
the beginning of better and more pros
perous.c Condition of monetay affairs. But
even in such an event, it will require time,
and prudent as also favorable admins
tration of the laws to revive business, inspire
general confidence and enterprise in COM
mercial and industrial circles, and cause the
renewal Of general prosperity notori-
ousy in all cases of long continual stag
nation of business aud the enforced penury
of hard times, those whose subsistence is
their stipend of wages are among the last
and least to feel the iDspiriting effects of
altered and bene6cent circumstances.
1t must be further borne in mind that
to large and preponderating extent the
surplus portion of the crop of the past year
is now out of the hands of the producers
and already disposed Of, or IN trdmsita 70
hual consumption, and until another an
pual harvest the agricultural products,
including grain, cattle, hogs, and other
articles of land production, can enter but
slightly into the elements of more prosper
Gus times. The recurrence of seed time
and harvest unquestionably afford relief to
a considerable portion of the laboring
population by increase of employ
ment in agricultural pursuits, but
it is noticeable fact that voluntary agen-
cies of the nature of charitable organiza
tions, are not commonly institutions Of the
farming community, and as soon as the
seasons crop is harvested and properly Sc.
cured, the farmer with unfailing regularity
dismIsses the larger portion Of his help
with comparatively little regard to the em
ployes further welfare, and the towns and
cities, which the winter previous were bur
dened with discharged. laborers from the
country, have the same burden Annually
renewed. and from the same source. MOI
is it at all unnatural that men who labor
merely for wages, VIXEN discharged from
employment in the country at the close o.
the harvest year, should seek the cities
The chances of odd jobs, of picking VI
work OF longer or shorter duration, is al
ways better in ordinary times in the city
owing to the greater diversity and genera
characteristics of city pursuits, than in tn,
dull interval of winter life in the country
, and the necessities of employment to thos
D whose only means of subsistence is thei
+ wages, compels all such to seek employ
ment where it is likeliest to be fouud-an
4 if both city and country fail to afford th
It needed work. their case becomes deplora
L bic indeed.
Al Whatever may be assigned as the eff
> ciant cause, the statistics Of the countr
l. show an extraordinary tendency OF th
ID population to towns and cities for the la.
q quarter of acentury, and within the la
!, decade, especially, this disproportion of Il
re aggregate of their population has exhibite
s. its dangerous and unpleasant features 10 II
lie increase Of pauperism and objects of cha
=, ity. The subject is one which admits
70 much more extended remarks, but such
to not the object now in hand, and we hay
ne made brief illusions to the foregoing fac
a. more for the purpose of showing the n
g cessities which environ the subject of pa
be perism, and the tardy relief which legisl
ly ton in any event can produce, rather tn,
nc with the expectation of suggesting al
=. mode by which the cities can avoid Il
IL evils of a needy and unemployed over pc
ty ulatiOn. The fact, that the ladies of tn
ru city have undertaken to maintain pc
be mauent organization for the relief of Il
ot poor, at least during the present winte
We shows that the subject has engaged Il
'i' thoughts and enlisted the services of Il
I'd thinkers and workers, and it is a pleasu
es to recognize the labors of all who enga
I'd in the noble work of charity, The subia
is fast becoming one of great importan
and alarming dimensions, and already r
p quires both intelligent and comprehend
|, Notwithstanding beyond the SEQ
ey and potency of mere legislation.
e "