The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-21
Ghe 9ailg Argns,
1ocK ISLAND.
concluded from second page. ,

1
at reduced wages, it is true. but never
theless it is employment-to do so will he
tax upon the future, but tax which al
will bear proportionate to their nroner,v
ana being applied to the payment of labor
10 not simple gratuity; coming in this form
'nere need be no hesitancy in accepting
because the laborer would feel that he was
making suitable and adequa te return for
the relief extended, he would feel that bv
the sweat of bis brow he was honestly and
legltlmately providing for his family with
out being degraded to the ranks of manner
Ism and becoming reluctant and unwilling
recipient OF unearned bounty. Rv sucb
means the city would only anticinate for q
snort period the performance of labor
"hlcn must necessarily be done unon
streets and public works, and worthy
class OF citizens would be spared an hpmil.
iatlng prefer of charity, as town moor
winch most of them would spurn with in
dignatlon. 1t is not proper in this coppec.
ton to arbitrarily assume in what manner
or oy what special method this ought to be
zone; but 1t is submitted with all due def
ference to those in authority that it would
be wiser and better, even in an economic
view, for the city to receive labor in return
Tor assistance given than to make munich
pal relief simple gratuity. As regard 3
assistance to the poor from individual
sources it is worthy of praise and sbould
De heartily welcomed. But whatever
might be derived in this manner, in the
very nature of things would possess no |
such certainty efficiency, or permanance. |
as systematic and orderly arrangement |
OF regular and paid employment-it would |
reach only the extremely indigent-and
would be only transient aid to individual |
cases willing to be aided in such manner
instead OF helping an equallysworthy class
who would be willing aud ready to make
full and adequate return in the shape of
labor.
10 those who have recently displayed IN
warranted animosity, and have seemed dis
posed to attribute to the ARGUS an unfeel-
Ing disregard for the sensibilities and kind.
ness of the Charitably inclined, it is sufh-
Gent to say they have entirely misappre-
hended our views, or have wilfully inten-
ded to place US in false attitude before
the Public. We would kindly remind all
such that there are two classes of philan-
'hropists, the feelers and the thinkers, the
mpulsive and the systematic, those who de
vote themselves to mere make shift andtem-
1orary relief Of existing misery, and those
Who, with unwearied patience, deeper IL
sight and wider vision, endeavor to pre-
vent the recurrence and perpetuation of
misery by investigating and graduating its
causes. The former may perhaps for the
line being be more popular and more hon
'red among,those who merely skim the
'uface of affairs, but the latter will have ac-
'omplised in the long run more permanent
md substantial good. Though the latter
nay be misrepresented, misconstrued, accu-
led ofshardness of heart, and even thwarted !
Ind abused by the very persons in whose
ervice they have understandngly Iabored,
'et there is an uDfailing consolation and
upport in a faithful adhereance to true
principles and an unshrinking faith in ulti-
nate vlctory.-their recompence, if one
re needed, will be the sure, though perhaps ,
ardy, recognition of their labors when the
PASSIONS and prejudices of evil times have
and more enlightened Judgment
# men and measures shall prevail.