The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-21

the support Of their families and credit |
needed which no prudent merchant or
tradesman can with safety extend however
kindly disposed he may feel--ponder well
these undeniabe facts, give them thought
full and serious consideration, and then ask
them if it is the gratulties of wealth they
are willing to accept, or what it is they
earnestly desire. There will be no uncer-
tainty in their reply, the answer will be in
slant and invariable-it is work Persons
of this class have as much regard for the
decencies aud proprieties of life as their
more favored and wealthy fellow men,they
have all the pride and scnsibility that must
ever attach to honest, upright, respectable
men who are DESTROYS of earning liveli-
hood by honest industry. Such a man
must be sorely tried and we'll nigh despair
ing before he would consent to accept aims
like pauper-his brow would flush with
crimson to think his wealthy neighbor
classed him so low in the social scale. To
the utterly INDECENT, the absolute pauper,
the cast off garments of charity ball
might perhaps be wecome-at least, pos e.
sibly it might be so, since beggars may not
be choosers. But by far the larger portion
of the INDECENT and the worthy poor, those
who possess health and strength, neither
ask nor would accept aid of such kind.
To them the gift of refuse apparel which
the donors would DO longer deigu to wear,
or eleemosynary pittances Of whatever kind,
would seem derogatory to their self re
respect, and bitter Greproach to their
Strengthened circumstances.
Nature is ever proGigal of the individuals
but provident of the species-a thousand
flowers bloom, and perish for naught, to
one that fructi6es and produces fruit. He
cultiyates wisest and best who improves
the quality and increases the quantity of
wholesome and ripened fruit OF the
human race it is only too true, and sadly
true, the poor ye have with you always,
Though it may be impossible by mere
almsgiving to do little more than alleviate
temporarily the hsrdships of limited
number of individuals, yet a broad philan-
thropy and wise craftsmanship will en-
deayor to employ the most extended means
and the most efficient measures for the
welfare and benefit of the masses, and in
their elevation and bettered condition, as
such ameliorate and improve the condition
!, of individuals and thus increase the com
mon good of all In what way this may bt
? most readily accomplished we do not pro-
TESS TO be competent to say. Undoubtedly
property has its moral duties as we'll as it:
LEGAL rights. How then shall the indi'
, vidual spend his income morally, or make
a moral use of his wealth? Ought he tt
sell all and give to the poor? 50 taugh
Jesus Of Nazereth. Ought he to livt
sparingly and contribute largely of hi
means to the poor, endow churches, ant
, found benevolent institutions? Or ough
he to do little of all good things possib
to do, and if so what proportion of each
These are pertinent and vital question
which must necessarily enter largely int
t the proper consideration of true benevo
t lence and the great and fundamental prir
g ciples which underlie all true charity. ]
q is not within the purview of this article {
e present any particular plan as being th
e wisest and best, or as best calculate
II to surely and efficiently provide I'll
/ greatest good for the greatest number
# But it is permissible to say that employ
al ment is the essential need and the happi
/ est condition of civilized man, and fc
If those whose subsistence depends upo
N their employ ment, the absolute conditic
~ Of their comfortable existence is the fu
IS supply of regular and steady labor with
IN remuneration adequate to the actual wan
~ and necessities of themselves and the
=, families Whoever, therefore, that furr
ID ishes this with the design and intent
If aiding and providing for his fellow men
7r to that extent public benefactor To
,r this with little or no profc to himself an
ss simply for the purpose Of supplying
others the means of SELF supports to practit
4 the virtue of blessed charity, The ne
IN who would not appreciate the spirit
ir humane exertions in their behalf on tt
le part of an employer who furnished the
of employment under such circumstance
. even at a low wagerate, who would abu
ir his generosity by exhorbitant demands
N their part, would be madly blind to the
to own interests, and would lose the respe
tn and sympathy of right minded and homo
lis able men. In periods of great distress
lis Of unusual emergencies like the presen
would it not be equally wise and charitab
n for the city to furnish work to those wi
n. are needy and known to be worthy 7
le say to such we will furnish you employme
en (Con cluded on next page)