The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-10-25

dom has rs yet been unable to fin
a remedy. The words of the text "y
! lave 0Ico0ys the poor with you" assert
with divine authority, that there never vii
come time in the life of mankind wheI
poverty shall not be the lot of the childrel
of Adam.
Since, then, it is impossible to remov
poverty and want, it behooves those who ar(
benefited by the labor of the poor to SCI
what can be done for the amelioration o
their condition, and then to do it. Th,
! necessity for human labor must always ex
list, but the condition Of the laborer may
be vastly improved. His intellect may bt
trained SO that his labor will be more
efficient, whereby lie may have the oppor-
tunity and leisure for thought, and study,
amusements necessary to make life toler.
able. He may be made to know that his
hard condition is not irrcmediable. He
may be brought to understand that he has
not been born into the world n mere mas
chine TO DO used solely for the comfort and
happiness of others, when that comfort and
happiness is dcnied him. He may be so
treated as 10 feel and know that his lot in
life is honorable and useful, and docs not
debar him from the association and sympa~
thy of those who are more favored by for
tune.
The American theory of government is
that ii should be so organized and admin
istered as to produce tho greatest good to
the greatest number. This greatest number
is now, and always will be, of that class
who gain their daily bread by their daily
labor, and of those who having been once
in that condition, have not accumulated
savings sufficient to dispense with the me-
cessity of some labor on their part That
government has not been so administered,
is too clear for controversy, when we con-
slider the colossal fortunes of few, acquir-
ed through the aid of Legislative grants,
public contracts, and other governmental
agencies, and the squalid poverty of the
many who decay under the whitening influe
ence of the baleful shadow of the over
rich.
That men cannot be made equal is GER
tain In we'll organized and fairly gov
erned society, intellect, Intelligence, energy,
self-donial and prudence, will outsLrip in
the race of life, the absence of these quail
tiles The vain speculations of tho Gem
Dluac, if carried out, can have no other
effect than to produce an ephemeral equal
ity by tho pulling down Of the highest not
by the elevation of the lowest. This
if enforced, would not con
tinue ono hour before some hungry, faint
ing and foolish Esau wouli exchange his
birth-right to GINNING fii, aea denying
Jacob for mess Of pottage.
All legislation in that direction, is there
fore. the greatest folly, But legislation can
do much TO benefit the poor; and the more
fortunate can do even much more to make
their condition less unhappy, What legis-
lation may do is TO grant no largesses or
bounties to any-no exclusive privileges;
to allow no enriching contracts or employ
ments, and TO impose the burdens of gov
ernment so as to bear equally on all. 1t
nay provide for tho education of the poor
II the common schools, and in the special
required for successful pur-
;uit of the callings they mast follow. 1t
nay provide for the administration of jus~
ice to them by pure and able men, with the
east possible expense. 1t may provide
hat an unconscientious and unjust defense
Il law to just and legal demand whereby
wicked men deter others from asserting
heir just claims by making the assertion
90 costly, shall be punished in the same
way with the malicious prosecution of a
iyil suit to enforce an unfounded claim. 1t
lay make rules for the ordinary business
f life-plain, simple and easily understood,
nd SO frame them that the ignorant and |
nwary shall be protected from cunning
nd fraud And it may punish vagrancy,
nd withhold from the idle and vicious the
ight to participate in the government.
On the other hand, there are duties which
10 fortunate owe to the less favored, and
,hich if properly discharged, will greatly
meliorate the hard condition Of the poor.
Poverty, in Mississippi, is not Of that
ard kind which implies destitution Of
10 nocessaricn of life. There are few in.
eed, who suffer from hunger and cold;
OF one, 50 far az | have learned, who has
let death from starvation. Here, the
reatest ills of poverty are rather of IA moral
lan of a material character In a great
art they arise from the distinctions which
gist between the humble and the property
older, and the difficulties which the poor
ian encounters here as lac does everywhere
lut believe in less degree here, in im-
rowing his condition. In theory we are
/ equal-in fact, inequalities exist every
here. Here, inequaljties, as have said,
10 unavoidable; but whilst they are SO,
lev can be SO smoothed over by gentle,
ind and sympathetic conduct, on the part
{ the moro favored by fortune, as to take
way in great part the sting thoy infiict.
If the rich ia all their intercourse with
10 poor, would conceal their advantages
Brived from the possession of property,
lcept only in their attempts to do good,
leir presence would not be a continual re~
Under of the disparity in the gifts of for
me. 1t is not always envy that is excited
Y an ostentatious and superciliOus display
the advantages of wealth. just as often,
le feeling aroused is despair at the inabil-
v to better ones fortunes, and a criticism
pom the system which is supposed 10 pre-
mt il. But II % we envy alone, still
5ihina should be done calculated to excite
, evil passion Oar Saviour guarded
,ainst this, BIZ his command 10 DO our
,ns in secret
An oar intercourse with thoso who re
- Fortunate than we are. should bosueh