New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-02


How to make the fazy work il one of the most
difficult OF the many problems of pauperism. Ten
police magistrates of this cit, and committee of
the Society for AmeliOrating the Condition ot the
Poor lately put their heads together to devise some
way Of dealing with professional beggars and the
regular "rounders," who get themselves sent to the
Island for the sake of free quarters and gratutous
board. The prominent plan heretofore hit upon has
been TO nut these voluntary and extremely
well satisfied prisoners for three days Of the
week upon regimen of bread and water. The COM
mtting magistrate can in any case order this dis
couragng diet 1t is sufficient to maintain life.
and men who can work. can get work, and
will not work, deserve nothing more generous.
The lazy have no right to Injuries and there is no
danger that a rule which can at any time be modl-
fled to fit particular cases will occasion any
substantial hardship. The great need of the
time is want Of employment. Some really
worthy persons, doubtless seek it in VAN.
But this does not perceptibly modify the mOrtify-
ing fact that hardly any part of the country free
from loafers and vagabonds. They have pride
TO which appeal can be made no manhood. no self
respect. Much they cannot do, Dut enough work
ought to be got out OF them to preserve their lives
at Us small a loss to the public as possible.
If they have no heads and no hearts, they
have at least stomachs and good appe-
tites If they are so incOrrglbly indOent to pre-
fer starvation to work. why, this is free country,
and they must be allowed the liberty of choice.
The crying evil of begging at back doors might he
suppressed throughout the land if hOuseholders
had only the moral courage to say =" Mo- Until
this accomplishment is generally diffused, the
beggars will continue to poster in town and
country. No dOubt it hurts to refuse but we ought
to be willing to put ourselves to little pain Tor the
sake OF mitigating a great evil.
The signal and peculiar mark Of the Democratic
plan of conducting affairs IS to make clustering
proclamation that unless they can have their way
in administering the Government they will
see TO il that no one else is able tn adj
minister 1t in any way; IN other words
they will stop 1t. "Play as we want you to or
we'll break up tho game is and has been their reg
uation threat This is not only essential part
Of their so-called policy, but it is all the policy
they have. This is the challenge which has
been met before and which must be met
now. They flung it boldly ont in the
canvass of 1860, and when tho American people
proved that they were not badly frightened by
clecting Abraham Lincoln they made the attempt,
which has not been considered altogether success
full to carry out their threat. They now signalize
their first partial return TO power by tho
same insolent menace. The result viii be the
same. 1t will make good many more
aud more stalwart Republicans, and relieve the
Democrats Of further responsibility for the conduct
of affairs by giving them another eighteen years Of
leisure forrest and repentance
The anti-C Chinese CalfOrnians complain that tho
failure of Congress to pass the restriction bill has
given an impe tus to Chinese immigration, hun
bred coolies having arrived in ship lately
while quite an army" is said TO be coming. This
seems rather a ludicrOus attempt to influence pub
lie opinion, for it Is much to be doubted whether
enough Is known of the action OF Congress in China
at this time to influence the business mt all. The
call upon Congress " to take decisive action"
seems TO be quite unnecessary for what decisive
action IL Congress to take Tor, rather what more
decisive action is to be expected Merely debating
the question will amount To nothing yot Congress
is hardly prepared tn do much more than debate it,
And when it comes to charging the opponents of
hasty and violent methods with being the Eastern
foes of civilization" is tempted TO inquire if the
world has been mistaken in regarding good faith as
a characteristic Of civilization, whether Eastern or
Western.
Mr. Morrll's appeal to the Senate to provide a
separate and sufficient building for the Library of
Congress ought to meet with favorable response
Ii well enough understood that the present accom-
mOdatlOns of the library are exceedingly made
quate. The matter has been talked over. discussed
and abstracty considered for long time. Mean
while the accumulations of the collection
have become greater and greater, and it
is not possible, under the existing law,
for them to fall of. Whatever there is of American
literature at least must be there. But library
without enough shelf room. and for that matter
without enough floor room. with its treasures i'll
arranged or hardly arranged at ALL is nothing but
disappointment and an annoyance. 1t IL to be hoped
when the new building is put up that II will DO of