The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-03-26
HONEST POVERTY.
The COURSE OF WISDOM IN ITS TREATMENT
HELP WHICH REALLY HELPS AND DOES Nor
DEMoRALIZH

The COURSE OF WISDOM IN ITS TREATMENT
HELP WHICH REALLY HELPS AND DOES Nor
DEMoRALIzE
Thinking the following article, written by
Judge Campbell, and clipped from the Home
Messenger, should have vide circulation we
publish it for the perusal Of our many readers:
II there is anything which 10 especially to he
avoided in charitable work. It is the danger OF
turning good citizens into helpless drenes With
a few exceptions, which are readily recognized
by their own peculiar merits, philanthropsts
may wisely turn over TO the public those who
are likely to be permanent paupers, and who
have no higher ambition. This does not mean,
OF course, that any human beings should be
given over to neglect or cruelty. Public agencies
may be and should be humane, and there ought
10 be such watch over them as to compel this.
But beuefcence running IN more private chan
nels should not be wasted and il ls often not
only charity but sound wisdom to deal literally
with sowe persons needing succor, whose future
may be worth elevating and encouraging.
Students of history must have seen, IN com
pairing the annals OF different countries, that
in ali countries where freedom has gained a
roothold the ascendency OF free institutions
has not been due primarily TO refinement o.
culture 80 much as TO the encouragement OF
manlness and sef-respect. Outwardly these
institutions do not show many signs Of learn
ing or philosophy. The theoretical system
monger finds very little that he can classify or
even account for, on any preconcelved notion
OF polity, in the apparently loose e-jointed and
awkward methods OF law and government un-
der which the English and American people
have grown into power and prosperity The
more symmetrical codes and forms OF other
countries are far moro readily classed aud con-
strued. But the struggles through which the
people OF the continental states have from
time to time reached better condition have
not required the same revolutionary upturning
IN the affairs OF people or government in the
English speaking regions. And the chief reason
is that their policy has always been to throw
every one as far as possible on his own re-
sources, and make him IN his proportion re-
sponsbe for the welfare OF the community.
That brave and wise statesman and patriot, Sir
Thomas Smith, writing Of the English COM
monwealth in the days OF Queen Elizabeth
(who has always been reckoned sufficiently ad-
dicred to prerogative). mentions as characters
tic OF the system the care taken even IN punish
ments to do nothing which will break the spirit
or destroy the pride Of tho citizen. 1t is the
keynote Of the whole. And it ls something
which is all the more necessary to be cared for
bar ub frop aiy aft1r-
al hospitality, we open our doors to great
many who are helpless when they come, and
almost certain to become continued burdens
unless subjected to very tonic treatment.
Among those who require temporary help OF
some sort are occasionally found persons who
have all the qualities which we esteem and ad-
mre. Scholars and wise men, as we'll as labor
ers and artisans, have sometimes found them
selves completely helpless, without friends and
without means OF obtaining a living. The
frugal and industrious find il peculiarly hard 10
bear such burdens. But experience has shown
that very few, even Of those whose career has
been very humble, do not retain pride enough
and yet, when approached in their dependency
il is quite possible for some well-meaning and
benevolent fool to extinguish it. There are
always some people who think that any kind
OF pride 10 Gin among the worst progeny OF
the enemy, and who deem 1t their duty to urge
the objects OF their benevolence to eschew IL.
II they produce any effect 1t is either to spoil
the ambition OF those whom they help, or tc
rouse q spirit OF hatred which produces Il