Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-10-29
Who is to Blame?


when to be poor and in misery, if not
The most comfort table position imagin-
able, was at least no crime. In those
days the "haves" being exceedingly
few and the have nots"a great multi
tude, it was the latter, and not the
former, who prescribed the social tone.
And, naturally, they prescribed it in
some degree to suit themselves. For
Mis-, amongst other reasons, it was
probably considered judicious by the
"hayes to ascribe in part at least to a
better fortune, rather than to conspicu-
sss merit, their more numerous earthly
blessings. And even those inclined to
the conspicuous merit theory were not
indisposed to think that for the miser-
Able results which attended the efforts
Of their less fortunate brethren there
we're possibly extenuating circum-
0tances.
But such a view of matters, adapted
10 an age in which extreme poverty was
the rule and wealth the rare exception.
u clearly unsuited to our own prosper.
ous times, and has been discarded
accordingly. During the earlier ages
q our era there was indeed lingeriag
belief, for which the founder of Chris.
GAnity was doubtless responsible, that
she poor were somehow nearer to the
Kingdom OF Heaven than their more
wealthy neighbors-a belief which,
seen through the mists of centuries.
seems to have impaired to rags a right
royal halo.
.s,. - 77ass s ~ ~ utter delusion. OF course.
An shese more scientific days, i 4 hhi Sa.l
Who would seriously contend that there
Was some special grace or blessedness
associated with poverty, would be taken
Immediately to the nearest asylum.
But the belief was, nevertheless, ut one
sawss widely entertained. Il may, how.
ever, be considered as having practical.
y ceased during the earlier ages. For
auring the middle ages, and the time
that has elapsed since, seems to have
arisen that unmitigated detestatien of
tzsmps, now entertained by good Chris.
tians generally. These will be grateful
tea writer of an old sermon, quoted by
. recent Saturday Reoiesoer aud which
piihily expresses their sentiments. Ill
was preaching from the text BE ye
nercifui." but wisely afraid lest his
hearers, in their intense desire to carry
into practice that cardinal virtue might
possibly overshcot the mark, he pro
seeded to add: Here there is one
caution to be laid down, which is Of
The last consequence to be carefully at
tended to. ana that is that the vagran,
beggar is an eternal exception to al
ihe precepts and dictates OF Christian
charity"
What q relief it must have been t.
many good people to have the limits o.
Christian charity 80 carefully defined
Where you have an article of such ar
nTepressibls character, always threat
sning to burst and overflow into space
limits euch as those laid down in tn,
above, and in our religious newspapers
are clearly Indispensable That OLE
preacher hit the mark. 1t was advic
which, agreeing as it did. so entirel,
With the erejudices of the well-to do
vas not likely to remain dead letter
Whether or not that good King O
france, who hung forty persons at ono
for petitioning against hunger-cer
tainly petition fraught with the rank
ass socialism-was or was not contem
porary of the preacher, he had evi
IDENTIFY graduated with high honors in
ssimilar school.
Asplendid deed like this is, of course
something which in this degenerate ag
Ne can scarcely hope TO emulate. Tn
pseudo sentimentalisu of the age i
against US. But if unable to approach
deeds of this heroic character-if unabl,
10 hang fifty tramps for pre-
sumipg themselves worthy of better
fate than starvation-we can slow tina
Il unfortunately without the power
the will at least il not wanting. Ant
twill be universally conceded that tc
stone man to death for being in DOS
session Of worn clothing and wors.
shoes, if still little in the wake of tn,
good Aing of France, is nevertheless
long step in the right direction.
The altar of responsibility has had it
sictim. Desperate crimes, OF course
require despe, ate remedies. To be tn,
owner Of bad shoes is evidence of .
state of deep malignancy. For is it no
an offense against the prophecies, 81
outrage against the dreaded respecta
oilisies, the only gods we worship? Tt
so about with thrsadbare clothing ant
ailspidaied shoes AS we'll. is a crime
nat crtaa alnui ror vapnao,on oo.