The Labor enquirer., 1884-07-19
UTILITY or. REFORM
|Tinkering at Results Will Not
Effect a Cure Of Diseased
Systems.
There Knst b cunplste Change
Before Justice Will be As
sured to All.

i Before Justice VIII be A.
sured to ALL
/ The following lecture was delivered
before the Democratic Federation il
Edinburgh, Scotland. several MONTH
Isince.
Editor Labor Enquirer.
/ EDINBURGH, BRITAIN, 40 Arthur ST., [
JuAe28 1884. ]
There is bewildering and ever.in
creasing number of Suggestions before
the public for the amelioration of the
distress and the repression Of the dis.
content now prevalent among the pro
ducing classes. Philanthropists and pol.
iticians are at present displaying grea,
energy and creating much clamor in the
advocacy of their remedies.
A few individuals among both these
parties are undoubtedly well-intentioned
however illogical. But do not hesitate
to assert, that as classes, their intentions
and actions are plainly marked by insin.
cerity and incapaeity. I make no more
than passing allusion to the hypocrisy
which 80 plainly exists among the public
'sbeneiactors." There is too much reason
to believe that profit and fame, rather
than real sympathy, are the motives
which induce the rich classes to return a
small amount of their unearned wealth
to its starving producers. The ostenta.
tious manner in which charity is dis
pensed is strong proof of the truth OF
my assertion A really benevolent per,
son would object to have his deeds Of
kindness Aaringly recorded In newspa-
pers. True sympathy works quietly and
finds satisfactory reward in the success
of its mission. u. !
Ipropose showing argument why re-
form will inevitably prove futile with
the necessary corrollary that reconstruc.
ton is requisite. 7 define reform as an
Improvement of the existing system
and reconstruction as the substitution OF
a different system.
Iwill deal first with the philanthro.
pist. To prove the fallacy of their posi-.
ton will not require great expenditure
Of dialectical energy, as their claim to be
Il -
regarded in the light of "efectual re.
FORMERS" is of an exceedingly fimsy
mature. 's'
Philanthropists perpetuate a logical
lblunder at the outset by assuming that
misery and vice are the results of indi-
vidual depravity. Accompanying this
assumption is total disregard of the
| iirrefutable truth contained in the old
adage, prevention is better than cure"
Experience and argument alike show
that philanthropic reform has been un-
fruitful of beneficial results. And how
can it he otherwise with the efforts OF
people who, as class, never think OF
applying science to the solution of the
most complicate social problems OF
to-day. My argument will be better un-
derstood, however, if ] refer directly to
some of the matters engaging the atten-
| ton of these reformers. s
Perhaps the most extensive field OF
philanthroplc activity is the gratuitous
distribution of food and clothing. Chari-
ties such as these are Objectionable be-
cause they engender feeling Of humility
and dependence on the part of the re-
cipients, who are merely getting part OF
their rights, in the name of charity and
further, they do not touch the cause OF
poverty, but merely afford momentary
relief. Another strong objection is that
they are necessarily limited in the
sphere of their operation. A mode OF
reform which is incapable of universal
application is only likely to recommend
itself to. people whose actions are
prompted by blind impulse. instead o1
intelligence. ...' ,.
| And this, no doubt, is the reason why
we find men like Lord Shaftesbury tax,
ing prominent part in such move
ment. If the universal relief OF distress
were attempted, the futiliiy of endeavor'
ing to relieve, much less to eradicate
poverty by such means would be made
manifest. This is not the age when the
hunger pangs of several thousand peo
lple can be appeased by few small loayes
and fishes; and the spirit Of generosity
| is not sufficiently strong in the bourgeois
breast to induce them to disgorge theil
lill-gotten wealth in manner liberal
tenough to accomplish the stupendous
task by natural means.
Itis popular notion with philanthro
pists that the poor are either especially
hungry or especially deserving at the
time of the Christmas or New Year fes
tiyitles. In accordance with this idea
dinner was lately provided for mum
Der of poor in Edinburgh. The spiri
which prompts such an action is Ger
tainly generous. but 1T is illogical. One
dinner more or less, like Mr.. Laboucere'l
sixpences, will prove of no real beneh
to people who are continually in a condi
| ton of semi-starvation. Some real goot
might however, have been done on thi'
occasion if the promoters had made th'
proceedings more attractive BY inviting
the Rev. Stewart D. Headlam to say tn
grace. MI. Hyndman to deliver an after