St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-29
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TNCLE4N LIFTING.

There are some thinkers who affect to be-
lieve that all charitable effort is a mistake,
and an obstacle in the processes OF benevo-
lent nature. This class claims that it Is the
intent of nature that only the fttest shall
survive and hence it is antagonistic to her
efforts to care for the sickly, the Incorporate,
and others who are weakened from their own
acts or from other causes. The meaning of
this is that the constant tendency of things
is to eliminate the feeble, aud preserve only
the strong for the preparation of its kind.
Il this theory were to be carried into practi-
cal effect, the world would abandon all char
table organizations, ii would cease to re-
lieve the starving, it would provide no
places or nurses for the sick, it would en-
courage the incorporate TO continue in their
own extinction. In this way it is thought
that, in time, all the ailing dissipated, weak,
" elements of society would be eliminated,
and then men would BE left with domi-
nance of the robust, the strong, the healthy.
This theory seems very brutal at first sight,
and the man who would have the temerity to
openly and sincerely advocate it would be
very likely to find himself regarded as a mon
ster In our present social and moral con-
diton, and with respect to the humane
teachings of modern times, we should be
likely to regard as abominable and ntolera-
BILE any such sentiments, hut, as amatter Of
fact, is not the average com munity actually
an exponent Of this atrocious doctrine! A
case of supposed yellow fever has just oc
Cured in New Orleans, and at once the
country learns that the city is in most filthy
condition, that the open cutters of the streets
are filed with stagnaut water, covered with
green scum, foul smelling, and nauseating
in the extreme. Last year, when the cholera
broke out In Damietta, the world was iu
formed that the river alongside of the city
was filed with the putrefying carcases of an
finals. and that the air and the water of the
place were simply deadly poisons.
The present season, when the cholera
broke out in Toulon, aud later in Marseilles,
1t was at once published that both of these
cities have low-lying portions which were I'M
clean, uneared for, with malarious exhalta-
tions. and dense populations to whom fresh
air, cleanliness, good water, and untainted
food were unknown IN Chicago, New
York, and in other large cities, she an
nounccment of the existence of filth cpl
demic in Europe, which is likely to reach
this side. has elected universal howl "Clean
the city, And then there are accounts of
localities, Ia each of the respective places,
which are sink-holes cess pools epidemic
breeders, and all that. Now, what is all
this save an unconscious, but most yigor
Gus attempt to assist the carrying out of the
theory that only the strong shall survived
These communities permit sanitation to be
neglected filth to accumulate until cholera
and yellow fever are at hand, and then when
It is too late, the work of cleaning up is
commenced. It is too late for the reason
that during all the years when the eommu-
mites have been subject to the influence of
this uncleaniness, they have become weak
ened. poisoned. and are now I'M
able to withstand the assaults of malignant
epidemic.
Is not thi. completely with murder, com
plicity with that belief which is willing that
the weak should die to make room for the
strongs 1t may be unconscious completely,
but it is none the less deadly in its conse-
! quences. It is the act OF one who for years
I occupies himself in the gathering and storing
! of comhustihles, and who when s great fire
| approaches undertakes to keep it away from
/ his premises BIZ obstacles TO its progress. He
I has no right to accumulate in great city
/ such dangerous material. He may be I'm
/ conscious that he is q fool, and mailman
! but he is none the less so on account Of his
I Ignorance.
4 To-day, the hideo,is presence Of yellow
/ fever stands at the gates Of the chief southern
4 city, and grim cholera i visible on the east
/ ern horizon. Are we prepared for eitheri
I No, For years we have been inviting the
/ presence of both of these destroying angels.
/ Upon the heads of guilty municips! maua-
! gers he tae guilt of the deaths which may
/ come from these visitatiousl
(
] The Republican party came into existence in &
crusade against the Democratic institutions OF