Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-04-18
lums, is based upon this doctrine. While

lums, is based upon this doctrine. While
public relief may thus be largely extended,
it is certainly true that even if broadened,
as was desired of our Legislature last win
Ter, it cannot reach all objects of charity. |
There always has been, and always will be,
a large field for the active exercise OF prl-
vate charity. How can this private char
ity then be administered to do the greatest |
good to the greatest number? 10 one
having the ability to prevent it would
permit another one to suffer for food. Yet
men and women do daily want for actual
sustenance necessary to maintain LIE.
That they are not always reached by prl-
vate OR public charity is fact, and Is due
to a number of causes, the chief of which
is the shame of making want known. This
class of people are Of those who desire help
to help themselves, and need charitable
aid, as a rule for the least measure OF
time. Those who clamor 1T the doors OF
public societies disbursing the contrlhu-
tions of the charitable, are largely pen
sioners, and do the very least TO help
themselves. They are generally so per
sistant that the associations are given
small opportunity, and are stripped of the
means to hunt up unpretentious distress
| and relieve it. 1t will be agreed that the
| first class should be made, just so far as is
possible, to help itself; the second
class needs TO urging in that direction 1t
was long the general conviction that the
best method of extending charitable aid
was by what is known as the outdoor sys-
TEN Of relief with public funds, as opposed
| to the poorhouse methods. 1t was held
that it contributed the least to lazincss
and habitual mendicancy; that it did the
most to encourage personal exertion; that
it gave broad opportunity for the exercise
of private charity; that it lessened The pc
Rod in which relief is needed that it con-
fined the aid given to actual necessaries :;
that it did not lead the rich to believe
their whole duty done when they
paid their poor-taxes. Ii is admitted that
this system is lame in its lack
of method in searching out all
who are in need and entitled to their share
of public charity, and in perfectly adjusting
public agencies for distribution to them.
But the question has another side, one that
is weighty with the force Of actual expert
ment, under which the system failed. Nal
thus pointed out that dependent poverty
ought to be held disgraceful, and that poor
laws tend to minimize the spirit of indie
pendencc. The subject Of the operation
and wisdom of the poor laws of England
for years engaged in debate the best minds
of the world concerning which the intelli-
gent reader, it must be assumed, is we'll in
formed. 1t must suffice TO say now that
outdoor relief then lowered wages, lessened
the willingness to labor, created perma
nently dependent class, and impoverished
the poor still more, and that upon these
facts the best thought of the country
finally agreed We did not lend our aid IL
the effort to enlarge the scope of the Cali
fornia poor laws last winter, because We
were not convinced that it was wise action
Now that the Legislature has adjourned
aud before the approach of another winter
the people have opportunity TO thoroughly
discuss this whole subject, and evolve the
truth as it is under California conditions
We have barely glanced at the subject
and not in the special order of its branches
but sufficient has been said to show how
broad, varied and profoundly interesting il
: Is. In q subsequent article we propose tC
consider further as TO the best means to bS
adopted 70 aid the poor. In the mean time
how better can the philantrophic and broad
minded tax-paying class of people engage
themselves, than to associate together after
the Eastern plan in a society to debate anc
conceive the best methods Of disbursine
charity, but without any thought of tram
melting the present noble associations, but
rather to aid, elevate and perfect their sys
TENS The columns of the RECoRD-UNIoN
will he open to reasonably extended debate
of this intensely interesting question.