Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-26

Considering that the popular mind has
of late been much directed to the condi-
ton of the poorer cases in our country
through the lnstrumentahty Of the strikes,
and the question of labor and wages has
been very prominently discussed, do not
think few random thoughts on the gem
eral condition of the poor, their hardships
and disasters, altogether out OF place.
Indeed think 1t very fitting time for
the agitation OF such questions. The
unfortunate condition of the poor de-
mands it, the hour demands it. Let their
condition be lost sight Of or despised now,
1t will only be to appear in more indig-
uant form in the future, when It will be
impossible to evade the issue. II Is al
ways the part Of wisdom, when danger
threatens, not to blind ourselves to It's
reality, but recogn zing It, to take steps
to avert II,
ALL you do not wish to hear about the
poor2 Then | am sorry, for ! fear we
will have to part company this evening,
as propose to talk about them. But
stay now: Are you not unjust in thus
heaping invectives upon themP SIT is
their fault" you say, "that they are poor.
They could have been something II they
would" May-be-so, yes, and may-be-so,
no. While they are not entirely blameless
! for their condition, they are not alto
gether to blame for it. They might in
many instances better their condition, but
the daily sights OF suffering around them,
| together with their own sufferings, has
deprived them OF the incentive TO action.
Yet not this alone, they have been rem
dered still more so by the sudden acquisi-
ton of almost boundless wealth through
unnatural channels. Is 1t a wonder then
when they witness fortunes thus ac-
quired turned aside from their God-in-
| tended purpose, TO the peryersion OF law
and the shielding of crime, that they have
grown bitter and have endeayored by
violence TO correct the error True,
| their acts are deemed crime against soci-
ETY., but were they not forced TO 1t by the
pressure OF wrongs equally as great as
their crime? No, do not hold them alto
! gether blameless, nor altogether guilty.
! There are thousand things TO look at In
this matter, thousand ways whereby
| their fortunes may have been lost, and
they may have been doomed by an iron
fate TO poverty's bark, eternal common
place"
War, pestilence, famine, wild specuia'
ton, the oppression OF the rich, all these
could they make vocal the homes they
have desolated, the hopes they have
crushed, the brave and manly yonth
chilled from the ardor OF their purpose
there would be presented TO us such az
array of suffering and misfortune, NJ
would melt TO pity the stoutcst hearted
The poor! Did you ever think just whai
that mesns9 Ten million OF peopie-tht
motliest crew on earth--battling against
starvation; striving by any means to keeI
The wolf from their door. Men oil all con
dit,ons. some the manifest some the mos
dishonorable-ev they stand doing theil
mart IN the worlds history. And sac
part it isl Throwing up the breastworks
burving The dead, taking the filth from tht
streets. doing all kinds Of dishonorable ~
work, which, were it not done, we coulo
not live. Did you call them u mean lac
tor la society That may be SO, out ye
tell YOU they ore mighty one: lnsig
ni1cant deemed in the eyes OF her ma
iesty, they do the work that sustains lh'
universe, and others reap the fruits o
their labor.
! MANY fathoms down In the sea, where
the sunlight perhaps has never penetrateo
unosfentatious coral rears its ltti'
mound. Day by day II grow
inward. as blade OF grass
iii in this course of tine a SINAI
mound bursts through the water, whicl
eventually becomes an island whereon mel
come and reside with never thought iol
the patient little builders. SO Is the rec
OF society constructed by the poor, un ,
seivedly perhaps for long time, pu
finally becoming manifest IN the shape I, o.
revolutions of thought, action, etc. eli
emily they work, asking no honors, NO IN
, duigence, "but to be let live"
The poorl have often wondered wn;
they must bear the cheat ana puIuvn,
while their wealthy brothers owen
Z bombastlc luxury. II seems that lne.
have been singled, set apart BY fa1 ~
their sad office; and from his stern n,s
| jes,y there Is no appeal. They were pVi'