New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-06
HOW TO RELIEVE THE POOR.
POVERTY FOR WHICH MEN ARE NOT TO BE
BLAMED.
DIR. HUNTIv GTOS's WARNING AGAINST COMMUNISM
AND INpIsCRIMINATE Annoying.

AND INDISCRimlNATE AImS-GiVlNG
Various are tho ways In which helpless wageworkers
are oppressed Various too the views OF prominent
clergymen and the methods by which they would solve
the problem OF poverty Below abstracts OF long
versaons upon aspects OF the question presented In
Mrs Helen Campbells series on Prisoners OF foVety
as published on Sundays IN THE TRIBUNE The Rev. Dr.
william r. Huntington, rector OF Grace Church. said
ave speak of the layers and strata OF society," tis
figure OF speech that express only too accurately the con-
don OF things which constitutes peril 1t is only dead
inert that sanges itself in layers, each distinct
the other supermposed but not connected Where
there organized life, have not layers but structure;
bres ties and lgaments uniting part to part and binding
limb to limb How to transform stratihed social
order into an organized social orieri BY encouraging as
best we may INSTRUMENTATION between the welltodo
and the III todo There is other Somehow 1t must
be brought TO pass that half Of the world shall know
by actual observation the In which the other half is
living.
great deal Of the poverty that dshgures society
Is to blame. but not for all OF IT. Whcnever poverty
can be traced directly wrongoing its then
we may say that Is TO blame tho poor man himself
Where poverty has been brought upon people by the
fraud and violence of Others there again we may say that
man is 10 blame the who did the violence, who per
pctrated the fraud But there is in the world vast deal
of poverty that fairly be traced to either Of these
causes; to the POOR wickcdnes to the wick
edness of the who has made the poor man poor
There are whole tribes and Of men wretchedy poor
by reason OF the climatic conditions under when
they exist. Is there any particular Eskimo or syndicate
of Esmos that justly be held responsible for Eskimo
poverty The poor by dint OF what the
old legal formula calls act OF Cod Their felowcreat-
ures are no responsible for their poverty than for
the adjustments of the solar system.
"Measurably tho thing is true or the poverty in
great cities be allcviaed but under the present
condition OF human knowledge it cannot he abolished.
Our Maker must with the responsibility OF its
auIGn sia1 fha
children OF the Christian Church, hopeful that By bet
ter methods Of administration. more equitable adjust
ment of taxes and in general. by wiser maxims OF
political economy, the OWL can be cured, and
that we shall wake up some fine morning
to find the poor longer with u.s. We are bound TO
applaud the cheerful courage which prompts this view OF
the matter but until practical scheme shall have
been devised for providing every child born into the
world with head good as every other child head We
must not be too hopeful OF results.
1.-TWO methods of dealing with the evils Of poverty
have trial in the Christian Church upon large
scalethe method Of communism and the method OF aims
giving The dream OF q community of goods was what
lay behind the socaled monastic system that wonderful
network of religious societies cOmmunes that once
overspread the whole Christian Europe II was
brave and praiseworthy attempt but 1t is injustice 10
call 1t a dream. for widely prevalent as In9nastic
institutions once and prevalent they still are In
some parts of the world. nobody will pretend that the
monks ever made much progress IN pcrsadng society at
large exchange it's form OF organization for theirs
and unless society large be persuaded 10 embrace
communism, communism fails.
1.-The people who upon staying out always have II
in their power to spoil the whole thing The monks trusted
to moral suon to that reluctance on the part of
the outsiders Their hope was that the superiority OF
their mode Of life would become apparent as 10 shame
mankind INTO the adoption Of IT, and that an unsehsh
willingness to have all things in would gradually
supplant hard unOying competitions OF the every
day world. To remove poverty by making
all men equally well of is the aim
of the communist whether pursue by Christian 10y
methods. 1t is OF the attempts 10 solve
the social problem. thus far an unsuccessful attempt
Over against the doctrine OF communism stands the
doctrine OF almsgvng The advocates OF this cxpedient
down any wish interfere With the established order OF
society The inequalities remain undisurbed no
grading down a uniform level ia 10 bc so much rs az
tempted The roughnesses are instead.
and made picturesque by the foliage OF benef
icence. In practical illustration Of this view OF The
Ind cities Ia fact whole lands. where the poor,
class largely kept alive by the direct gifts OF the
rich whero begging usually the church steps, Is
the recognized and Acknowledged means OF livelihood
thousands There is perhaps larger ingredient or
truth the doctrneof amsgving than ia the doctrine OF
communism II has least the merit OF recognizing
perinanen certain features OF human life which
muuisIm strength In trying tO Obterae, tie
principle of property and the principle OF the contract The
objections 10 almsgiyng rs means OF abol shns poy
erty lie much against the principle itself which Is
at bottom the very foundation OF Gospel morality:
but rather against certain careless and ndoent ways OF
putting the principle in practice makes all me diher-
THE right method dealing with the problem OF poverty
is neither that of the communist nor that OF the ndls
crnnate alnsgver but rather the method OF personal
the giving of self TO others Wealth says
philosopher OF the Proverbs makes many friends,
but the poor is separated from his neghbor somehow
10 bridge this gulf of separation. somehow to bring
pass that those who have gifts OF prudence and thrift
others who have them not this IL the thing to aim at
Help the poor to help himself by strengthening
n xrtfl hv ring Iron Inf
S b% rQ We WYNN cripple craicn and that
Is the end Of But we train child to walk and that is
help longer necessary the secret Of the hnal phan
thropy. In scheme Of parochal benencence, for
pie. an industrial school and depository Of garments
for the poor may both OF them be said 10 b. Important
ia, apart OF the the industrial school Is by all
means the edifyng spectacle for while the dePos
by mparng skill and promoting thrift, at last to make
the depository supertnons ..-,...
The Christian Church with its manifold activities may
be made. II people will only take hold OF the work In
earnest common meeting ground for all sorts and con.
dtons of nen Doubtless 1t Will occur to many to soon
At this subsection AS feeble and childish in the face Of
Can we expect beat back anarchisnl with Sunday
school, quench the rising flames of social discomfort
ain we'll prepared for all such contemptuols TO
joinders. and If all that Sunday schools or
week by handful Of wellnleaning amateurs the
would be thoroughly deserved But suppose every
teacher In every school In this city TO enter into
close personal relations with the households from which
the pupils under his or her care had severay been drawn
than this, interest himself
herself warmly In an attempt Ia befriend hose house
holds bless and ult IN every possible tue life Of
those families would that nothing In tie way ef
large betterment the social health OF the whole
munityi thousand teachers might touch with more or
less closeness OF contact. and less moulding
power, perhaps 10000 lives and the laO0rng
man would have rs the direct or in-
direct result OF 1t all rOomer house
to live in. sweeter tempered wife
and tdier children 10 meet him his from work,
wholesome better cooked food his table
and in his pail an ended score at the saloon and an
earned increment in the savings bank