New-York tribune., 1886-02-21

| THE PROBLEM or DISTRESSED LAbOh'
! The English Government has before 1t the
difficult task of dealing with lalge O0dy OF
unemployed men, If the Government were no
more responsible than a political economist
sitting in his study, it might say that 1t Is not
the province of the State to furnish work TO
distressed laborers that all such matters must
| be regulated by the laws of demand and sup
ply; that to open Government works Tor these
distressed operatives would only be to demor-
alize them ana disturb the whole industrial
machinery; and that while it was OF course
sorry for their desperate condition, 1t could DO
nothing for them. In fact, the Government mas
already been advised to take this position, and
the case of the French Government, which III
like circumstances did open public works, and
which finds itself now compelled to keep them
in operation at great cost to the taxpayers. Is
referred to as a dreadful illustration of what
happens to rulers who defy the teachings OF
the Dismal Science" as Carlyle cal ed 1t. But
Governments have to consider, not only the
principles of political economy, but the prob
able consequences of leaving thousands OF able )
bodied men, with their wives and children, to
starvc in the midst of plenty; and no Govern
ment In these days can fail TO perceive that
these consequences may be very serious.
It IS true that the mischief done in the recent
London riotng was not the work of the unem-
ploycd but of the sO-callcd dangerous classes,
who took advantage of the disorder to pillage
the shops. But though the British workingmen
are as a rule patient and law-abiding, history
contains proofs that they will not, like the meek
Hindoos, sit down quietly and die of inaniton
L 4 An India n
deed, has already made it evident that situa-
tions are possible in which the provision OF
work by the Government is necessary. When
the great famine occurred in Southern India
few years ago nothing but the prompt estab-
lishmcnt of the great relief works prevented
the most appalling loss of life. Had the
potico-econOmcal view been held TO there. the
results would have been 80 dreadful that the
English name would never have recovered from
the stain put upon it. In England, however, It
- not 80 much the starvation Uf the unemployed
thar is to be feared as the driving of them to
DESPERATION and lawles+nesS II these dis
trcssrd opcrativcs are not relieved, the probabil-
ity is that they will become law-breakcrs and
rioters. In one way or another they can compel
the Government to support them. IL cannot
leave their voliion out of the account.
Whether it has 10 put them down as rioters, or
to find work for them ~ labOrers, il must still
undertake. in part or IN whole, the burden OF
their subsistence.
II may be capable OF logicll demonstration
that the opening of public relief works IN such
circumstance. is unscirntiiic. II may be shown
that In the end such artificial arrangements will
cmbarrass the Government and demoralzc
ii,r R,t ,I,. ur.,,ti,u1 siIerut ion lttpr all
is. whether such ay0wcdy temporary and
makc-sLift remedies are not better than any
thlngat all likely or liable tn happen if no relief
is extended. I'm 'he Indian famine there was
no danger of resurrection. The natives. II lett
alone would simply have died by the million.
Yet humanity in that case thrust political econ
omy into the back ground, and II has ever since
been admitted that the Government did the
best that could have been done in the circun-
stances In England there is danger OF lawless-
ness. and Therefore the mischief To he expected
from non-intcrycntiOn Is the more palpiDle.
Nor i, il of any use 10 discuss the possibilities
of the future with men who do not know where
their next meal Is To come from. Ihey must
have work and bread, or they will take the
bread without the work. The distress must be
met. therefore, by II ncasurrs OF relief, and
public works afford the only practical means
I'm such cases the choice is too often limited to
one of two evils, but modern Governments
cannot escape the increased wcig of response
bility which civilization imposes, and any at
tempt to take refuge in abstract doctrine from
concrete difficulties can only make the latter
more intractablc.
------------------