The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-13
A REMEDY AT HAND.

wanted to learn n trade and knew no other way In
which he could do H. This incident is nothing
wonderful, perhaps, but the matter does not end
here.
Men are going 10 the work house every few days
who are not involuntary prisoners. True, they do
not go on their own request, but they violate the
law In order to be sent up for a fow weeks or
months that they may have something to do and
something 10 eat Boys are goiug 10 the reform
school because they do not know how 10 do any
thing but run the streets seeking prccarous live
libood and failing IN the endeayor to get some
thing TO eat aud In that way resort to less hon
orabc means.
All this indicates something wrong. and de-
cdcdly wrong. too There ought 20 be some rem
cdy. Institutions other than criminal might be
provided, where these boys could be taught trades
or even where men might go who are unable to
obtain employment hut such project does not
look inviting or practicable In the case OF men. for
there are rather too many Of them. And the edu'
cation Of these boys TO Il tmdc might crowd the
ranks Of skilled labor, In which the competition IL
already 40 sharp as ~ lead TO the organization OF
trades unions In every branch to prevent cutting OF
wages. Even with thcsc organizations wages are
maintained with indifferent success
PitsbuW l. not alone In this position. II has,
perhaps fewer unemployed than any similar cen.
ter Of population In the general run. The Eastern
cities swarm with the unemployed, men, women
aud children. and the matter Is growing worse In
stead Of better The remedy Is In extension Of
the avenues Of employment, or restriction In the
avenues OF increasing population. There should
he more labor to perform or fewer men 10 perform
t. which Is the more practical or proper each
man may decide for himself As TO the methods
by which either object may be secured, they are
simple immigration must be stopped, or the en-
bargo must be- taken ffnm increased production by
finding vidctmatkct
OF the two alternatives thus presented
by The PirsJur4 Pot as a cure for the in
crease Of an idle, shiitlcss, presently in.
different and sobn.to.be reckless overplus
of working people at the great manuiact-
uring ccntcrs, Tn ArrEAL prefers the
latter. Our manufacturers have more
than kept pace with the growth of the
country aud they must have an outlet for
their surplus production or 'shut-downs"
will become more frequent and the army
Of paupcrs be recruited by thousands in.
stead OF hundreds. Congress, besides
passing the Mills bill and thus ro-
licving the working people Of some OF
the load Of unnecessary taxation they
are carrying, should repeal the navigation
| laws. This would enable our shipping
merchants to buy free ships and the ship
builders TO secure free raw material in all
things necessary TO q list-clas sailing vessel
or steamer. In our own ships, ships built rs
chcapy as those Of the Clyde, We could af'
ford to embark once more in the foreign
trade, and in q few years could divide terri
tory even with Great Britain. Thus We could
secure markets for all the surplus products
OF our manufactures, aud at the same
time do our share Of the work necessary
in extending the area Of civilization. Thi;
is the remedy for the ills TO which our vigi
liant contemporary, The Pos, calls the at
,cn,ion Of the country, and the only one
We cannot afford to close our doors in Ia,
faces Of healthy, honest and capable mcr
and women, willing workers who come her,
TO better their fortunes Tho announce
mcnt 81 such policy would be the great
est disaster that has yer bciallcn Europe an,
would ~ lar to postpone the dcliycnncco
the masses Of that continent from thu
killing grind Of a worse than slavish life
II would bc hailed 10y the aris,ocati,