New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-26
DIR. DE COSTA WRITES TO MIR. HEWITT

SCORING BOTH THE MAYOR AND THE CHARITY
oRGANIzATION SOCIETY.
The Rev DR.. b. r Costa sent tho following letter
NEw.YoRk. February %, 1888.
The Hon Abram S Hewitt
Ny DEAR beg acknowledge the receipt OF your
additional letter by the morning mall bearing date Of
February 90 and in reply would say that appears 70
ne that the persona questions you raised hardly
worthy OF consideration part since am no more
Interested In your personal relations TO capitalism when
j referred to in passing, than am In the suit OF MI
Howell which is purely his own matter.
am Interested however, In fundamental principles
which, laid down in my second letter. seem to require
no consideration answer" from you What you faNor
is the personal issue, and you desire to
know you In inferrng that mean to teach
crushing the poor" This is plain question, and, since
you desire it. viii try to give plain answer. though
recognizing what the community recognizes namely your
IIonors benevolent disposition
II wished eyade the issue, could easily say that
/ meant simply convey the idea that, being humane
man. you represented the legitimate ana benehceh eaptdi'
ism which is doing such noble work. i cannot now
ever ignore the fact that there Is good ana oaa cap
italIsm and beg to permit me TO say that III my
Judgment your Honor represents both. but not IN ue
tsme degree / not ignorant Of the worthy part
you have frequently but must ada not uniformly ooc
In public discussion On the hustngs and ON the plat
form OF social have not always heard the same
voice 1t IL hardly necessary TO that do not hnk
Of YOU I'm connection with that capitalism which plays The
sybarlte land and sails on sunny seas I'D he gueu
Yachts shining aar entering occasionally 10 take
in fresh cargo decaecs and champagne, ana order
wages down the Continental basis Sun there are q
considerable capitalists who do not stand IN Close
practica relations that financial system which
today adequate proportion Of the proceeds OF
labor 20 laborer and is thus crushing the poor
How largely your Honor is corrected with this vast
must you decide. though no doubt
YOU might perhaps be glad 10 part company with The whoe
systeu II IL were fully your power; for Know
that wealth like poverty has It's slaves who are entitled
10 large measure OF sympathy. Indeed, we are stfug'
CLING TO great and Intricate problem IN oohhec.
ton with which / am ready accord any measure OF
charity 10 which your Honor may feel entitled
Still 1 must that In my Judgment you FORM q
representative Of capitalism In senses Than one
while II generally understood that In the political
campaign through which you passed l. the office OF chief
magistrate your Honor recognized by many thousands
of honest Inea the candidate of Capital against Labor
But YOUR ucncr rust assured that tho writer Is no
politician. Nor has he any personal grievance against
tie xcslent Mayor Of New-York The issue that he
wishes 70 consider stands connected with fundamental
principles involved In the socaled Charity" Organiza
ton Society, which well adapted TO the purpose
organizing charity existence while the snanc
- IT, detective force under criticism forms All ample
vindlcaton OF the saying, that to come between q
phanthropis" and his philanthropy is 10 interfere
between q dog and his bone.
The old Society for Improving the Condition OF the
Poor not nterfered with, would meet every demand
OF the day connection with all that work which IL may
be found necessary to do outside the churches. Al
present the constitution of yppi favore charity forms
a loathsone leaf in the bible OF political Atheism
tranIng as 1t docs upon both the veal and the strong
denying the right under well recognized restrictions ta)
to Give (b) Beg, (cl, TO Steal" The uhfoftunates
whom by libcid subscriptions you help to prescribe In
your scCiey's bulletins eLd black lists are directly en-
gendered ly twin MONSTERS themselves the 0nsrhg
Of capital syndicate and the saloon Let us have no
charity organistitn Ll2scrs for gangItnod civilization
What need is organized justice and thus provide
for labelling, but for the prevention OF social rot
j remain respectfully your Honors obedlent servant
L. COSTA