Telegram-herald., 1890-05-23
SOMETHING NEW
Pnsy Who Fhink WI Be Likely
10 he&3 THIS
CLARITY N IT'S xoDERs SENSE
Dr Fulter Shows ~ Starttiss
Novel Arsa1eEt, nss q CoFisfi~-''s
- Broad a. ,he AxS ~oald fas sF
Hsspitai Absolutely Pres

~ t1e Eailer 81 the Ta-Eskss HEskl9'
The advertisement ~ -. Marx
Hospital, % yesterdays lssae o. your
paper, suggests 10 ny mind wbatinisAl
divert, II not interest YOU readers.
Fgsl, asa, is there any need Of
charitable institution ia this tree ana
eul ghtened country The constitution
OF the state provides for the payment
OF taxes for the support Of AL persons
uuable % support themselves But
who pay the t-xess answer, all ci'i-
zens, directly or indirectly, and nolody
who consumes food or clothing, OF hves
IA = house escapes taxation. IL Is the
same as If the citizens OF Michigantn ere
banded into one great mutual beneht
ASSOCIATION, e4cn paying nxed pro-
portion into common fund, for TIE
support OF any who might not he abe
% care for themselves. Members OF
benefit associations always clam as
right, and not as chauiy, what
is due them, by reason OF their having
contributed 10 the common fund. lhen
why should the members Of the larger
benefit associations OF the State be an
exception OF the rule? The poor have
rights which belong 10 them, and winch
We are bound 20 respect, and which the
poor ought not 70 feel ashamed 10
profit by when the necessity arises.
There once lived in this city a man OF
wealth, who paid large taxes. Mlsior-
tune overlook him, and be was obliged
10 apply for relief TO the county super
intendent of the poor. When leaving
his apartments 10 90 TO the poor house,
he dressed in his best attire, and as he
entered the cab, he remarked, IN my
hearing, that be WAS now aboutto ayal
himself of privilege for which he had
contributed many years. That mans
was a large soul.
This naturally leads 10 a considera-
ton of the question, Are We, rs com
munity, dealing fairly with the poor?
As our "charities" are dispensed, do
they not carry with them some sort OF
ndiguity II not disgrace? And then,
when the answer Is gwen yes, does II not
prove that we are absolutely wrong at
the heart of our system? our theory
and practice are such that a man who
has once tasted food IN pOOrhouse,
seldom regains the selt-reSpect that en-
ables HIM 10 rise again. This applies
10 the manner of getting 10 the poor
house, and the treatment received
when there. do not approve of the
giving or OF the acceptance of "char-
ity," as TO the thing which that word
now signifies: but do approve of this
community living up to the duty OF
giving people their rights in such way
that they need not be ashamed 10 ac-
cept them nor become degraded by ac-
ceptlng them.
am prepared to believe that fully
nine-tenths of all the fraudulent and
unworthy begging that is done comes
| from persons whose self-respect was
DESTROYED the day they were first obliged
TO accept the sort OF charity | have AZ
| luded TO. But if IL were perfectly un-
derstOod that whenever a man falls into
temporary pecunIary straits, he has
right TO a return Of a part OF the taxes
! he has paid into the common fund, ms
/ pride and hlsdesire will be to preserve ms
manhood by returning as soon as posSl-
I bic to his first position OF taxpayer m
| stead of taX-eater. OF course there are
| exceptions to all rules, but the eXcep-
tons to this rule would be fewer than
might be supposed.
Now | hold that the public should
| recognize, in the brOadest and most
liberal way, this constitutional duty OF
| maintaining charitable lnstI tuuons.
Both county and city ought to improve
their service 70 the poor. The city
should build hospital based upon an
| enlightened sentiment, free to all SUCH
hospital should possess such accom-
/ modatiOns that any sick person, whether
penulless man OF a nabOb, could Sc
cure what attention ne might require tc
| bring back 70 him both health and self
: respect. As far as consistent with rea
| sOnable rules of good discipline, hC
| should be allowed the liberty of at
American citizen. No man IN this cOun
try, however sick or poor, should be
held back from employing every meas
| ue within his power to advance has III
terest and pleasure.
My experience In dealing with poor
masters and superutcndents Of th'
poor shows roe that these persons r.
} gard themselves rs dispensing "Cuart
tv' m taking care of the poor. 4
father % tins city, whose family con
sisted of wife and two children. was OF
hls dcath-bed with consumption. Th'
wife had all she could do 10 take car,
of th ok man, and the family was re
/ duccd 60 want. Upon applying 70
help, .nc man was told that he mus
separate his family and send his child
rem t. the state school at COidWater
such larbarbOus Crueitcs are befor
the ewes Of tins community every day
while the pathics are Standing quarrel
/ ing over the possession Of what Ough
o. be- rs free as the ar OF heaven.
4 city hospital, rooted IN the glOr.ou
instrument called the constitution o
the state. and maintained bv the Chris
tan spirit winch started ont IT'D th'
/ world 1920 years ago and applied @
mod elu needs and modern cond uon'
. woull settle some very bitter question
now asking ali over the city. A puh
ic hospital. by the people and for tl
peoric. IS wnat We want