New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-13
THE ABSENCE or BROTHERHOOD.


4 moor Hungarian woman died of starvation
the other day in the Passaic, \. j., Poorhouse.
We do not mention the fact because we con-
slider the people of Passaic sinners above other
people. but to call attention to the BRUTALITY
bcartlessness and cruelty which are too common
in all public institutions. "Our phllanthrOplc
institutions are the glory Of our civilization but
God help the people who have to 20 to them'
said a venerable city missionary the other day.
And while the remark may seem to do an IN
Justice to many nOby planned and admirably
conducted institutions, it contains substantial
basis of truth. The big-hearted men and wom-
On who give their money to found home or
hospital have little idea how often their kindly
and generous intentions are frustrated by the
cruelty often thoughtess, and the utter lack
of sympathy for those in trouble or suffering,
manifested by the men and women in immediate
charge. Unthinking observers are frequently
surprised at the repugnance Of the decent poor
70 q nublic institution. No matter how well
conducted it may be- and even if they are as
sured that they will be made thoroughly com
Portable in it, they will only enter it as last
resort and even then many of them would
nrefer to starve in their own wretched home
But there is nothing unreas enable IN their teel-
ing. Not to speak of the fact that the love OF
home, however poor or humble it may be, IS a
deeply implanted instinct the poor know only
too well the petty annoyances and cruelteS they
will meet with from the underings of the aver
age institution, especially from those not much
above their own walk in life. They are not
machines or clods, but human beings, with
hearts and brains keenly sensitive to the IN
sonsate Indifference and brutality that are only
too often found in institutions erected for the
alleyiatlon of human misery and pain.
II is high time that reform was Instituted
here. The death from starvation of a woman
in a public institution makes only an insignlh-
can't item in the great hurly-burly OF more I'M
po1tant news. But in reality it is TACT OF
profound importance and significance. TINS Is
a Christian land, in which the duty OF brother
hood is daily preached and inculcated from a
MYRIAD pulpits Ii is a land, too, in which al
most more than any other the duty Of helping
! the bclplcss is generally understood and piac-
tsed. And hence have arisen homes and aSy-
Inns and hospitals and retreats, designed to
meet almost every form Of suffering and ms
fortune. All this is well. We would not say
ono word in depreciation Of these institutions.
Rut il is pertinent 10 ask if the object for which
tbev were founded is not often defeated because
of the absence in them of that spirit of brotherly
kindness and sympathy which can alone make
them tolerable or useful. Civilization does not
consist only of great piles of brick and mortar
To no purpose will we provide refuge for the
onnreesed if we do not see TO it that the OPP
messed are made to feel our care for and
brotherly interest in them when they 90 to the
refuge.
These are the days when the Christian
churches are busy engaged i'll rereadlns theiI
archives. II is time Of religious ferment, Of
speculative discussion and controversy. Is there
not danger that in such period religion may
unconsciously come to be identified with views
and beliefs? That in our elgerness to estao-
lish some new view or prosecute some obnoxious
hereto We may forget that the essence oil re-
lipion to-day as in every age, is TO show erother-