The herald., 1893-11-17
THE UNEMPLOYED.

II is evident to the moet casual OBJ
server that there are great many men
in Los Angeles at the present time en-
tirely without employment. This is all
wrong; but where is the fault. OF
course, it lies in the government in the
first place. The government is respons-
ible fer the whole thing. By govern
ment we mean the power that makes
the LAYS and executes them, and man
ages public affairs generally. including
the government. OF the United States,
the state government, the county, the
city, the town, and in fact all who have
hand in the business. In this country
public matters have been badly con-
Quoted for many years; we may say
ever since the war, and the result is
what we see on the streets today-hun-
dreds of ablc-bodied men out OF employ
ment.
Such condition of things would not
occur and could not exist in a we'll
regulated community, where the bur-
dens OF government are equally distrib-
uted and all the people share alike in
its benefits. What we see comes OF
unwise and unjust legislation and bad
or incompetent administration OF the
lave. 1t would be charitable to attrib-
ute thia thing directly to our great civil
war, but there is too much of it to find
an excuse in that alone. The war may
be responsible for some Of the idleness
of today, but most OF it must find its
origin in what has been done by the
government in years subsequent to the
war.
But more mportsntinquiry just now
is as to the remedy ; and as to what is
our duty under the circumstances
What can be done to correct this evil as
soon as possible, and effectually? These
people can best vindicate their manhood
by seeking employment of some kind,
even though it Oe not very remunerative
for time. There is need OF assistance
on the farms and ranches, but the farm
ers can get but littlo for their products
and cannot afford to pay the high wages
usually demanded, so their fialds go neg
lected. 1t is not creditable for an able
bodied man to depend upon charity, or
remain long without employment when
o living for himself can be earned. 1t s
noble and healthful to do something,
to do nothing ia the reverse.
1t is feared that too many
of the idle people have come to regard
themselves as pets of the public and
worthy objects of charity. and that they
no longer try to help themselves. This
is bad feature of the situation and /
should not be encouraged. If persons
reiuee to work. even at small wages and
at any job for a needed temporary liv-
ng, they should be refused assistance;
t is no charity to help such. An organ
zed system of charities. though in
ended for good, may in fact work
,reat injury. 1t is not we'll in any COM
munity to have able-bodied people
relying on a gratuitous support. 1t
ia no benefit TO such people, |
and is decidedly injurious to the public. |
Charity may. and often does much good,
out it may also be the means of much
harm. 1t is no disgrace to work and
cannot always choose the kind
If work they would perform, but it is
better to do almost any kind OF labor
han to be dependent upon the labor of
others, gs idle people always are.
There is plenty of work to perform,
but there isn't the money now to pay
the high wages men ask. The money is
not to be had. The farmers employ
ment brings him but poor compensation.
and why should not his hired help be
the same?