The Indianapolis journal., 1893-12-31
THE DUTY OF WEALTH
The Distribution of Aims Will
Not Meet Present Emergencies.
The Rich and Also Those of Moderate
Means Can Help by Continuing
Customary Expenditures.
Matthew Marshall, in New York Sun.

Matthew Marshall, in New York Sun.
. Still less cheerful is the season
for the thousands of unemployed poor who
either have made no provision for the pres
ent emergency or have exhausted all OF it
that they possessed. Here in New York
the humane impulses of their more fortu-
nate brethren have been reused to minis
ter TO their immediate needs, but this re-
lief cannot be depended upon to last very
long. and from its very nature it is only
little less hard to endure tllan the suffer
ing which IL seeks 10 alleviate The bread
of charity has bitter taste TO those who
are unaccustOmed to eat IL, and fve-cent
meals are a sorry substitute for the usual
plenty OF an American home. Besides food
there are rent, fuel and clothing to be pro-
vided for. and, what is more CALLING to an
Industrious nature, idleness to be faced.
In the manufacturing towns adjacent to
the city. as. for instance Yonkers. New
ark, Elizabeth and Paterson. the destltu-
ton Is greater than it is here, because
larger number Of the population are direct
ly dependent for their support upon fac
tories which have closed and of the re-
opening OF which there is no immediate
prospect A change for the better is. in
deed, sure to come in the course of time.
but what may happen before IL arrives is
painful 10 contemplate. Men, women and
children will not be permitted TO die out
right OF hunger as they did by the million
in Ireland in 1915 and 1876, during the
famine caused by the potato rot, and as
they do by many millions every few years
In China and India from similar failures
of the customary food crops. but they will
be weakened that they will fall an easy
prey TO sickness and die Of that.
Whatever good. therefore. may be accom-
plished by the benevolent-minded through
the distribution of aims, IL cannot, after
all, be other than incomplete and tempo
rary. Besides, as those engaged In the
work have begun TO discover, and as has
been discovered on all previous occasions
OF the same kind. their efforts tend.
avoidably, 10 the fostering of laZiness and
oeggary in multitude already too prone
To those vices. The only thorough and
permanent remedy for the evil is. as |
pointed out last Monday. one which will
prevent IL altogether by preventing the
commercial depressions which cause II.
ms being. as yet. undiscovered, the next
our efforts to the revival OF legitimate in
dustry' anG especially 10 refrain from in
terfering with H.
CAUSES OF DESTITUTION.
That the want Of employment from which
the poor are suffering Is due. not 10 their
unwillingness 10 work. but 10 the unwlll-
lngness or the inability OF the former con
7uthefS oA 'Ht IIu4tS OF helr tOi 10 con-
tinue their consumption Is conceded by ev-
cry one IL - also conceded that this de-
crease OF consumption Is due 70 a de-
creased demand for the products which the
consumers themselves have 10 offer for the
products OF other producers of wheat, cot
ION. and other agricultural products. as
well as minerals Ike iron. coal. silver and
copper, being In less demand than they
were. the farmers, planters and miners are
unable 10 buy 80 much OF manufactured
eoods a. they did. Consequently the arti-
sans engaged In manufacturing are unable