The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-25
M..thew M.,h.l, N New Yort san

lished. We cannot help believing many Of
them.
The natural impulse Of the human heart,
in view Of this state of things. is to seek to
remedy II. and the means for the purpose
which FIRST presents itself is OF course the
bestowai upon those that need them either
of food. coal and clothing or of money.
little reflection, aided by experience, soon
demonstrates that this mode of procedure.
II IL 10 not pernicious. is, at least, only par
tally effective. The greater number of
the intended beneficiaries are unused to
being treated as paupers, and their self
respect binders them from presenting
themselves to notice as such. Conse-
quently the gifts offered for their relief
principally go 10 maintain in welcome Idle
ness those who are not in the least deserv-
ing of them. leaving the far more nGmer-
Gus worthy objects as destitute as ever.
Many of my readers can doubtless remem-
Der the mischief that was done by the free
soup houses established in this city by
some benevolent persons Immediately after
the panic of 1873 for the purpose of nit
igating the distress among the unem-
ployed caused by that catastrophe.
They attracted to this city . horde of
Migrants, who with those already here,
monopolized the benefaction offered and
sweiled the mass Of the dangerous popu-
lation. Only few weeks ago 1t was found
that the free meals provided, on the east
side of the city. for those who were sup
posed to be starving for the want Of work.
fed for the most part persons who could
well afford to pay for them. The COM
parativeiy recent experience of q district
OF the city of London. which, in conse-
quence of the distress caused by the dull
ness of the shipping business. drew to
itself lavish contributions from charitable
people all over England, was also of the
| same character. Lodgings in the district
became crowded with newcomers who
focked into them to get their share of the
| bounty distributed, so that. in spite of the
supposed poverty OF the inhabitants. rents
| went up. In short, it mas come to be q
settled proposition among those who have
| had the most experience in ministering to
| the poor that anything like q regular in
| discriminate giving of aims in any shape
| does harm.
In order to avoid the evils recognized to
be attendant upon almsgiving. however
carefully managed. many intelligent peo-
| pie advocate the system of relief by the
| furnishing of work, thus making the re-
| cipient earn what is given TO him. The
| obstacle in the way OF applying the sys-
TEN in the present emergency is that if
work were to be had, those who are suffer
| ing for want of il would find ii for them
selves, aud If IL is to be made for the occa-
sion il can better be made by professional
| employers than by amateurs. When pro-
| duction stops IL is because consumption
| has stopped. and artificialy stimulated
| production only adds TO the giut of the
market. For example. the setting to
| work of tramps TO saw and split wood,
which was lately very popular. was good
| for the tramps, but every stick of wood
| thus prepared destroyed the market
| for one prepared by dealers al
ready engaged in the bust
| ness. less Objectionable scheme Is that
/ of public improvements. such as laying
| out and paving streets ana roads. build
| ing dams and aqueducts and things of
| that sort. but these, from their nature,
| benefit only workmen specially trained
| for the business and are useless To others
| A tailor out of work cannot be helped by
| offering him a job st brickiaying, nor
| could seamstress very well pave or even
sweep streets. Modern industry Is too
much specialized and split up for its dis
ease to be treated successfully in this
| rough and ready fashion. II, again. tailor
| ing is provided for tailors and sewing for
| ssamstresses. 10 must be ut the cost of in
/ terfsring with the employment OF those
who admittedly are doing all OF those
/ kinds of work that the public at present
! demands. aud thus of substituting one set
| OF unemployed persons Tor another.
0bviouslv. the most desirable solution OF
I the problem Is one which will not only
meet present requirements, but prevent
! their occurrence IN future. To ITS attain
ment many profound minds aud more
kS.v A,r .ge.$ 49,
| selves, but as yet without success. Social
f. lists and labor agItators insist that the sure
/ way 20 obyiate seasons OF stagnation in
/ industry is TO put IL under the control
/ either Of government officials or of labor
unions, who shall. be charged with the
/ function Of adjusting the work and wages
SO that every one shall at all times have
remuneratlve employment Financial
+ theorists assert that with a proper regu-
lstlon of the currency, there would De
no panics. and that, consequently,
there would never be an interruption of
business prosperity. Tariff crsnk., " neither
( prosectionists free traders or revenue re-
formers. lsy the blame OF our misforiunes
{ upon disregard of their pet economical
principles, while some moralists attribute
the evil, not without show Of reason, 10
/ ali excessive greed FOR riches. One thing,
however. $ certain commercial and finan-
{ csal revaisions have been frequent ever
/ since commerce and finance began 10 al.
+ tam their presen, proportions. and no per
7 fecly efhcacious means of preventing
! them hss yet been discovered. Men are
learning 10 check their violence and 10
/ hasten recovery from them. but that is all.
To nv mind these reyulslons and all the
/ misery that follows in their wake belong
/ 20 the same class OF events as sars, pestl-
lences, fam3nss. tornadoes, CONGREGATIONS,
( political revolutions. ana the other extern
slye physical and moral ills that from time
{ 70 time aitilc' humanity. Ii Is true thai
+ they proceed from natural csuxes. and ihst
I those causes. u they could be discovered.
7 ml ght be counteFacted BY the Use Of proper
means The tr0able Is that they are 80
+ subtle and IMPLICATED. and human Wis
dom Is - iatt.e competent 20 deal with
i them, that Eoey are practically unpre-
+ vsnEable. While ne can modify their e.
7 fecsS, We have neither Ihe skill nor the
ABILITY completely 10 1isarEa them. War.
for example. IS about as Irrational
iasSappllcstion Of human energies =.
San &c Im&g ned. AMI the motive Tor
making Il or one side ~ the other - inya-
rtsbsy the desire 81 dong something M
last or unreasonable. The proof Of this
- gnat . hen nations sho hsve dispute
= Ai1A la.gat se@d 20 hossa4iGtes are SIR
cevesy DESTROYS OF doing las;lcs they do
uot 60 20 var. bat sraitrats their differ
rRees Nevertheless wars eont3nae, and
dom mated Is less SoFtay forces. %. too,
| gesa4leness - doGesscIy have tAe.T osisla