The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-01

Secretary HERBERT OF the Navy Depart
ment made an address at Philadelphia last
Sunday. In which he denounced the demand
Of the CoxEY malcontents that the Govern
ment should take care Of them. as based on
vicious socialistlo and anarchistic theory;
but he proposed that they should be pla-
Gated by the private charity OF tho rich.
The rich. he said. "should give reasonably
to the poor Of their riches"
Probably never before In the history OF
the world were the contributions OF the
rich for the assistance Of the poor so great
In volume during q corresponding period
as they were In this country during the
prevalent dulness OF last winter. In this
city alone they amounted to millions Of
dollars. and throughout tho Union. In al
most every community. they were as large.
proportlonately to the suffering. The
aggregate OF this charity was enor-
rich at q time when thoy themselves
were enduring losses Of both capital and
income produced by the same causes
which deprived labor Of employment The
system OF private charities was extended
and enlarged to IN unprecedented degree.
and the sum contributed for the allevi-
alton Of the distress and importantly
was VASTLY increased by the gifts OF in
dividuals who wanted the satisfaction OF
being their own almoners. The charitable
enthusiasm manifested was never before
equalled in Intensity and prevalence. and
IL was sufficient In quantity to relieve all
the dire suffering OF the period. even II 1t
did not exceed the genuine demand for 1t.
Under such circumstances 1t does not
seem to have been necessary for Secretary
HERBRRT to call on the rich to give rea-
sonably to the poor" as IL they had been
neglectful of such charity. Moreover. that
vast volume OF benevolence did not serve TO
relieve or even TO mitigate the social dis
content OF which CoxEY is a representative.
Rather. It has aggravated 1t. The spirit of
dependence has been nourlshed and stimu-
lated by such profuse charity. and the
natural consequence 10 those most under
its baleful influence is their present So
clallstic demand that they shall DO
taken care OF permanently by q paternal
Government. They get accustomed to ex-
pecting help instead OF helping themselves;
and tho sum OF the wealth OF the country.
as represented by the State. and not merely
individual accuuulations. Is the fund on
which they want to draw for their private
benefit. II the rich owe them part OF their
riches. as Secretary HERBERT seems TO
infer. the best way OF enforcing the claim.
they argue. Is to levy on the combined
wealth OF the people by laws enforcing that
claim. IL the rich men OF the country should
give reasonably to the poor OF their Riches"
they want to enforce the obligation by
statute. so that It shall not rest upon the
chances of the individual conscience merely.
II they are entitled to share of the riches
accumulated by other people than them
selves. the one sure way OF getting II. they
| say. is through the power Of the Govern
ment. They are unwilling to allow tho rich
to determine how much this share Is rea-
sonably. They want TO fix the amount
themselves. The Government owes them
living. they cry. and they want 10 get 1t
from the Government. not from the volun-
tary liberality Of individuals They are after
support as right enforced by the State.
and not charity dispensed by the private
sense OF moral and religious obligation
only. They want to draw upon the public
treasury for as much as they themselves
think reasonable.
This Is a lamentable consequence Of
the doctrine taught by Secretary HER
BERT. II the poor are told that they have a
right 10 something for nothing. at the ex-
pense Of individuals. they will logically pro-
coed 70 claim that the unearned something
should be supplied to them by the Govern
ment as their political right. The Govern
ment. which Is richer than the richest OF its
citizens. should do the reasonable giving.
Private wealth benefits the poor by estab-
fishing the enterprises which give the poor
employment by which to earu their own
living. 1t Is both the motor that moves the
industries Of society. and the product OF
these Industries. 1t serves the poor best
In that way. and not by the charity adj
vocated by the Secretary. No man has any
right 70 part Of the property Of another
or to anything which be docs not earn.