The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-09

them from making q public revelation Of
the sharp suffering they endure.
The census, accordingly. indicates an ex-
tent Of hardship and restitution In New
York this winter which has not been exag-
gerated In the highest estimates hitherto
made by the labor unions and the chari-
table societies. Even TO provide the bare
necessities Of life for merely the 5000
families or 1884, 900 persons reported by the
police as needing assistance would require
an expenditure OF at least $4,000 a day
in charity. That great sum would give
only 4 little moro than i've cents day to
each individual. Add 20 this the cost OF re-
lief for the unreported destitute, and OF the
large part VI charity inevitably consumed
by the professional paupers and pauperism
1t attracts and creates. and the aggregate
becomes enormous.
1t is obvious. therefore. that the only suf-
flcient relief possible must come from a
general and decided Improvement In bust
ness and industrial conditions, brought
about by the operation OF the laws OF trade.
Large as the charity OF New York is. 1t is
not enough to compensate for this winters
extraordinary diminution in the demand
for labor The only adequate remedy for
the ueSIlIutlOD OF IIPst nOutEL anu luhus-
trious people is a natural demand for their
labor. SO that they can help themselves.
President Low Of Columbia College de-
clares. speaking OF this census, that he
cannot imagine a more impressive argu-
mcnt in favor OF prompt action upon the
tariff. which shall be decisive In one d.
rection or the other, In order that the ele-
ment OF uncertainty may be removed from
the pathway Of business revival" He
might have said that there could not be
more impressive argument against the
WILSON tariff than 1t affords; for so far as
the nero element OF uncertainty Is a cause
Of the prevailing distress. that element has
been introduced wholly by the treachery OF
that measure.
II the WILSON bill had carried out the
promise OF the Democratic party to give
the people a tariff for revenue only. there
would now be no such uncertainty to be
removed from the pathway OF a business
revival" Everybody would have known
two months ago exactly what to expect,
and all business would have adjusted itself
accordingly. Now the only certainty is
that scheme OF class legislation
so atrocicus as the WILSON bill. would
be disastrous II adopted The cause
OF the existing industrial depression is not
merely 1.-The element OF uncertainty" as to
the final enactment OF the bill. but also the
sure forecast Of the evils which would be
inflicted by 1t IL it became law. The people
OF New York are more afraid 1t will pass
than they are disturbed by the uncertainty
as to its passage. The only certainty
that would relieve their distress is not
prompt action upon the tariff which shall
be decisive in one direction or the other"
but prompt action to destroy that mon
strous obstacle to their prosperity. and to
give them the tariff for revenue only for
which they voted in reliance on the pledge
Of the Democratic party to give 1t to them.
II the iniquitous and treacherous class leg
islation OF the WILSON bill were left to the
decision Of the Democrats OF New York. this
fear and this uncertainty would be promptly
removed from the pathway Of a business
revival" by a majority against that lcGs-
lation So great in every voting district OF
the town that the few affirmative ballots
would serve only to make more impressive
the vast preponderance Of the opposition
Of this Democratic stronghold to the I'M
American and communistic scheme.