Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-01-22
SOME REASONS FOR THE PRESEN1
CONDITIONS OF POVERTY.

CONDITIONS OF POVERTY.
The following from the american
Tyler, Freemason organ, commends
itself on account of it's fair treatment
of the subject:-
"It is a short sighted policy that
would charge the present prostration
of industry in this country and conse-
quent following of enforced idleness
on the part Of the wageworker entire
ly as the outcome of political teach
ing. We find the trouble is wide
spread in character and results and
nearly all over the civilized world
The question Of causes leading to
conditions of poverty are multifar-
ious. They may be generalized, how
ever, in a few generic specifications
as follows:
Observation-Disclosures of population
in cities; second, Capitalization of
capital; third, extravaganza in the do
mestic life Of the masses; fourth, the
loss by intemperance;f fifth, the growth
of irresponsibility on the part of hu-
manity toward God. There are many
more reasons which might be adduced
in continuation of the above, but
these five will be sufficient for our
present purpose.
Naturalization of population is the
aggregation of the elements of labor
in the cities at the expense of the ru-
raj districts.
"Man is homogeneous in instinct and
seeks the association of his kind. The
population of cities represents capi-
tai and labor, both being producers of
what the worlds markets require.
These two elements are subject to the
law Of supply and demand. If the one
overbalances the other a collision
takes place which destroys the har
monious working Of either. In the
present condition Of things iii the in
dustrial world the demand is inferior
to the supply. Hence labor has to
suffer the diminution Of it's power in
obtaining the necessaries of living,
and has become subject to the depre-
citation attendant upon an over sup
ply.
"Second. The Capitalization of
capital is the unhealthy accumulation
of the circulating medium, in centers
and individuals, whereby it is hinder
ed in it's legitimate percolation
through all the avenues of trade. But
right here we would seek to avoid
misconception in regard to the accu-
mutation Of capital. There always
have been and always will be rich and
poor. Some men, in the wise provi-
dence of God, are mentally constitu-
ted, so as to gather wealth and, Midas
like, whatever they touch turns to
gold, while others, however saving
and laborious they may be, are pow
erty stricken for life. The economy
beheld in this is, that the rich are
forced to become the disbursers of
wealth for the benefit of the masses.
Hence we say, God bless the rich,
even though they be the unconscious
stewards of His bounty.
"But there are other ways in which
capital centralizes and by which the
evil of its absence from the regular
avenues Of trades is poignantly real
lied. Take, for istance, the late
Worlds Fair in Chicago, strange as
the illustration may sound. From the
one state of Michigan alone, it is esti-
mated that ten millions of dollars
have been taken and we can safely
place the other states at like ratio.
This. Michigan money has been dis
bursed in state building which was
used few months and then fairly
given away. Much of it went to en-
rich lot of European adventurers
and fakirs. Some Of it centered in
Chicago, for living, and considerable
to railroads, but the most of it was
taken from its legitimate purpose and
to-day the state feels the drain. Can
itai invested in great manufacturing
that are now earning
is still another way in which
is in a measure enhanced bv
the enforced idleness of the EMPLOYEES. |
Canita1 from foraion lands c,,b;a.4 l.