The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-16
TREATISE UPON CHARITY
Concluded from Page IL


The state cannot safely do more. and
careful thought on the subject will con-
vince any Intelligent person. who Is not
looking for political gain, that the interests
of the taxpayer must be guarded as faith
fully as the interests of the pauper. The
unjust criticism which sometimes follows
the action of the directors of the poor,
who are limited in their use of the money
entrusted to their care, might be spared,
II this point was better understood.
The almshouse is provided for the ao,
Jectly destitute, not otherwise PROVIDED
for, and the law does not contemplate
doing more than to offer a guarantee
against suffering and hunger. Fortunate
ly for the inmates, a strict interpretation
of the law Is not observed, and In most
places, the county homes are comforta Bile
and Inviting. To Isolate tie degraded will
not effect a cure, as the race deterioration
will be perpetuated. Almsgivins that
does not raise the mendicant above VaFa-
bondage, is most pernicious In Its results.
Even the church. that has seemed to be
the divinely commissioned. agent, Tor
moving the hearts of men to acts OF chari-
~ has been greatly criticised as an al
Eoner.
What Mankind Should BE Taught
Mankind should be taught that at their
birth, their work was born with them,
and that the horny hand of toll wields a
silent, bur, resistless Influence toward
happiness and prosperity; that enjoyment
stops where Incidence begins; that health
and contentment demand that life snail
have a purpose; that idleness and isnor-
ance go hand in hand, and will sooner or
later lead them TO the almshouse. or TO
prison. The truest, highest Ideal. en-
bodied In the term charity. Is the per-
manent redemption of the poor from their
poverty and debasement. This can he
done only by developing and employing
the powers and resorces within them
selves, by raising them from IA condition
of dependence, by fostering their self re-
spect. and by promoting habits of industry
and self-help. This is why l would place
at the head of the list of charities, the
manual training schools.
IL the same money, which is used un-
advisedly in most towns for outdoor re-
lief, could be used in establishing such
schools and such an education be made
compulsory, the question would solve u
self in a second generation. Every noble
deed performed, every great and impor-
tant thought expressed lifts mankind TO
Il higher level. The brighter the intel
lect, the keener the sense of observation,
the nobler the instinct of heart and mind.
the more satisfactory and beneficial Will
be the result Amos G. Warner, professor
of economics and social scicence In the
Leland Stanford University, has given
careful thoughts to the question.
In his book on american Charities he
says-after stating the principal reason
assigned by those who believe In the
maintenance of outdoor relief, and of
those who oppose 1t, that those VINO IA
vor the system usually argue upon theory,
or draw their facts from rural communi
ties. where the problems are comparative
ly simple, and where abuses are easily
checked, while those who oppose the sys-
TEN deal mainly with facts that are
CLEANED from the administratio tion or out
door relief in large cities" Hefurther says
81 have never heard of any well auth an-
ticated instance where outdoor relief WAS
stopped where the population OF the public
charitable institutions subsequently In.
creased
Educatcs People for the Almshouse.
In other words, as administered in the
United States, 1t is found, apparently. that
outdoor relief educates more people for
the almshouse than 1t keeps out OF IT..
and that therefore it Is neither economical
nor kindly. Nearly all the experiences In
this country Indicate that such RELIEF
is source of corruption, degradation.
and increased pauperization to the poor. y
He advocates the appointing of the best
men and women in the community, as
directors Of the poor, who will guard the
work from the ambitious and intriguing
politicians, believing that there cannot
be any marked improvement In our public
charities until they are entirely removed
from politics. In Seth Lows report to
the national conference Of charities In
1879 he says-"the system of outdoor re-
lief in Brooklyn had become sore on
the body polite. The friends of politicians
received help whether needy or not and SO
the system was perpetuated. Famiiies
with voters were first served and thus 1t
became a vast political corruption fund.
Large numbers of the population were
thus taught to rely on the country Tor
help. The opinions and facts stated in
the foregoing reports, nave been cor
year the outdoor relief was reduced from
$4,000 to $1,000, without any increase in
the number of inmates In our almhouse.
BY public charities Is meant those insti-
county or town. Many persons think that
public charities are not charities at all,
and forget that the taxpayer who earns
his dollar by honest toll. makes 1t posi-
to care for the poor. They have some ad.
vantages over private charities, in that
they are not founded upon sentiment and
are open to the inspection of the
public and the state board OF charities,
thus making themselves amenuable to
state regula ton, and fortifying themselves
against abuses. Private charities cannot
be as far reaching in results. While they
may aid some. without attaching the
stigma of pauperism, yet the question
arises as to whether the number of de-
pendentS are not increased thereby, ana
pauperism perpetuated.
Greatest Aid TO True Charity.
Possibly one of the greatest aids thus
far in the work Of true charity is the work
accomplished by the State Children's Aid
society. in placing the children OF pauper
and illegiumate parentage, IN private
homes where they will be taught TO be
come useful citizens. In Philadelphia
only three per cent. of the expense OF car
ing for the children Is paid out OF the
public fund. The state board OF public
chart ties have by careful investigation
and prudent mea sures rendered incalcua-
BILE service to the state. 1t Is mistaken
charity to take illegitimate children from
their mothers, thus sitting the love
mother should cherish for her child, and
making the way easier for her to fall
into life Of sin and shame.
Many of the organized charity socte-
ties have by active cooperation and in
vestigation attained good results, not In
furnishing money, but by finding work.
food and clothing for the able unem-
ployed Social science and philanthropy
must be better understood before the
best methods shall be determined upon.
A charity work should have something
besides an every day experience. As
philanthropy becomes science, 1t Will
demand that all paid charity workers
shall be well educated and Systematically
trained for the work.
To lift poor, weak humanity to higher
| level and into q common brotherhood. Is
| TO inspire them with faith in their fellow
man and hope in. God. Only he can be
true TO God who is true to man. As human
| tools in a Divine hand. we are being used
| in perfectlng the plans of an infinite mind
| for His people. Whether we occupy posi-
tions of public trust in relation to the
| DOOR, or whether we serve them as private
| citizens. the responsibility differs only In
| 1t. H.. fro 1,n ri ttnc q