The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-03
HELP THE HOMELESS.

The energies of our people should be
directed to solving the local problem
that is presented to us in the driving
Of large numbers of people from their
homes by the great flood that Is now
at its height. 1t Is not, fortunately, a
problem at all beyond our means 70
deal with. The flooding Of the flats
on the West side by the great freshet
has driven out Of their homes some
hundreds Of families of poor people,
and has caused many Of them to lose
pretty much all that they have in
the world. These people must be
taken care of and their pressing wants
supplied. Inasmuch as the misfor-
tune does not touch any great interest
of the city and has not invaded its
business resources. We ought to be
stirring at once to provide among our
selves for the destitute and suffering
that are right at our doors. The right
thing was done by authorizing the ex-
penditure Of such portion Of the $780,
900 as is at the councils disposal for
SAAO
sum, however, is not likely to prove
adequate. 1t will be a long time be-
fore those who have been driven out
by the encrOaching Mississippi can re-
turn to their humble dwellings, and
when they do it will require labor and
money to fit them again for habitation
A larger sum must be raised to take
care OF those who are temporarily
homeless and certain to stand in need
or help for some time to come.
The suggestion that the $4,000 which
would be available next year, under
the charter, should be used or pledged
for this purpose is not a good one
The charter expressly provides that it
shall not be within the power Of the
council to anticipate in any one year
the distribution Of this fund for the
year following. So, while 1t might
De possible to make loans against this
fund for the year 1898, the council
would have no power to give any Sc
curity, and any act that they might
do looking to that end would be illegal.
This is an emergency that calls, not
for helpless glance toward the city
treasury, but for energetic action
among our charitably disposed people.
The funds ought to be raised by pri-
waite contribution and placed at the
disposal Of a citizens committee TO
meet all the needs Of the flood suf-
ferers. 1t will do ST. Paul itself a
world of good to turn it's mind for a
little from the business troubles that
beset it some time ago and feel the
wholesome thrill Of activity and power
that comes from the effort to do some
thing for others. We believe that a
movement to provide for those made
destitute by the floods will be almost
as beneficial to the rest of the city as
to those who are made the recipients
of its bounty. We call upon the good
people Of st. Paul, who have enough
and to spare, who are living comforta-
bly, in good homes of their own. to
get together and contribute from their
resources the modest sum which is all
that is necessary to deal with the pres
ent emergency. Let US help these
neighbors and citizens of ours without
grumbling, without turning helplessIy
to the idea that the city must do the
work, but with that spontaneous
whole-heartedness which makes the
quality of mercy twice blessed and be-
slows its largess upon him who
gives and him who takes.