The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-04-03
NEW LIFE NEEDED.

1t is with degree OF alarm one views
the rapid tendency toward loss of self
reliance among the American people.
The time once was when every indi-
vidual was self reliant, and strove to
| support himself. but that time has long
since passed. In the early settlement
of this continent the people asked no
favors from the government and re-
| ceived none, and this spirit of self re-
lance predominated among the sturdy
pioneers who forged ahead of civiliza-
tion into the far West and .subdued
the wilderness. None of those who
| braved the perils of seeking homes in
the new world 200 years ago expected
the government to provide them with
means of earning livelihood when
able to work, or to care for them
when overtaken by misfortune. They
believed they were endowed with ener-
gies to sustain themselves, and by the
exercise of those energies, unaided by
state, communities or charitable asso-
Citations. they proceeded to work out
their own destinies. Ifthey were ever
overtaken with the idea that the world
owed them living, they proceeded to
collect the debt by their own exertions.
But that there is q change in this re-
spect, the most casual observer must
admit. Instead of a community COM
posed of people who rely solely upon
themselves we now have a people,
almost one-half of whom are seeking on
whom they may lean for support,
people who will accept, aud in many
instances demand help either from in
dividuals or from the government. The
number who are dependent is increas-
ing steadily, and he who is self reliant
and strives to support himself is con-
fronted with the proposition that he
must also help support those who are
too weak, ,either physically or in spirit,
to sustain themselves. If the worker
refuses to concede to the demands
voluntarily, the government steps in
and by system of taxation eompels
him to sacrifice part of his earnings to
support the weak.
A striking illustration of the grow
ing tendency among our people to ask
and accept aid in the struggle of life, |
which is probably largely owing to the
paternal features of our system of |
government, is offered by the annual !
report of the New York state board of |
charities and comparison of its show
ing with that made in 1880. Sixty
six years is long enough time to afford |
a demonstration in tendencies. In the |
year 1880 when New York state had
population of not quite 2,0O0,000 its
and cities supported 5790
and helped 234S occasional
If this relief work has kept
pace with the growth in population,
the 6, $50, 900 people in the state now
should expect to care for 1880 per-
mauent and 5000 occasional paupers.
AS it is, the report for 1896 shows $4,000
persons are cared for in the city and
county almshouses, more than 100000
receive occasional aid from state and
and over 10000 are main
,ained by public support in other
charitable establishments.
More startling is the finanaiai COM
,arison. The poorhouses of 1880 cost
1885, ,4O7; those of.lss6 $40. coo, 900. Their
cost in 1880 $3.50, 200. and
n 1896 $4,000, 600. The population has
lot quite quadrupled in 66 years; the
'utlay for city and county paupers has
,een multiplied by 16. Care of the in
ane has been increasingly assumed by {
be state, SO that 1000 are now pro: {
ided for, against 1000 in 1880. No {