Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-05
POVERTY AND ITs EVILS.

1t was recently asserted and argued
IN Gunton's Magazine. which claims tc
be an exponent Of social economics
and political SCIENCE" that "All the Ills
and oil the Vices and all the objection
able features of society are TRACEA-
Bile to poverty" Being taken up on
this proposition by a correspondent
the editor modifles 1t as follows:
THE statement that all the ills and
vices OF society are traceable to power
~ should not be taken to mean that
they all are directly traceablc to the
poverty of the particular Individual
1t means the indirect influence of pow
erty upon the educational, moral and
refining environment, much of which
Is converted into hereditary tendency
In character. as well as the direct eff
feet OF poverty upon the individual"
1t IS silly, shallow and shameful
assertion, even If it be as meaningless
as that "All the ills and all the vices
and all the Objectionable features OF
society are TRACEABLE to peace and
plenty" But the Gunton proposition
means that poverty is responsible as
the cause of the undesirable things 1t
enumerates; and it is intended to de-
grade and insult the poor. Who are
the poor? Poverty Is defined as "a
lack or want of riches;" and therefore
all who are not wealthy are poor. or in
poverty and subject to its influences.
The ancient philosophers, the prophets,
Christ. Christians, and morallsts were
all in error until the Gunton econo-
mists and scientists revealed the truth
that money and the love of it is the
root of all good!
"Traceable," however is an adapta-
BILE and accommodating word. There is
connection more or less, between all
things in the universe, which can be
traced, If the tracer set out with that
intention and doesn't get lost in the
maze of conca tenations. AS all roads
led to Rome, SO did they lead from
Rome; and we infer that a Guntonist.
lost and bcwildered in his researches.
mistook pigtrack for n human path
and brought up at the hut of poverty
We suppose that Nero, Caligu.a and
Messalna are "traceable," with all
their vices. &C., to poverty; there were
poverty and poor folks somewhere, no
doubt, in their imperial lines Of ances-
try; and they were mere instances OF
ptavism. and not of degeneracy due
to imperial circumstances and position.
History shows us that rulers and ma
lions were virtuous when poor, but be-
came vicious as they grew rich and
powerful. Poverty is stern sometimes.
but it rarely becomes evil until riches
or their possessors beguile and tempt
1t. or Cypress and deprave It, At any
rate, 1t is folly to conclude that all
evil Is with poverty and all good with
riches, whether for the Individual or
the community. The prayer of Agur
is the best and wisest: "Glve me
neither poverty nor riches: feed me
with food convenient for me: lest I
be full and deny Thee, and say, Who
Is the Lord? or lest 7 be poor and steal
The happy and true medium is found
in Health. peace and competence. .
Rev. Sidney Smith said: I'VE may
judge how little God cares for riches
by seeing those He gives. them to-
There Is an obvious truth in that,
though 1t does injustice to the good
men who recognize all their posses
sions as held in trust for pious uses.
We are all largely the creatures or
circumstances and environment, no
doubt; but he has very restric' ell
acquaintance who has found all the
rich good and all the poor bad II
nome were rich and all had to work for
n living. paupers. or Migrants. or
thieves, or oppressors would be fewer
and the general condition would begcl
and invigorate the sympathy of broth
erhood among men.