The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-18
Sc PAGES TODAY.
GOVERNMENT AID TO THE DISTRESSED.

The action of few members of the house Of repre-.
sentaves in voting against the appropriation of $780,
600 for the volcano sufferers of Martinique has called
down upon them lot of incorporate criticism. The
Washington correspondent of The Post has pointed out
that in their view there warrant in the constitu
ton for such appropriation Since they so construe the
constitution and to support it as they read
it, that ought aequt them Of the charge Of perverse
ness.
1t is also noted by The Posts Washington CORE
spondent congress made appropriation for the
sufferers of the Texas storm of 1900 when some
5000 5000 persons lost and thousands were left
homeless Neglect of Texas sufferers would not justify
neglect of Martinique sufferers but certainly If the
government has power to aid the distressed it should
look nrst to those Of its household In any
legislators State National who refuse to vote boun
ties the suffering not to be condemned mig
gardly
But The Post dssens from the view, exhibited late
ly Texas and In congress- that the constitution
of the United States OF Texas inhblts aid to the
distressed in such cases under consideration.
Such expenditures do not fall under the democratic
condemnation of fsvors bounes and class legislation
Whatever the precise letter Of the organic law, charity
is truly principle Of government OF personal
conduct The State for its insane and its pau
psra Under direct constitutional warrant, but the
rant Sc expressed in terms because insanity and paupar
ism ever present as reminders OF the pubic duty.
Greet disasters common not in the mind Of
constitution writer's. and provided for in ex-
press terms but they fan within the logical scope Of
public aid 10 the helpless aud the distressed In like
the Federal constitution permits the pension
ing OF soldiers and sailors and their widows because
and its consequences to 1e expected in Nation
al life. But the unexpected is not outawed from char
ity On the contrary its very unexpecedness clothes
it with the urgency and the greater Of
state nation.
Surely II was not in the mind OF the trainers OF the
constitution Of the United States deny reasonable
appropriation from rich treasury the volcano suf
ferers in the minds of Trainers the constitu
ton of Texas prohibit aid city and section laid
waste by the storm Of 1900
The abuses OF government have been so great that
the economical and conscientious statesman is uncon
scously driven TO extreme view the other drec
ton. He is like the who was SO straight that he
leaned back. He abhors paternasm centralism, IA
vortsm and Imperialism that he would construct a
democracy but little more than system OF police for
preventing or Furnishing violence.
Government has function of preserving promot
ing and upbuildre well OF restraining and consti
tudons not written TO the audahle scnti
ments and impulses which belong to the normal state
Of If the United states wore justified IN spend
Ing millions in with spain to stop suffering and
restore trade in Cuba they should hesitate to spend
few hundred thousand % rocvo suffering and restore
trade in Martinique In like manner If the State Of
Texas spend money IN killing boll weevils and in
developing the wealth OF as agricultural class by ex.
pertinent stations il might logically preserve and re-
the It's coast citizens by foregoing taxes
a few years.