Sentence:  Take the principle that requires distribution of help in accord with need. It would certainly support allocating some help to its only potential recipient, provided she is in need. And on the plausible assumption that the more <WSD>meriting</WSD> of some good one is the more good one <WSD>merits</WSD>, the principle would support allocating more of the help to her the greater her needs. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To deserve, to earn.