Year: 1873

Hard. Times I'm Manufhcturing Dis.


tPlcts.


Whatever we may deem the cause
or cure of the panic, we may now
all as we'll face the fact that it will
make the coming winter an except.
ionally hard one. It is estimated
that 10000 operatives are already
thrown out of employment in this
city, and every day adds to the
number of closed mills Philadel-
phia, pre- eminently manufactur
ing city, is suffering still more sc
verely. Even could public conf
dence be fully restored to day, the
evil already done by the blow struck
at fall trade, in every department
of business, would make hard times
until spring.


The class to whom we wish to
say a word to day are those accus-
toned to deal with and receive
large sums Of money; to whom the
private items of Housekeeping,
clothing, etc are such unconsidered
trifles in the enormous aggregate
of income and outgo, that they are
not altered by even a really great
change of fortune. When Cresus
gains or loses million or two it
makes no difference in the quality
of his wines or texture of his car
pets. He looks forward to hard
times and closed mills this winter
as entailing upon him, perhaps,
smaller operations in the stock
board or more care in his invest.
ments, but his dinner and coat will
certainly be untouched. We want
to remind him that hard times to
the skilled mechanic, a man of as
sound intelligence as himself.
means sudden stoppage at an
hours warning to day Of the chances
to earn to morrow's bread. His
small savings, if he have any, are
thus drawn upon SO directly by his
immediate necessities that the lack
of employment brings at once stint
ing poverty and then actual want
Hard times and closed mills to the.
thousands of laborers below the
skilled mechanic, who have no saw
ings, who are paid on Friday night
the money to buy Saturdays break
fast, mean a freless hearth and
hunger, not next week nor to NOR
row, but to day.


Another point not readily dis
cernible by the rich man is the
closeness with which the fortunes
of the poor are interviewer. Even
SO large financial operator may
go down and drag but two or three
others in his fall; but when the
dozen or two hands in petty fac
tory fail to buy their daily bread or
pound of beef, their baker and
butcher and small green grocer are
driven into speedy ruin. We note
these facts only to show how inn
mediate and widespread is likely to
be the actual want among the poor
er classes; ten minutes of investi.
cation spent in the manufacturing
| quarters will prove the truth. Now,
these people must be fed this win
ter; end there is little doubt that
| they will be fed. Large as is the
| amount of suffering in the seaboard
cities every winter. the amount
bestowed in charity, systematic
and individual, is, we believe, large
enough to cover it if it were judi
ciously applied.


The money is not gone out of
the country; it is here; very large
proportion of it boarded uselessly
away by people of moderate means.
Before the winter is over the boards
will be exhausted, and sum given
in aims, the third of which, if spent
in giving employment now to work


ing people, would suffice to avert


the coming appalling destitution.


In short, it is the duty of every


man with money to give employ.


ment as far rs possible to needie1


men and after that aims. One word


too, as to aims giving. The habit


of most wealthy people is to throw


large sums of charity into certain


systematized religious or municipa


aid societies, which are usefu


enough ordinarily, but will mo-


touch the root of the evil this win


ter. The class who will need hell


now are those who have been indie
pendent workers, not paupers, wh'


will be the very last to make thei


wants known to any society. Th'


American mechanic must COM


very near starvation before he says


Il am hungry.-New York Tri


bune.