Verwandte Artikel zu The Poor and Their Relief
Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1825. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER I. The poor have a Right to relief, in consequence of the laws and regulations obstructing liberty and industry--in respect to their dwellings--their holding land--expulsion from, their farms-- concerning small and large farms as being more productive and beneficial. ' ' • I HAVE in the last Book traced the origin and progress of the poor-laws. I have shown that they are of long continuance; that they have not increased population nor the poor, by a bounty on procreation; that the rates have by no means advanced in proportion to the increased pressure on industry ; and that they have not destroyed the spirit and foresight of the people; but, on the contrary, that the people abound -in: hope and enterprise and resources for all exigencies. Yet let none imagine for a moment that I am friendly to the poor-laws: I have exhibited at length their fraudulent and inhuman policy; yet they may occasionally qualify an evil. I speak with hesitation even on this exception; for when I consider that they have probably always tended to reduce the market price of labour, and have authorized Government to tax necessaries without stint, under the impression that they afforded a fund for the wretched in their extremities, --I doubt if the poor-laws are not an evil in all circumstances of absolute aggravation. I proceed now to show that the poor have a right, in consequence of the laws which have obstructed industry and liberty, to relief from the opulent who make and execute the laws. Mr. Malthus indeed, true to his aristocratical text, speaking of the poor, says: " They are really the arbiters of their own destiny ; and what others can do for them is like the dust in the balance, compared to what they can do for themselves V It is false that the poor are the arbiters...
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