PAUPERISM AND ITS REMEDIES.
[To Tax EDITOR OF TEE "SPECTATOR."]
Sia,—May I be permitted to draw attention to two points which seem to arise out of your article on "The New Suffering of the Poor "?
Firstly, does not the drift of the argument give a new answer to those who are for doing away with the English system of out-door relief ? In England, two steps separate the workman from starvation. They are out-door relief and the workhouse. In Ireland ihere is only one,—the workhouse. In France there is none. Cannot we trace somewhat of an inverse proportion between the number of steps and the amount of anarchical discontent ? "Give me labour, or I die !" is, and must be, the cry of the Parisian artisan.
Secondly, in France, as you say, the only security of the poor lies in the possession of land, or in their savings, which usually are invested in Rentes. In England, our lower orders have little chance of getting land, but beside direct means of saving, such as Post-office banks and the like, the workmen have in many places tried on a large scale a remedy of their own. • It is co-operation, where the capitalist is the labourer, and the labourer the capitalist. May we not recognise in this move- ment the best of safeguards against anarchy, on the one hand, and pauperism on the other ; and also as the germ of a truly Conservative force, over the presence of which both Liberals and Conservatives may rejoice ?—I am, Sir, &c.,
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