essays-1-第82部分

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matically；　and　to　such　an　alarming　extent　among　us。

Great　numbers　of　these　children　grow　up　to　die　under　the　hands　of　the　executioner。　　The　only　　instruction　they　receive　from　their　parents　is　how　to　cheat　and　deceive；　and　daily　practice　in　lying　and　stealing　from　their　very　infancy；　renders　them　　uncommonly　expert　in　their　infamous　trade。　　The　records　of　the　courts　of　justice　show　in　innumerable　instances；　that　early　habits　of　Idleness　and　Beggary　are　a　preparation　for　the　gallows；　and　among　the　numerous　thefts　that　are　daily　committed　in　this　capital；　there　are　very　few　that　are　not　committed　by　persons　who　get　into　the　houses　under　the　pretext　of　asking　for　charity。

What　person　is　ignorant　of　these　facts？　and　who　can　demand　further　proofs　of　the　necessity　of　a　solid　and　durable　institution；　for　the　relief　and　support　of　the　Poor？

The　reader　would　be　seized　with　horror；　were　we　to　unveil　all　the　secret　abominations　of　these　abandoned　wretches。　　They　laugh　alike　at　the　laws　of　God　and　of　man。　　No　crime　is　too　horrible　and　shocking　for　them；　nothing　in　heaven　or　on　the　earth　too　holy　not　to　be　profaned　by　them　without　scruple；　and　employed　with　consummate　hyprocrisy　to　their　wicked　purposes＇3＇。

Whence　is　it　that　this　evil　proceeds？　not　from　the　inability　of　this　great　capital　to　provide　for　its　Poor；　for　no　city　in　the　world；　of　equal　extent　and　population；　has　so　many　hospitals　for　the　sick　and　infirm；　and　other　institutions　of　public　charity。　Neither　is　it　owing　to　the　hard…heartedness　of　the　inhabitants；　for　a　more　feeling　and　charitable　　people　cannot　be　found。　Even　the　uncommonly　great　and　increasing　numbers　of　the　Beggars　show　the　kindness　and　liberality　of　the　inhabitants；　for　these　vagabonds　naturally　collect　together　in　the　greatest　numbers；　where　their　trade　can　be　carried　on　to　the　greatest　advantage。

THE　INJUDICIOUS　DISPENSATION　OF　ALMS　is　the　real　and　only　source　of　this　evil。

In　every　community　there　are　certainly　to　be　found　a　greater　or　less　number　of　poor　and　distressed　persons；　who　have　just　claims　on　the　public　charity。　　This　is　also　the　case　at　Munich；　and　nature　dictates　to　us　the　duty　of　administering　relief　to　suffering　humanity；　and　more　especially　to　our　poor　and　distressed　fellow…citizens；　and　our　Holy　Religion　promises　eternal　rewards　to　him　who　　supports　and　relieves　the　poor　and　needy；　and　threatens　everlasting　damnation　to　him　who　sends　them　away　without　relief。

The　Holy　Fathers　teach；　that　when　there　are　no　other　means　left　for　the　relief　and　support　of　the　Poor；　the　superfluous　ornaments　of　the　churches　may　be　disposed　of；　and　even　the　sacred　vessels　melted　down　and　sold　for　that　purpose。

But　what　shall　we　think；　when　we　see　those　very　persons；　who　profess　to　live　after　the　rules　and　precepts　laid　down　in　the　word　of　God；　act　diametrically　contrary　to　them？

Such；　doubtless；　is　the　fatal　conduct　of　those　who　are　induced　by　mistaken　compassion　to　lavish　their　alms　upon　Beggars；　and　obstruct　the　relief　of　the　really　indigent。Alms　that　frustrate　a　good　and　useful　institution　cannot　be　meritorious；　or　acceptable　to　God：　and　no　maxim　is　less　founded　in　truth；　than　that　the　merit　of　the　giver　is　undiminished　by　the　unworthiness　of　the　object。　The　truly　distressed　are　too　bashful　to　mix　with　the　herd　of　common　Beggars；　necessity；　it　is　true；　will　sometimes　conquer　their　timidity；　and　compel　them　publicity　to　solicit　charity；　but　their　modest　appeal　is　unheard　or　unnoticed；　whilst　a　dissolute　vagabond；　who　exhibits　an　hypocritical　picture　of　distress；a　drunken　wretch；　who　pretends　to　have　a　numerous　family　and　to　be　persecuted　by　misfortune；or　an　impudent　unfeeling　women；　who　excites　pity　by　the　tears　and　cries　of　a　poor　child　whom　she　has　hired　perhaps　for　the　purpose；　and　tortured　into　suffering；　steps　daringly　forward　to　intercept　the　alms　of　the　charitable；　and　the　well…intentioned　gift　which　should　relieve　the　indigent　is　the　prize　of　impudence　and　imposition；　and　the　support　of　vice　and　idleness。What　then　is　left　for　the　modest　object　of　real　　distress；　but　to　retire　dispirited　and　hide　himself　in　the　obscurity　of　his　cottage；　there　to　languish　in　misery；　whilst　the　bolder　Beggar　consumes　the　ill…bestowed　gift　in　mirth　and　riot？　And；　yet；　the　charitable　donor　flatters　himself　that　he　has　performed　an　exemplary　duty！

We　earnestly　entreat　every　citizen　and　inhabitant　of　this　capital；　each　in　his　respective　station；　no　longer　to　countenance　mendicity　by　such　a　misapplication　of　their　well…meant　charity；　contributing　thus　to　augment　the　fatal　consequences　of　the　evil　itself；　as　well　as　to　impede　the　relief　of　the　real　necessitous。

We　are　firmly　persuaded；　that　by　pointing　out　to　our　fellow…citizens　a　method　by　which　they　may　　exercise　their　benevolence　towards　the　indigent　and　distressed　in　a　meritorious　manner；　we　shall　gratify　their　pious　zeal　and　humanity；　and　at　the　same　time　essentially　promote　the　honour　and　safety　of　the　state；　and　the　interests　of　sound　morality　and　religion。

And　this　is　the　sole　object　of　the　Military　Workhouse；　which　has　been　instituted　by　the　command　of　his　Electoral　Highness；　where；　from　this　time　forward；　all　who　are　able　to　work　may　find　employment　and　wages；　and　will　be　cloathed　and　fed。THERE　will　be　the　really　indigent　find　a　secure　asylum；　and　those　unfortunate　persons　who　are　a　prey　to　sickness　and　infirmity；　or　are　worn　out　with　age；　will　be　effectually　relieved。

We　beg　you　not　to　listen　to　the　false　representations　which　may；　perhaps；　be　made　to　calumniate　this　institution；　by　putting　it　on　a　level　with　former　imperfect　establishments。Why　should　not　an　institution　prosper　at　Munich；　which　has　already　been　successful　in　other　places；　particularly　at　Manheim；　where　above　800　persons　are　daily　employed　in　the　Military　Workhouse；　and　heap　benedictions　on　its　benevolent　founder？Have　the　inhabitants　of　this　town　less　good　sense；　less　humanity；　or　less　zeal　for　the　good　of　mankind？　　Noit　would　be　an　insult　on　the　patriotism　of　our　fellow…citizens；　were　we　to　doubt　of　their　readiness　to　concur　in　our　undertaking。

The　only　efficacious　way　of　promoting　an　institution　so　intimately　connected　with　the　safety；　honor；　　and　welfare　of　the　state；　and　with　the　interests　of　religion　and　morality；　is　a　general　resolution　of　the　inhabitants　to　establish　a　voluntary　monthly　contribution；　and　strictly　prohibit　the　abominable　and　degrading　practice　of　street…begging；　the　unlimited　exercise　of　which；　notwithstanding　its　fatal　and　disgraceful　consequences；　is　perhaps　more　glaringly　indulged　in　Munich　than　in　any　other　city　in　Germany。

In　vain　will　the　institution　be　opposed　by　the　prejudices；　or　the　meanness　and　malice　of　persons　who　are　themselves　used　to　mendicity；　or　to　　exercise　an　insolent　dominion　over　Beggars。

It　will　subsist　in　spite　of　all　their　efforts；　and　we　have　the　fullest　confidence　that　the　generous　　and　well…disposed　inhabitants　of　this　city　will　be　　sensible　how　injurious　the　habits　of　encouraging　　public　mendicity　are；　when　an　opportunity　is　offered　them　of　contributing　to　an　institution　where　the　really　indigent　are　sure　to　find　assistance；　and　where　the　benevolent　Christian　is　certain　that　his　neighbours　and　fellow…citizens　ar