THE 
MONTHLY MAGAZINE. 
Hew Series. 
Vot. II. SEPTEMBER, 1826. [No. 9. 
RICH AND POOR, 
“© SomETHING must be done” is the phrase of the day—indicative of 
the deepest perplexity, when people really know not what is to be done. 
This is not precisely our case. We know distinctly what should be 
done ; but our measures we know also are not palatable ones, nor can 
we undertake to make them so. Our duty, however, we will do, through 
good report and ill report. 
The mass of misery and pauperism cannot go on increasing. It must 
be checked, or violence will ensue. Common prudence bids us take 
time by the forelock. Decisive measures must be taken. The poor 
must be relieved, and who but the rich can relieve them? Revolution 
is pursuing us with the speed and vehemence of a whirlwind; and we 
are for breaking the force of it—we are for legal and equitable changes, 
not violent and tumultuous ones; and for that reason it is, we urge— 
decisive measures. 
The root of the evil lies in our inequalities of property—masses of 
~ misery, and masses of wealth, with a system, all the while, operating 
directly and rapidly to augment those inequalities. But will you plunder 
the wealthy to enrich the pauper? No. No violence—no injustice, 
but the order of things we are for changing certainly, and instead of 
swelling the rich by draining the poor, we would relieve the poor—as 
alone they can be relieved—at the expense of the rich. The country is 
deeply in debt—in debt by the concurrence of the wealthy, and the 
poor are taxed to pay it. This is intolerable. There is a lien upon the 
property, and those who possess the property should pay the demand 
upon it, and not those who have none. 
But how is. this relief to be brought quietly about? Simply by 
rendering the necessaries of life cheaper? How is that to be done ? 
By reducing the charges upon those necessaries. What charges are 
these? Taxes. What taxes? All taxes, direct and indirect, that 
bear upon food, fuel, cleanliness and clothing. 
That is, you propose to sponge the debt, and eaece the establish- 
ment to the American-standard—remedies worse .than the disease ? 
No,—still raise the same revenue, if you will, or ean; buat transfer 
the burden; lay it upon permanent lean in proportion to the pro- 
M.M. New Series—Vot. it No., 9 = I 
