7S THE LETTER THAT 



PROMPTED THIS BOOK 



large cities. The movement to get the poor to 

 the farm will help a great number, if not all, and 

 the results will be permanent. However much 

 charity would help, it keeps only for a short time, 

 and it has its drawbacks. As the honorable ex- 

 President says : " Charity is responsible for the 

 apparent contented dependence of the poor." 

 This dependence, he says further, " is the thief 

 of self-respect. The poor are not permitted to 

 help themselves. [It is the privilege of the few 

 to help themselves with that which belongs to the 

 many.] Once they come within the ken of the 

 charity workers they are robbed of their initiative 

 and are made dependent." 



Mr. Cleveland's remarks bring back to me 

 very strongly my contention that of all the 

 plans to aid the poor yours is the ideal one. It 

 would do away with all the drawbacks of the 

 charitable aid and promote independence instead 

 of dependence not unlike what Macaulay pic- 

 tured: 



" Then none was for a party ; 



Then all were for the State; 

 Then the great men helped the poor, 

 And the poor man loved the great; 



