122 THE MURDER OF AGRICULTURE 



one man and declaim against any innovations that 

 are likely to interfere with their cherished and exclusive 

 prerogatives as " Guardians of the Poor." 



In regard to these Poor Law guardians, we need have 

 no scruples, as the recent scandals in connexion with 

 the shameful squandering of the tax-payers' money 

 conclusively prove how some of these gentlemen dis- 

 charge their public trust, while in respect to the philan- 

 thropists it may be said that true philanthropy consists 

 in helping a man to help himself rather than in forcing 

 him to become dependent on others. 



" Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have I 

 give unto thee," were the words of the Apostle to the 

 cripple, and then — he healed him! 



Was not this better, wiser, more really philanthropic 

 than giving him a little temporary aid and then leaving 

 him in the same dependent position for the next day? 

 Peter did the man a real service by making him whole, or, 

 in other words, by putting the man in a position wherein 

 — he could help himself. 



Peter was far wiser, more practical, and a truer 

 philanthropist than your fussy faddist who, by uphold- 

 ing unsuitable laws, would keep a man dependent on the 

 charity of others rather than help him to become free 

 and independent. 



Said a well-known writer on the subject of self- 

 help: 



" The greatest serv'ce we can do for another is to help 

 him to help himself. To help him directly might be 

 weakening. . . . But to help him to help himself is never 



