By examining the repressive and directive laws issued on beggary actually in place in most European states, the Count also highlighted some indications in line with ‘prevention” and which have a positive dimension.
If the causes of evil are not removed, repressive and coactive laws cannot always achieve their goal… Therefore, any government which aims at making true prosperity and morality accessible to everyone, should establish its own civil setup, with all kinds of study and diligent care, so that once the causes of beggary have been removed through indirect methods, methods more direct and suited to the situation provided by the time and place might be employed to prevent and obstruct the onset of this deadly social plague.36
19th century philanthropists were familiar with the theme of 'redeeming the needy' using education as prevention. Coincidentally, the same theme as Morichini’s is developed by the Frenchman, Baron Joseph-Marie Degerando (or De Gérando or De Gerando 1772-1842) 37 in his monumental work Della Pubblica Beneficenza (Concerning public charity): Part two, dedicated to the Istituzioni destinate a prevenire l’indigenza (Institutions aimed at preventing poverty).38
Of all the ways of performing charity, the one which prevents the onset of misery at its roots is the most fruitful and healthy. Now, there certainly could be no preventive charity more useful than the education of the poor. Here in fact, the two main features of preventive charity come together. This type of charity responds to the present needs and provides for the future… Education will provide the poor with the moral, intellectual and physical strength they need, and this constitutes the wealth of a human being; in turn it provides the poor with what is indispensable in life and will grant them the strength to fight against unforeseen misfortunes. 39
The more we study the causes which produce poverty, the more we shall come to realize that lack of education is one which produces the greatest number of poor and delinquent individuals. One of the greatest services we can render to the poor is that of keeping the children, at least, from such a deadly influence. A good education will guarantee that one day these children will take care of their old parents and comfort them.40
The education process begins with kindergarten for children below seven. It continues with primary school, and with Evening and Sunday schools for those who were not able to take advantage of previous instructional programs.
The rounding-off of their education comes from advice, moral and legal assistance in their choice of profession, work contracts drawn up during the apprenticeship period ensuring that their protection is guaranteed by employers who could happen to be exploitive.41
36 C.I. Petiti di Roreto,Saggio 1, 111-112; on the inadequacies of existing repressive legislation in various European
States, cf. pp. 90-112
37 Cf. S. Moravio on him, La scienza dell’uomo nel Settecento., (Bari: Laterza 1970), 223-238.
38 Della pubblica beneficenza. Treatise by Baron de Gérando…Florence, C. Torti 1842-1846 in 4 parts, divided into 7
umes: I. L’indigenza considerata ne’suoi rapporti coll’economia sociale; II. Delle instituzioni relative all’educazione
de’poveri; III. De’pubblici soccorsi; IV. Delle regole generali della pubblica beneficenza considerate nel di loro
regime; French edition, De la bienfaisance publique. Paris 1839, 4 .
39 J.M. De Gerando, Della pubblica beneficenza, 2, (Florence: C.Torti 1843), 249-250.
40 Il visitatore del povero by Baron De Gerando, (Florence: C. Torti 1846), 103.
41 J.-M. De Gerando, Il visitatore del povero 105-117. The solution is also tied to preventive measures at the financial
level: cf. work cited, Della pubblica beneficenza, part 2, book 3, 5, (Florence: C. Torti 1844). De’ mezzi generali atti a
migliorare la condizione delle classi disagiate, Chap 1. De’ mezzi generali di prevenir l’indigenza che ottener si ponno
da alcune modificazioni sul sistema della sociale economica; Chap 2. Della organizzazione del lavoro; Chap 3. Del