Chapter 1432: Chapter 1338: The Symbol of Civilization
Today was not the day for The Crown Princess’s weekly lottery at the ball ga, yet thousands gathered in the open space in front of Alexandra’s bakery, even blocking the street.
They had read in the newspaper that The Crown Princess was about to announce a major charity initiative.
Without the performance of the Royal Band, the understated “Gemstone II” carriage, which Alexandra usually rode, approached slowly from the west.
The surroundings imdiately erupted into enthusiastic cheers, and many won began praying devoutly for The Crown Princess. Many poor people relied on discounted bread from the bakery to fill their children’s stomachs, which made The Crown Princess very popular among the people.
Alexandra, dressed in a light purple gown, stepped onto the flower bed in front of the bakery and waved to the crowd, which triggered another round of cheers.
Once the crowd finally quieted down, she loudly declared:
“I’m sure you have all heard about Mr. Landry’s horrifying experience at the Blois West District Welfare Institute.”
Instantly, angry discussions erupted all around.
Alexandra raised her hand to quiet them and continued: “In fact, similar situations are prevalent in welfare institutes everywhere.
“After careful consideration, Crown Prince has decided to abolish the national welfare institutes and establish public relief offices to help those struggling to survive. I will personally manage the affairs of the public relief office.”
The crowd nodded excitedly and whispered to each other, “With The Crown Princess overseeing this, those poor souls will no longer be abused.”
“Crown Prince never forgets those who suffer.”
“Those heartless people will never be able to act as they please again.”
For the lower-level populace, welfare institutes were not just simple charity. People of this era who were injured or severely ill faced unemploynt, and they were likely to end up in welfare institutes.
Before the journalist Landry exposed the dark dealings within welfare institutes, most people knew it wasn’t a good place, but public opinion hadn’t reached a critical point.
Alexandra continued: “According to Crown Prince’s arrangents, orphanages, rescue hos, and shelters will be established nationwide.
“Orphanages will be responsible for caring for children under 14 who have lost their parents, and will do their utmost to help them find foster parents.”
Once again, the crowd began discussing, “Foster parents? What’s that?”
“It seems like people adopting orphans.”
“Probably similar to an apprenticeship.”
Indeed, there was no system for adopting orphans in this era. For orphans in welfare institutes, the best fate was being chosen by a workshop, signing an apprentice contract, and being taken away.
The so-called “apprentices” were essentially free labor for workshops in exchange for als, typically gaining freedom only in their twenties.
Alexandra explained: “Foster parents will beco adoptive parents to these children. The adopted children have no inheritance rights, unless the foster parents willingly write a will allowing them to inherit. Adopted children have the obligation to take care of their foster parents.
“Simultaneously, foster parents are prohibited from abusing or selling adopted children and must ensure their basic living and education.
“His Majesty the King has signed the ‘Adoption Law,’ and the details I ntioned are part of it.”
The crowd erupted into even more heated discussions.
Previously, orphans were treated as commodities, disposed of casually, or forced into labor, but now the governnt is helping them “obtain” a new family.
It indeed sounded humane, leaving everyone feeling a warmth from the heart.
Once again, The Crown Princess’ light voice rang out: “Rescue hos mainly assist the elderly who have lost family care, as well as offering help to the injured and disabled, distributing food to those struggling to sustain themselves.”
These were routine missions of the Church’s welfare institutes, but previously, the Church only perford superficial acts, handing out black bread without taking substantial action.
Now, rescue hos will rely on the Ministry of Civil Affairs to conduct thorough vetting of those genuinely in need, ensuring relief supplies are not wasted on idlers.
“As for shelters, they primarily provide temporary accommodations to healthy individuals facing difficulties. Shelters will provide work and skills training.”
Shelters mainly target groups like vagrants and refugees. In this era, these people often engaged in theft and robbery, so most countries opted to contain them.
Of course, they’ll certainly labor in exchange for food.
In fact, previous welfare institutes treated everyone from children to the elderly as vagrants, and now with the different groups identified and segnted, the true nature of social charity is realized.
Alexandra looked around at the people and raised her voice: “In the future, whether it’s orphanages, rescue hos, or shelters, they will always be open to the public, and anyone can visit.
“From the birth of the public relief offices, every person in France facing difficulties will receive assistance.
“This is our true practice of ‘natural human rights,’ and serves as the best footnote to civilization!”
Indeed, looking at these institutions, which seem ordinary to later generations, they were like blessings from Jesus to mankind in the late eighteenth century.
During this era, orphans, widows, and disabled persons often faced destinies of fending for themselves or being drained of their last bit of life in welfare institutes.
Joseph’s initiative was seen as ushering in a real trend of charity across all of Europe.
Among the Ministry of Civil Affairs officials accompanying Alexandra, Chief Auditor Baron Ganion watched The Crown Princess’s waving and speaking silhouette with a frown and whispered: “Spending millions of francs anually on people with no value is a complete waste; it would be better spent building more factories.”
Beside him, Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs Armand Bizot glanced at him and shook his head: “No, you are mistaken. The public relief office’s expenditure will bring our country tens of millions, or even billions of francs in revenue.”
Baron Ganion turned his head in surprise: “How is that possible?”
Bizot calmly explained: “As The Crown Princess ntioned, widespread compassion and aid for the weak will make our nation a symbol of advancent and civilization.
“The allure of advancent and civilization can sotis surpass that of Gold Coins.
“I foresee more and more foreigners, especially those wealthy and knowledgeable, choosing France for investnt and living.
“Paris will thus beco the center of all Europe!”
One hour later, Alexandra left the bakery amid people’s farewells, needing to return to the Palace of Versailles to host a large-scale charity fundraising event.
Actually, the daily work of the public relief office is generally handled by Bizot and others, while she mainly supervises and raises funds.
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