The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-04-16
Crowded Cities.

The telegraph informed rs tho other day
that the usual local elective franchise in
France would not be conceded by the Con-
ventional Assembly to cities Of not moro
than &c, 900 Inhabitants. There is food Tor
reflection in this fact. Large cities, espe-
cially crowded cities, where labor 10 scarce
and. wages ale small, are the nurseries OF
every kind Of moral pestilence. Crimes
absolutely unknown elsewhere are as COM
mon in such communities as the atmosphere
which they breathe. The family tie, the in
tegrity of the State and the whole social
fabric are attacked by these maladies.
They address themselves not merely to
the individual but to the political interests
of society.
Amid this seething mass Of humanity,
as in many quarters of Paris and London,
the marriage tie is unknown or disregard
ed, the feeling Of caste is engendered and
perpetuated, creating fixed hatred OF the
upper classes, government is looked upon
as tyranny, and wealth as an injustice,
and q volcanic mass is prepared, ready to
burst forth in ruin Whenever it shall have
gathered sufficient strength.
Now the doctrine of republicanism fails
when applied to such communities as these.
It is evident that such men lack nearly all
the requisites of good voters. They do not
understand the questions of the day, and
, they are not moved with feelings of patriot
ism towards common country. They
. NAV love the soil, but they hate their fell
t low citizens and do not recognize any COM
: mon interest with them. They will not
n sustain their government against an enemy,
$ nor unite heartily with their countrymen
i even to expel an invader. Are these the
men to votef Are they the citizens to
i watch jealously over the interests of society
at the ballot boxf
But we find very little of this spirit in
= rural districts or small towns. There is
. not, indeed, so much of it, as yet, in the
.. cities of this country, because occupation
~ is always easily had at good wages, still it
=. is evident that there is more corruption,
-, profligacy and vice in the city than in the
70 country, even with us, and in the same
8" proportion urban populations are less fit
o, than rural ones to enjoy the right of suf-
d. frage. Corner grocery caucuses and ward
de- clubs control the elections. These are
st manipulated by a ring of professional place
g, hunters, and, in the preoccupation and
mt hurry of business, men of character have
it, no chance to combine against those who
is make q trade of politics. In the country
eel there is no such trade and no chance te
'se outwit the respectable citizens through
''' their inattention.
no What remedy, then, may there be To-
'n' this misfortunei The French Assemol!
ees disting cuisines against communities which
no have attained such q size that the citizen
w begin to be unknown to one another
-. Might it not be better to devise some pia
-. by which the population itself OF sucl
,;.. places would be brought up to the ordinar
no level of self. government Excessive pov
of erty 10 tho great cause Of the miserie
which breed this moral pestilepee. Their
is surfeit Of population; people arc 70
son. much crowded together for their health
. to either spiritual or physical. Some rsgul'
t Of ton which would control that undue ter
It in dency Of population to concentrate at gre'
'noh centres, which would stimulate q moi
10 10 active circulation from the heart to the O.
that tremities, and leave none in the cities WI
ne could do better In the country, might bres
.lio" up many a nest of crime and revolution.