, 1873-10-10

toleration,-a complete hpandonment or Btr1te
and donunciation, the world will soon con-
tain more aud botter Christians, human charity
will DO enlarged, and mankind will bleaB the day
when Catholics md Professionals Joined hands as
brothorB in tho sanc Christian family.
-.
THE CITIZENS INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT.
a quiet aud uuostentatious conference among
come Of the leading citizens Of Chicago hns
boon going on for a few days past, with refor-
once to the action that should DO takon in tho
approaching municipal election. This confer
onco resulted yesterday in a declaration Of prin-
cipleH pertinent to tho local isBues, and tho
appointment of an Executive Committee to
organize n " Citizons' Independent Party" with
tho purpose Of uniting oil good citizens in tho
work Of securing an honest and efficient City
Government for tic ensuing two years. The
two Inst Municipal Governments havo beon
chosen through movements similar to tho prcs-
ent, which disbandod aB soon aB their work
was done. In this way the hummer element
In both political parties has beon mainly weeded
out Of public Office in this city and county. Tho
same general iBaue is presented this year Of
good citizenship Us. bummerism, and tho public
mind ia In tho same conservative and cautious
condition, fully realizing tho necessity Of putting
asido tho schoming Of politicians and fanatics to
mako way for tho common demands Of tho pub
lie welfare. While this ia the first object Of tho
Citizons Independent Movement, the conference
haR fairly mot tho Issues which tho oxtremistson
both sides desire to fost upon the public, aud
wo commend thoir platform to careful reading,
confident TINT it will satHfy the conservative
and Intelligent mon Of MI parties, natyties, and
predictions.
In Dealing with the sunday question, tho Citi
zona' Movement takes the ground that 1t is tho
natural right of oyory person to observe the first
day Of tho week in accordance with his own in-
clinations. traditions, and customs, subject only
to the peace and good order Of the community,
and it recommends that the sale Of vine aud
beer be permitted on that day, as being not pro-
ductiyo Of crimo or disorderly conduct, and that
this permission be granted by an amendment Of
the existing city ordinance. Whatoyer olso may
be aail Of the PLATFORM it is perfectly frank and
open in MI it's declarations. While it emphati-
cally opposes any foroign-natiyity movement
(Aolding tlat American citizenship is broad
enough for all political agtation), 1t recognizes
the fnct that largo proportion of the citizenH
of Chicago. numbering about one-third Of tho
population, hayo q traditional and cherished
custom Of spending Sunday, or portion Of it,
as social day in an orderly mannor, in which
beer aud vino are commonly incident to their in
torcourso. The Citizens Independent Move
ment holds that 1t would be arbitrary and unjust
for one portion Of the community to bronx
down this custom, go long as 1t does not disturb
Whenever it does, the police have full authority
to suppress it, as vol as any other avocation
that PRODUCES like results. This distinction
between beer and distilled spirits is drawn in
tho City Of Now York, where tho whiaky-saloona
arc rgidy closed OF Sundays and tho beer-gar-
deus are permitted to remain open. Some time
since pressure waa brought to bear upon the
city authorities to close the beor-gardens, but
tho Board Of Police Commissioners declined to
undertake tho crusade on the ground that the
bcer-gardens intorfored in no wise with tho good
order Of the city.
The principal aim Of tho Independent Movo-
1nent Of this year ia to keep tho Municipal Gov
crnmont out Of tho hands Of tho dangerous men
to whom tue losing o'I1ara combination will
deliver 1t If they aro permitted to succeed,
The Committee Of Seventy may object to
tho proposed modification OF the Sunday
ordinance, and aot up tho atate law
on tho name subject. To this NO roply IL
that, In local election, the citizons Of Chicago
have neither tho right nor tho opportunity to
pass upon any State laws; and (2) that tho
literal enforcement OF the State law will in
volyo tho Committee Of Seventy in moes OF
complications from which they will never be abba
to oxtricato themselves. Thoy will then fnd
themselves constrained to mako war upon the
running Of stagos and horse-oars, upon tho sell.
ing OF fruit aud aoda-wator, and upon all ayoca-
tons, other than those OF necessity or muroy,
which aro now commonly pursued OH tho first
day Of tho weok, except the landing Of pas
aongors from steamboats, and ferry.boats, whicl,
ia tho only concession tho State law makos. Va
can scarcely boliovo that tho Committee OF
Seventy arc prepared to enter upon such cru.
aade as this.
After all, tho main thing ia to got good men
for city and county officers. In order to accom-.
pliBh any good end, tue Committee having thia
natter In charge must devise means to give us 9
ticket composed Of honorable, upright, high
minded citizens. whose sterling integrity can bs