The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-08
A Movement for Municipal Reform.

The question of municipal reform is
just now occupying the attention of a
large number of our citizens. The move
ment was set on foot by number of our
most prominent and business men. A
few days ago large number of this class
held meeting to discuss certain objec-
tionable features in the city government
A committee was appointed to select one
hundred prominent business men who
should constitute nominating commit
tee to select and name candidates for the
February election. That committee OF
one hundred was announced in this morn
ing's papers, and it is composed of men of
such prominence and influence that every
body must see that the movement has
the hearty sympathy, and will have the
earnest cooperation, of the very best class
of our citizens, men of the highest intel
ligence and of the very best business ca
pacity. 1t is alleged that the city gov
ernment has been for long time in the
hands of "a ring and that the City
Cas-" is the soul and power of "the
ring that must now be broken up and
disbanded. l know very little about the
real merits of the case. have not made
it a study. have more important bust
ness to occupy every moment of my time
1 am, however, on principle opposed to
all "rings," whether in city, State, or
Church governments. have very little
respect for man who will suffer another
to put collar around his neck with his
name inscribed upon it. That is the way
that the ladies here do with their little
poodledogs. [ have a great deal more
respect for the dog that wears collar
than for man with collar around his
neck with the name of "boss" on it.
1t is the nature of dog to wear collar
and to pick up bone when thrown to it..
But freeman ought to get his bread
without being dependent upon master
for it.
Some Curious Results of the City
Census.
The complete revised tables of the
Philadelphia census were published in
this mornings papers, and they show some
curious results when compared with the
returns of 1870. The colored people form
less than four per cent of our present
population, but they have increased much
more rapidly than the whites in the last
ten years, having increased more than
forty per cent, while the increase of the
whites has been less than twenty five per
cent. There are eighty Chinese, three
Japanese, and twenty-five Indians now in
the city; in 1870 there were twelve Chi
nese, eight Indians and no Japanese.
These figures are small, but straws show
which way the wind is blowing. The
Chinese population has increased six
hundred per cent within the last ten
years At this rate of increase the Chi
nese Will soon become so numerous among
us that their presence will be sensibly
felt. There are 35, ,182 more women than
men in Philadelphia to-day This fact
would indicate that Philadelphia is a
very desirable city for.young men who
are matrimonialIy inclined to visit. II
ought to be easy for available men to
" commit matrimony" in city where the
majority OF women over the men is so
large. This showing will render it very
hard, II not utterly impossible, for the
women ever to achieve for themselves the
right of the elective franchise" for the
men will never confer on them the high
privilege of the ballot while they have
such an overwhelming majority on their
side. If they were entitled to vote the
men would be completely in their power,
and they would form womans ring .
and rule the city just as they pleased.
In that event it might be much better
ruled than it is just at the present time.
believe they would close the rum shops
on the Sabbath-day, and finally sweep
them entirely away with a strong pro-
hibitory law. l wish the women were
allowed to vote on the rum question. It
is shame and disgrace to the city that
Philadelphia has eight thousand drink
ing saloons open every Sabbath-day, and
that, too directly in the face of the law
that requires that they should be closed
from midnight Of Saturday to midnight
of Sunday. Good laws are good for moth
ing unless they be faithfully enforced.
J. M. P. O.