The Osceola times., 1883-11-17
ENGLISH CITY RULE.


Good Men In Public Places.
florence Kelley in National Tribune.
Whatever the mysteries of the govern
ment of cities and towns the English
people have penetrated it, and there was
no dissent when Mr., Bright announced,
at the opening of the Golden coffee
house the other day, tina: Of all the legis-
lation of his time, none had proved more
serviceable than the corporation act of
1875, under which Birmingham is still
governed. The excellence of the local
administration, proclaimed to the new
conner by the superb architecture of the
centre of the city. is attested in detail
throughout visit to every part. Clean
streets, good drainage, pure water, eff.
fective police, these things-essential
though they are, and unattained as yet
in the greatest American cities-are fun
damental necessities, secured as matters
of course in Birmingham.
Indeed, had Birmingham no other
claim to the attention of American trav.
elers than this, that from beinga squalid,
unwholesome and disorderly abode, it is
now, by its own effort, possessed of those
four municipal essentials, pure water,
clean streets, good drainage and effective
police, Birmingham would yet be one of
the most instructive places in all the
world to which the administrator of
American local government could betake
themselves. But these requisites are
merely the foundation of the Birmine.
ham municipal housekeeping. They are,
as have said, matters OF course. While
an American traveller may look with
envy upon these arrangements, citizen
of Birmingham, proud of his town,
would point to wholly different features
as the reason of his pride.
Happily for us, municipal admins
tration is at last rece wing in America a
share of the thoughtful consideration
which it demands. We may not, as a
nation, be quick TO recognize our defects.
The fault of our cities, however, can no
longer be ignored, and their gravity is,
perhaps, not exaggerated by the recent
contributor to HarpeI's Monthly, who
announces that she government of our
cities is the stumbling block to our civil
lzation." Under these circum stances,
although the description of well-gov-
erncd city is not so exciting theme as
l,n .r,, oh I ~
described, it is certainly no loss suggcs
tive"
The government of Birmingham is
conducted by citizens OF Birmingham.
The theory OF the government of cities
upon the principal OF local self control,
subject 10 certain general rcstrictiong, is
the same in England and America. The
difference in results, so far as I have
been able to discover, is the direct out
growth of the difference between the
people governed. In England, the best
citizens are proud to hold local offices,
and their fellow men vie with each 9TH
err in doing honor to faithful guardians of
this vital trust. In this statement there
is no exaggeration. Mr.. Chamberlain,
now member of parliament and presi
dent of the board of trade, was several
times reelected mayor of Birmingham.
and his fellow citizens, proud of his
career a. d grateful Ter his local service.
have erected Il charming shaft in his
honor in tn space amone the municipal
buildings. Not many steps removed
from this stands the statue Of Mr.. Joseph
Wright, whose sole claims to distinction
is his long and faithful service of his ma
tive Birmingham.
Criticism of local measures is not
wanting, nor is it confined TO the local
press. Every Englishman, rich or poor.
wise or dull, knows that the law once
made, will be enforced, be that law gen
enl or local; and he watches the law max
er with careful criticism in consequence
The position of the mayor end corpora
ton is no easy one, for the Englishmen
is a proverbial gr,mbler. But faithful
work is honored by profound respect
promptly expressed in social distinction,
followed sooner or later by long cher.
ished fame. Under these circumstances
there Is keen stimulus to public service,
and local self-government develops noble
men aud admirable cites.
u