New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-22
DANGERS FEOu LARGE CITES.
DISCUSSION or TIE SUBJECT ~ THE coNGEEGA
IIpNAL CLUB.

DISCUSSION or TIE SUBJECT ~ THE CoNGEEGA-
rIovAL CLUB.
The Congregational Club held it's monthly meeting
last night ut Cllrk's No. % West Twenty third-st
Abou - member, with their guests including many
ladies sat down 10 dinncr at O'Clock. The more
serious business of the evening discussion ON
lii. Menace of tn. Modern Cry to Civilization. %
III which the Row DR. \. j. f. Behrends OF BrooAIyn,
Theodore Roosevelt and Justice Kubreth OF the Court
OF Special Sessions had agreed to take part The Rev
Dr. bradford had charge OF tle debate and limited the
speeches To thirty minutc..
DR. Bchrends said he felt handiclpped In being
obliged TO speak on the general topic when tie two
gentlemen who tooHed had appropriated its political
and criminal aspects, After all the criminals were re-
formed and all the politicians converted there would
be little left in the world for Congregational minister
To do On The whole hc inclined TO take hopeful
view of tho modern city. Tho city lac said, g IN
itself is not menace 10 civilization. II God made the
country ht had al equal share the town Too much
has been the evils OF association, of masrng III
great cites Statistics viii easily show that crimes are
relatively and atToclous IN ne coun
try than the town There il no place. however
where public opinion work. more quickly or ehecuNr|
upon social diseases than IN city Ike Ne" orr;
Christianity grew up III the great CT e. ana au, h"i
aorc trouble with tne country churches 0l bnhtrh.
thnn with those Of Rome, COiinth Antioch, ANA Epic
sus combined he modern city. too Is better than thf
ancient one. In Rome $50 ont OF every l'Oo neron-
Of every .OOb. Faupersm is not the result OF the
modern massng of capital it istne lont product OF the
npan degradation Of labor aud the Christian can MIA
ton of poverty he four things whic! threaten rs most
in city lie are ihtcracy. incorporates, crowdng III
tenement houses. and loJsrnng OF lbe marriage ir
Mr. Roosevelt began BY taking up vigorously me
cgIse Of tbs cUun ~. The tour evils. he Said,
" which tie gentleman has cmphasned. do they nor
have Their fullest Development in city ici Aud ~
any attempt D. reform them by law, would we not una
-cnts of the cy ucnhcrs III the Legislature nos
tile he only hope of reform lie, m the action OF the
country mcmbers The low average grade OF our cliy
/ politicians il Serious menace To good government.
-Four iiiihs OF the representatives. at Albany oi New
Yur, and Brooklyn can be depended upon TO vote on
the wrong side o every question: and our rcposcTOhs
Board OF Aldermen would not be accepted AZ Board
of Supervisors n country district. he Ignorance OF
one c!ass OF city voters political menace but The
indifference If another far greater one. The care
es.ness Of the better class OF citizens about political
duties /. appalling. We may not feel its effects uime-
diaeiy bat when the fathers grapes the chill
drcns teeth 10 be set on edge
justice Kibrcth read interesting paper ON crime
"a it Is be in the city police courts and alter
some general discussion the club adjourned.