St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-27
AT PLYMOUTH.
Rev. DR.. Smith DiscOurses Oh the
ProhIem of Cities.

FrOD1em OF C1tEeSs
A very large audience assembled in the
Plymouth Congregational church yesterday
morning, the First Methodist and the House
of Hope churches joining with it in the
service. The opening services were con-
Quoted by Rev. Drs. Dana and Christie,
pastors of the Plymouth and House of Hope
churches respectively, the latter offering
the prayer.
Dr. Christie referred in his prayer feel
ingly to the death of Vice President Hen
bricks, saying that death had again visited
the nation, and had taken away one very
near the capitol, and that we are called
upon to mourn the loss of one high in the
nation, elevated to the exalted position by
the suffrages of the nation. While the
country feels grief at this loss and sympa-
thizeS with the stricken family in their af-
Fiction, and with the political organization
which has lost so brilliant leader, still he
thanked God that the stability of our insti-
buttons was not threatened, that we were
called upon merely to mourn the death OF a
distinguished citizen; that it is not as it was
on the other side of the water, where a
death had produced the mutterings of a
revolution. He prayed that this might be
an admonition to the remainder of the Off
GERS of the government that they must soon
give an account of their stewardship, and
to all men that death is abroad and visits
men without distinction, and that we should
be prepared to meet it, that when the sum-
mons comes it shall be merely call to go
up higher.
Rev. DR.. Smith. pastor of the First
Methodist church, preached the sermon,
taking for his text: Cry yet. saying, Thus
saith the Lord of Hosts: My cities through
prosperity shall yet be spread abroad, and
the Lord shall yet comfort Zion and sha II
yet choose Jerusalem. "-Zech. I, II.
The coming Of our annual Thanksgiving,
he said, has brought us fresh occasion for a
festival of joy. He referred to the peace
and prosperity of the country, notwith-
standing the lines of shadow which rest
upon the picture. As citizens of st. Paul
we have special reason for rejoicing. New
railroads and buildings have been pushed
everywhere and the wilderness has been
made glad. Not content with these
achievements, the city proposes the winter
palace, symbolizing our triumph over the
frost. The preacher reminded his audience,
however, that of him to whom much is
given much is required. and called attention
to the problem of cities.
Vic VI lllG olSIlS VI Vic tlillCo 10
the concentration of the population into
the cities, the proportion of such popula-
ton to the county having increased eighty
four fold within the last ten years, so that
now one i'll four lives in cities. This pro-
portion is growing, and so the problem of
cities is the problem of the nation. We
Lave heretofore relied on country legisla-
tors to make the laws of the state and ma
ton, but that condition of things has passed,
and the jewellers in the cities are soon to be
in the majority. The cities already con-
troll the destinies of the country. Even
now, should there be reapportonment,
the cities of st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Saltwater would have one-fourth of the
members of the legislature. What Mime
sofa is to be and do in time to come, then,
depends on the future of the cities. In this
concentration there is possibility for great
good, the only menace will be in the char
acter of the cities, and the measures they
will propose.
Into our cities the foreigners are poured
in great numbers, and live there in great,
dark, undigested masses. In the cities are
the ignorant and the criminal, and the dis
tlnction between the rich and poor is no
where else so distinctly marked. 1t is also
known that in politics cities are too fire.
quently divorced from sense of morality.
The saloon interest is another menace.
The saloons of st. Paul, one to every 100
inhabitants, and the fact that the 1859 sa-
Ioonkeepers WELD more political influence
than any other 169 citizens are considera-
tons which give rise to serious reflections.
DR.. Smith stated the proposition that
unity and harmony among the
citizens of city in order
that it may realize its highest destiny.
In the different departments of the munic-
ipal administration this market so realized
as far as regards the physical idea of cities.
In public libraries and art galleries we see
the same idea working in matters in refer
ence to matters of art and literature. But
it is only unity in religion and morality that
the true idea of the city can be realized.
This would imply the strictest public integ
rity and public conscience. In this con-
nection the preacher made plea for the
Christian sabbath. as against the secular
lists who demanded the opening of the
places of amusements. The secularlsts
urge that their desire comes from love for
the working man. but no one has yet heard
them demand that these same workingmen
be prohibited from working on Sunday.
He called attention to the contest be-
tween the rich and poor and the grave con-
sequences which must follow if benevo-
olenee is not more the rule among the EN-
ployers, and the churches do not become
broader in their influence.
But there are great occasions for thanks
giving. On is that however negligently