Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-24
MUNICIPAL POLITICS.

In a recent campaign address in New
York Professor Felix Adler confined him
self to the consideration of municipal re-
forms. In the course of his remarks he
declared that the cultivation of proper
civic pride is the only true solution of
municipal difficulties. This is the key
note of all reform in our cities, and Adler
has hit upon it squaiely. With the Greeks
the well-being of the town was deemed as
of great, if not of greater, Importance than
any other. 1t at least came second to that
of the well-being of the State, and had
precedence even of the claims of family.
As Adler put it, the boast of any commu-
nifty that is progressive must spring from
pride in public vitality in the town.
When there is not public life enough in
a city to inspire pride for the municipal
ity no attempted reform of abuses viii be
possible. This pride must be such as to
lift the question of municipal government
out of the politics that nave State and
other government mainly in view. That
is to say, we will have municipal reform
throughout the United States just in pro-
portion as We separate municipal affairs
from national and State political concern,
and cultivate lasting pride in the city and
all that concerns it.
But Mr.. Adler would not have cities
wholly eschew politics; while he echoes
the RECORD UNIONS oft-voiced sentiment
that the need is to quicken the municipal
conscience, he would have parties in mu-
inequalities, since politics means policies.
But these parties should relate only to
municipal issues and be kept wholly dis
tinct from State and national politics or
policies.
Yet the lifting of American cities to a
plane of clean municipal politics would
have mighty influence in molding people
for activity in State and National life, for,
as Professor Adler puts it.
The question of the limit of education in the
public schools, the care of the INDECENT and
SICK, the houses OF cOrreCt'On ana reform, are
matters of public policy-are politics, and must
be so treated Such questions lead 10 others of
deeper mOment-Of the limit OF State inteffer-
ence, OF the public instead of private control of
the means OF rapid transit and other great i'm
prOvements. OF the absolute equality of taxa
ton, and OF the establishment OF municipal
legislature. II yol but have principles in the
contest, men of ability and honor VIII be glad
to serve the ely. Government is an art. 1t
cannot be gained by intuition. The government
OF cities Is especially important, for cities are
the dangeT-points OF the Nation. They are the
places IN which republican institutions have
hitherto failed They must not fail, or the Ma.
ton must fail
That idea is opposed to the proposition
that municipal government is simply and
coldly business, and We incline to the be-
lief that it is sound one. For while bust
ness principles should mold the municipal
methods, yet even upon them opinions
would divide, and out of such division
municipal parties contending for policies
would arise. So independent and distinct
municipal parties can be maintained, and
made to quicken civic pride, and though
wholly distinct from State and National
politics, would tend to qualify the people
of cities better to enter into and divide
upon State and National issues, and to cb-
tain clearer perceptions of duty towards
State and Nation. So that to cultivate
civic pride and promote clean municipal
politics, upon strict municipal lines, will
rather stimulate than hinder activity in
and betterment of State and National pol
itics.