New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-23
DIR. DA COSTA ON REFORM.
A GLOOMY VIEW OF THE SITUATION.
MENT UNDER NETWORKS PRESENT
CHARTER

The Rev DR.. Da Costa preached on the diff
cutes in the way Of the proposed municipal reforms.
at the Church Of st. John the Evangelist. West
Elevenhst. and Waverley Place yesterday morning
lie said that true citizenship should be as near
possible to the ideal citizenship Of Heaven Some said
that the Ten Commandments should have no place in
political campaign. He thought differently There
many difficulties in the way Of a reformation Of
the methods OF city government. II shame for
men eat the bread of this country and despise It's
citizenship. They must perform their earthly duties
citizens before they could claim the citizenship Of
Heaven. The difficulties he alluded 10 did not an
pear TO Cypress the minds Of some public
professional reformers very seriously but they we're
very material facts for all that The first difficulty
patent to all observers. and 1t the lack Of
sufficient constituency Of genuine reformers. Twenty
years there an excitement similar to that
which was now rising in the city. and after The
agitation had subsidized they passed through phase
of corruption worse than ever before.
The men who created the excitement were no better
than those whom they wanted to turn Of Office
and power. The Trouble was that the views Of the
rank and file in regard to common honesty were not
right In the ranks Of the prospective reformers they
would and as they did twenty years ago. some Of
the worst elements Of society, criminals who were
admitted everywhere perfectly respectable because
they had never been found out They would dis
cover among the most enthusiastic reformers bank
rupts who became rich by bankruptcy. merchants who
thrved by swindling the United States Customs,
real estate and railroad wreckers stock gamblers and
Produce Exchange gamblers, tossing for millions
with the peoples bread. They would find politicians
who spent thousands of dollars in demorazing the
franchise, and bloated phanthropsts whose dues TO
charitable organizations derived from the rents
of dens of infamy and vice. They would also the
leprous debauchee, the rich drunkard and the
aduterous millionaire in the van Of reform.
These would rush TO the front vrtuously excited
against official offenders, and would be encouraged in
their crusade by preachers from their pulpts on
| Sunday who dare not rebuke their sins. and who
indeed could employ themselves very probably If
they would reform themselves before preaching
the Gospel. Among the chief supporters Of re
| form would figure the pious bookseller and pub
Tere Mas essen AZ MO ec @ pres
so1 SHre ift in the @ an me
interruptions. wealthy class against an unscrupulous
Strength "S Of the mS came from Ra Street
where the most gigantic gambling interests Of the
The Exchanges succeeded in their business in pro
portion they SUCCEEDED in s .1a the public and
was fauduently obtained by these ghoulsh operators
than taken from the city treasury in year These
gamblers and rogues sat openly In the churches and
moved in social circles, although everybody knew there
was real difference between the operators Of the
dG Of tae be ana
Reelzebub was not competent TO cast ont devils The
Without this the whole campaign would only be
lamentable failure. great proprietor rather battal
| ion Of prophets-was needed. The whole community
needed publication.
| Even IL the movement succeeded in elecng a chic
magistrate who would free from the influence of any
political party. he would not be able to effect anything
the present charter the MAYOR at thmcrcy Of th'
| BOARD Of Aldermen. and what was needed was new
charter election by the general mass Of the people ant
the investment in the Mayor OF almost absolute power
over his appointees. The present Board OF Aldermen
was composed Of the worst elements in the population
Occasionally few respectable men would get In, bu
rey ran risk of losing character nv association Will
| the others. The Aldermen Of New. York bad brough
the city into contempt, and with the present charte
this was inevitable.