The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-23
REFORM THE REFORMERs.
This II Dr De Coata's Advice to Heber
NewtOn'a New PARTY

"A Citizen OF No Mean City" was the subject
| OF the Rev. DR. b. L. De Costa OF tho Church o
| St John the Evangelist yesterday morning
| and he paid his compliments to the recently
organized Citizens movement.
There are two dlfTicultles,' said DR.. De
| Costa, in the way OF municipal reform. The
first difficulty is that OF finding genuine polti.
cal reformers. A large proportion OF the mon
in public life and In society are gnty OF rep
rohensible conduct In the list OF prospective
reformers we shall find mon actually repre-
sentinR some OF the worst elements. including
many criminals now regarded as respectable
because they have not been found out We
shall find among the rerormers the bank
rupt who has become rich through bank
ruptcy. the merchant who has thrived by
swindling the customs, the real estate and
railroad wreckor. the Stock and the Produce
Exchange gambler tossing IN for chances OF
neople's bread, the politicians who spends his
thousands In demorall2ing the franchise and
the bloated philanthropist who pays his ducs to
charity organizations out OF rents OF dens Of
intamy and vice. We shall havo tho leprous
dehauchee. the adulterous millionaire. They
VIII come to tho reform Virtuously excited
nRalnst oIlcinl offenders and reiormers OF
this kind will be encouraged In this crusade
by preachers who look down rom their pulpits
on sunday without, daring to, rebuke thcir
Sins and who could proltable employ all
their energies for some time to come In re-.
forming themselves.
Among other supporters of reform, wa
shal have the pious bookseller who pirates
me work, OF UNPROTECTED authors and pub
will have tho support OF that great Book Con-
t eern which p, began by, publishing the holy
thh In nai OF IN Thomas kemnis and has ended
nudities disgust the editor of ono OF our daily
n news while the entire work was, de.
MS African ENTERPRISE.
am sorry to present you with such pic
ence between the present agitation and others
that have gone before In the main it repre-
sents IN its last ANALYSIS the attack OF tho un-
class who want TO be wealthy. laIge part OF
TIE strength Of the movement Is coming from
that tho exchanges are taking it up, and the
bling interests q New York. These sambIoffs sit
openly IN the churches and rule in social cir
cGles unrehuked. though We all know that there
is no real difference between the operation OF
n SUICIDAL Monte Carlo. The operators in the
Boards have two codes Of morals-one for
themselves and another for the Municipality,
street.
. The first thing needed is the reform of the
ment will result in the election OF Chief EX-
ecutive who will be free from the Influence Of
Board q Aldermen qeocted for the most part art
out Of the worst elements. Occasionally the
Hoard lnclndes a lew respectable men. but
these run the risk Of losing their character
when they enter into such an organization We
must reform the Board or abolish 1t. Any sue
cessiul municipal reform, will demand a new
hands OF the vicious classes and provide for
the election Of the Aldermen upon u general
ticket instead OF BY wards. rs now. The Mayor |
pointees. "
Ibe phrase Citizens movement has no ir- |
charm, and may prove a mere will. |
Q the wisp leading us into Quagmires deeper |
man we have yet known. Let the Church 10 |
pal reform"