New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-27
FELIX ADLER,S RINGING APPEAL.
BE CALLS UPON THE RESPECTABLE PEOPLE OF
THE CITY TO SAVE NETWORK
FROM DISGRACE.

THE CITY TO SAVE NEW-1Onh
FROM DISGRACE.
Chckertnv Hall was crowded to It's full capacity
Yesterday morning at the first meeting this fall OF
the Society for Ethical Culture The speaker was
Professor Felix Adler his subject being The Issues OF
Municipal Reform The hearty applause that was
given the speaker when he had ended showed that his
audience thoroughly appreciated his manner OF hand
ling the subject. Professor Adlers address was
intensely earnest and eloquent. He said in part
We are filled with feelings OF mingled pity and con-
tempt when viewing this poor bending intriguing Denoc'
racy Of ours. When consider how public sentiment
La manufactured what false issues raised what Will
o. the-wsps men follow. and how fs,>e the whole hhg
Ls we cannot wonder that when the cry VI isIorm Is
raised people are apt become suspicious The WORD
reform too often shield for some NOR consumnae
ettack on the public good. The cry "Sham REFORM Is
therefore easily raised and easily crft'd anu THIS cry
becomes the greatest obstacle in the path OF genuine re-
farm Rut "a thinking men, should divc,t ourselves
OF this disrust examine the merits OF 'ery reform
movement In this contest over municipal s'aFS III ap-
peal Is made TO the moral forces Of the community Is
there a moral question involved Are moral INTERESTS a'
... - ri. .annaipue want % show this morning
,h. he are such and they VI the no7t serious
kind.
one Of the great functions OF municipal government
the administration justice. and the administration Oh JUS
.,ce ia n moral interest. The police courts are 70 the
great masses people the embodiment OF justice anorahs
rho GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES moral force IN the conf
munty grand opportunities are iost the minute
that suspicion attaches iteelf 10 the court. ihAs
suspicion Is unavoidable when 1t it is noticed tha'
one Judge discharges 80 per cent OF the eN'
oso cases that come before him, when another
under the laws. and for the same onehce' nous
larger percentage trail when an onehuer chooseS ~
in the Court OF General Sessions because ne KNOWS s
his case will never be moved for trial by the DsuicN
ATTORNEYS Office and when It Is known That Two poiice
have tled 70 the good moral Character OF the
owners Of two OF the most abominaole haunts Oh VICE IN
the city, and captains are still retained In tu
rank in the force.
In houses there Is but one apartment iof MAZE
and female ph-oners. The cells are parate Out con-
Ruous standing sometimes back to back and sometimes
face to face, with only iron gratnss
In them confined and women OF the worst aeecriP
ton young girls guilty OF their first Offences anu even
children Every md drunken scream Is heard over
the etre room The women are in charge OF man. ne
doorman This Official from OF the staton-houses mas
cen sent TO State Prison for committing monstrous
crime against one the young girls under his charge
And all this IN face the fact that two years ago Jaw
vs nassd by the legislature enabling city governments
20 establish separate prisons for men and women anu
nroytde women matrons for the latter
There ar, ONLY Of administering ciey govern
mentor the publ. good FOR private interest Inc
educated classes arr blame for the present condition OF
affairs Their lack public spirit has created the oppor
tunes that have allowed thAse monstrouS eFls W grow
~ mountain height. Now there IL a stirring OF new
,r.e-est in the educated and responsible classes It Is
nov, ., a movement that has been felt in al the great
centres OF the country. At Its head are MN
moved ~ the highest motives. Their integrity IL
our guarantee. The interest OF the clergy N Lie
ovement shows that the moral sentiment OF the COM
nunity touched. ,
The election Is drawing near when we must choose.
On the one hand organized band OF men saying Ihas
things been they should be. ana no chahse 10
NEEDED On the other side citizens combined for
r,no.es OF reform Tn. name OF city suggests little
that we have b. proud Of 1t can boast only
Of its wealth 1t is great workshop and pleasure
ground But It Is ely in the true sense us
municipal life is tainted aid revolving because there Is
not enough public spirit maze it otherwise. There Is
roy a glirnnering spark o: better spirit Fan that
shark into rame that this gateway OF the Continent may
become the gate justice; that this city, where our
homes and children ar may be ceansed out"afny
md d. NewYork may become the
,ynonvre for good citizenship, t Is now byword for
the absence OF u.