The record-union., 1891-07-29

ernment. They are vital principles, but
when under the latter the purpose of
bringing government near to the people
is avoided, local government is made
machine, and in most cases a corrupt and
venal agency, there is danger to the other
principle. We have saved the Union by
war; it is now the question how to save
the cities in peace, from becoming assail-
ants of the Federal Union. For city in
the hands of corrupt bosses and low
scheming politicians, is used as power
to control in national matters. We must
have local government; States, counties,
cities are the means to it, but the means
must be sufficient, and in the case of
municipalities manipulated by schemers
for selfish purposes. and used as stepping
stones to greater achievements Of infamy,
the purpose of creating the means fails.
Just so far as the people in munici-
palities are by the schemes of the trading
and trafficikng bosses robbed of their
right to locally govern, the Union itself
is assailed. AS MI. Adams puts it:
Weaken either principle Of our Government,
and its integrity is in peril. Attack the
Union, and you threaten the life OF the re-
public. Attack the selfgovernment of town
and city, and you simply shift your point of
approach; you are aiming still at the life of
| the land. 1t is safe to assert that an attack
| has already begun on the principle of self
government of town and city. Our municipal
governments are ceasing to be "a government
| of the people, for the people, by the people,"
| They are now governments ''by the boodlers,
OF the boodlers, and for the boodlers." Our
| cities and towns are in the hands of oligarch-
les made up for the most part of men who
make trade of politics for what it will bring.
This is q new threat to the national life.
This is strong Indictment, but just so
far as its counts are sound there is in
municipal misgovernment danger to the
national life. Reforms in great number
have been inaugurated to correct the
evils complained of, and the secret bal
lot is one of the most potential; the
| devotedly sympathetic labor to assuage
the woes of poverty and suffering in our
cities; organizations of citizens to scrutin-
ize public accounts and affairs in cities
have been formed in great number; but it
yet remains the autocratic power in muni-
cipalities that draws its vitality from the
low orders of human beings in great
cities who are theoretically free, but in
reality in chains and bondage to these
task-masters, still hold the reins and die
tate to the great parties the terms upon
which municipal strength can be de-
livered to order.
The undesirable foreign clement largely
drifts to and locates in the cities and
there remains; it is trained during it's
probation to the uses of the local auto
Gratis, and on its coming into citizenship
is, in most part, enslaved by these politi-
cal potentates. A large percentage, con-
siderably more than half of the element,
is wholly untitled for citizenship or the
exercise of its functions, and the remain
der is Indifferent to it's obligations.
How to remedy the increasing evil
power in cities, and wrest from it the
control that belongs to the people, is the
really dif1icult problem of the time. Mr..
Adams finds in appeal to the patriotic
spirit the most direct means:
The same patriotism which was summoned
to defend the Union thirty years ago is now
under call to defend the cities of the Union
To defend them will not be easy 1t must be
confessed; the obstacles are most dishearten-
! ing. There must be q revival of local patriot
ism; but that implies some local pride which
again implies personal identification of the
citizen with the city, the establishment of
cannot solve the municipal problem until we
have discovered whether we can Americanize
our foreigners, and teach them even the rudi-
ments of our system. These two problems must
be solved together. There are hopeful signs
that this can be done. The work Of enlight-
eminent, however, needs to be pushed with
persistence assduity and intelligence It a
task both long and arduous; nor can we hope
to see 1t accomplished until we ourselves,
Americans, to the manner born, realize It's
intimate connection with the perpetuity and
integrity of our institutions.