The morning call., 1892-11-06

The corruption and utter rottenness of the
government of all our large cities at the
present time? How can American inst;tu-
hons escape going down TO disgrace and
failure If this state of things continues?
The citles-all of the cties-controlled
and ruled as they are by the lowest Of the
low. must roison the springs of all national
political life and drag this great country to
ruin or despotlsm if no change is wrought.
10 purify politics and government you must
begin with the cities, and, in this view of
the case, ho. pitiful and short-sishted is
the cry OF the few who still adhere to party
shibboleth in local politics, and tell us that
we must not leave our party in voting. l
do not leave my party in voting Nom
Partisan local ticket, nor did / dream
OF leaving it In any shape until 1t
was captured by ruffians who stole the
name and soiled its record to serve them
selves and the devil thereby. No mar can
any longer claim to be good American cit
izen who In local affairs is not willing to
drop party that lie may save the city and
country.
And now let me draw a pict ure for YOU
In closing. Suppose 1t could be announced
Tomorrow that few Of the fathers of this
repubiic-say Washington, Jefferson, Hamil-
ton aud Madison-were to revisit this
earth OF ours again. and that IL was an
nonnced hat they were to appear first in
San Francisco, ia such case the question of
their reception would be In ali minds and
on all tongues. And / ask you all here as
sembleds and the people Of this city. who
would dare TO face these men, in view
OF the TACT that all of US would know that
the first questions they would ask would
not be whether this republic had grown In
territory, population. wealth, trade, inland
and maritime commerce. celerity of CON-
municstion and In all possible phases of
material development. Those men would
all be greatly. nay. intensely interested In
all OF these questions. but these would not be
the questions in which they would show the
hrst or deepest interest.
You ali we'll know that they would be far
more interested in another and vastly more
vital matter. Their deepest interest and
first question would be. How is the Repub-
lie progressing in self-government? in lib
erty, the purity Of the ballot-box, equal
rights and just taxation. constantly using
higher level and attaining greater stability
and greater safety? Aud 1t would be be-
cause of the inevitable answer that they are
not. especially ia our cities, that none of
ception If these immortal men were again to
revisitthis world. You would have to tell
them, as general questions descended into
local ones. how and by whom this city is
ruled. Aud you know you would be asked
the question, alter you had described the
rampant rottenDess OF local polities-what
have you-yot-YoU-done to cleanse or
purify this city 20 protect your property
and homes, and. above all, to discharge
your debt, through the city. to this great
country? All the answer you could make
Is that all American cities are so ruled.
This would be your best answer and excuse.
But ask you II 1t Is valid answer and a
good excuse2
Which of us have paid or ever fully can
pay our debts to this great republic and to
the great men who made 1t In the first case,
and 10 such men as Lincoln, who saved it
from dissolution In the second? We are all
so intent on making money. In shaving In
our business. In enjoying our homes. and In
the pursuit u personal ambitions and
pleasures that We have no time for the most
sacred patriotic duties. So, too, they were
engaged In the OLD World until the de uge
came. And the deluge Is not far off. II no
effort Is TO De made by us to, do our duty.
Above and beyond the fathers OF the re-
public is God. TO whom we all owe supreme
duty and fealty. He requires us to be men
and to stand up for purity, justice and
honor In our city, State and national life
L am not now in closing. talking to you
about comparatively petty local affairs,
| only In so far as they bear, and they do
bear most heavily, on broader. higher and
much more important Affairs because