The morning call., 1892-08-16
In FOR MUNICIPAL REFORM.
The Congregational Club Adopts
Vigorous Policy.
Formation of Committee of Five-Dr. Ponds
Able Paper-Combination and Consolida-
tion Urged-Ihe Eagle Club

day afternoon. President d. G. Dexter
was in the chair A vote was taken and it
was decided that the press representatives
should bo admitted. 1t would be wise
action on the part OF the club if the decision
would apply TO all its meetings
Rev. DR.. w. c. Pond read an able and ex-
haustive paper on Municipal Reform"
which was also the subject of President
Dexter's paper read at the last meeting
After some preliminary remarks, DR.. Pond
said: I'VE have been accustomed to speak
of San Francisco as the wickedest and worst
governed city in the country. and perhaps
in all Christendom 1t is poor comfort to
find that others are worse than we. but
that comfort, such as it is we can claim. :"
He had been reading in the Christian Union
accounts of the state of things in Louisville
Ky, and IN Chicago. which referred TO
the fearful vice and corruption of every de-
scriptiOn carried on openly in these cities
le then scathmgly denounced Tammany
Hall.
There is" be said. nothing worse than
Iammany IN San Francisco. Even the Gre
morne was not worse. The fact that NUM-
clpal government in all the land is as bad as
ours makes more imperi0us tie demand that
good citizens look the facts full IN the face
and prepare and apply some antidote to the
poison, whose existence in the very life
blood of the commonwealth these serious
facts imply. 1t viii not do to delay any
longer. " e see candidates for the h CHEST
Offices in the gift of the people trucking to
Iammany. Defeat has not disarmed it.
BANQUETING THE BOSS.
''Men Of the highest Tespectabllity in San
Francisco banQueted the man whom Little
Pete the woulG-be boss of Chinatown,
apuy characterized as the Blind White
Devil banQUeted the man whose business
was TO sell out municipal positions and the
votes of our Supervisors; banqueted the
man who, as l have been assured by a re-
SpOnsible citizen Of San Francisco thai had
had chance TO know, sold out the party Of
which he was the boss (at the last election)
for $50, 900, made the bargain aud was able
TO deliver the goods. Il is true the banquet
preceded the consummatiOn of this bargain
and that the Blind White Devil is just now
in exile from the realm he ruled too well,
but MS miniOns and his spirit still are here;
and the elections in our city, which should
be pure aud sacred. the expression Of the
honest judgment Of thoughtful. patriotic
citizens. are the sham battles Of bosses, and
these posses for the most pat have their
headquarters in their own saloons.
What shall be done about II? What
have we as ministers to do about it? Much
every way. Can We do anything? 1t was
assumed not long ago that We could not. as
Christians and as ministers | blush to
think tamely l have heard il whispered:
Yes, you ministers could do something.
but you must work on the sly. If people
think that the preachers are behind the
movement that VIII kill ii forthwith |
think We had the opportunity OF learning q
better or a braver wisdom"
He referred TO popular movements of re-
form inaugurated by ministers. and held
that IL municipal government was to be
reformed in San Francisco, Christian min
listers and those like-mlnded with them
must be in the thjckeSt OF the fight.
THERE MUST BE CLOSE WORK.
ttW hat pap ba done W0 pan faoob nd
preach with all b0.dness that a good Chris
tian is a good citizen as matter of course.
We can teach that ability is coatermluous
with duty; that opportunity brings CORE
spending reSponsi blity, and that the man
who can vote and does not vote-no matter
what inconvenience OF cost it involves
needs TO consider carefully how he stands
in the view Of his master, Jesus Christ.
We can teach that one. for the sake Of an
outing on a legal holiday, or for the sake of
ease at home, or to give the day up 10 quiet
work in his closed cOGnting-r0Om, neglects
his duty at the ballOt-bOx, comes exactly in
with that wicked and slothful servant whom
the master bids men 10 bind and cast forth
into utter darkness.
There must be-must be close work with
our people upon this point. We can teach
and preach the Christian duty of voting al
every election. but this does not exhaust
our responsibility. We must enforce the
duty of seeing 10 it that our votes GARY in
them al the power Tor righteousness that
can be crowded into them. Our votes
ought not to be scattered. 1t is possible to
concentrate. IL is possible TO meet organ
lied evil with organized good. Some sort
of combination must be made No more
effective missionary service could to-day be
rendered than 10 create such a combination
Of all gooG citizens 10 throw their votes
neither for men without principles nor for
principles without men TO enforce them,
but for upright men fearing God and work
ing righteousness. Why could not an asso-
citation be formed with trustworthy officers
so salaried tnat they can give their whole
time 10 watching the operations of our
municipal government, looking Up the
records Of the candidates for every position,
and giving the people the results OF their
lDVestlgallOns?"
After referring to organizations of this
character IN the city, he said: But il good
citizens insist on dividing after this sort they
may almost as we'll stay at nome oB election
day. The bosses will win the fight and d.
vide the spoils, and these spoils will con-
stitute their sInews OF war for easier VIC
tories in the future.
INFORMATION FOR HONEST MEN.
''W hat is needed is reliable information
Tor honest men as TO the candidates they
are voting for. and then a union of all such
men IN voting Tor such and such only as
are thus recommended. These men should
be enabled 10 give their whole time to a
matter so Important and in character ana
judicial positions. But they ought not to
be appointees Of the State, but sustained
by voluntary offerings, thus kept depen-
dent upon and in touch with the men who
will rely upon their counses.
zone thing and but one would make
such plan work steadily and well. 1t is
clear that it would save In taxes much more
than if would cost. but this will not make
il work. II is clear that il would give us a
decent, self-respectng city government,
.gyIth mt Crah arrriar
the saloons and dives, but this will not
make II work. 1t Is clear that its effect will
be 10 draw toward US the elements OF popu-
Iation which we desire, and TO raise the
value of our real estate in raising the good
name Of our community, but that will not
make il work.
Nothing will make it work permanently,
steadily, tTustwOrthily, except a spirit Of
self-sacrlhce, prlneipled and not merely i'm
pulsiYe, such as is brea:hed into human
hearts only by Christ himself. We wosld
not be members Of such an organization as
prOfessedl Christians; we would avoid the
slightest semblance in il Of union of church
and state; but II il is to be maintained in
corrupt, true TO its purpose, clear from
every form Of evil, its real motive power
must come from the very gospel Of Christ
himself And only an earnest ministry Of
God-fearlng, Christ-serying churches can
provide for this
1T will notbe the first time, and It perhaps
10 tiiC ifists ludb III SOIlc GIBBS Vi us
affairs liberty. genuine democracy, has been
obhged TO 90 back 10 its parent, the Chris
tlan church, for the resources without which
1t could not be maintained.
THE RESOURCES.
The churches must be prepared 10 afford
such resources. IL is their business first to
save individual souls, and then and by that
means to save ana elevate and purify society.
the state. And it Is part Of our business as
ministers OF Christ to see that this work is
well done.
''Ihe preacher has the ear of the best
people. He should follow the fearlessness
OF tile two great masters of preaching, John
the Baptst and Christ. In q true sensa