Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-06-22
IN MODERN BABYLON.
SUPREMACY OF THE SLUMs IN NEW
YORK POLITICS.


Corruption From the Text, Except the
lord Keep the City. the Waterman
walketh bat In Vain"
New YORK, June 11.-Rev. Thomas
Dixon, Jr.. delivered today the eighth
sermon in the series on 1.-THE Gates of
He'll In Modern Babylon" The subject
was one which he may be said to have
made special studies of, extending over
several years, "Official Corruption; or,
The Supremacy of the Sluins." The text
was chosen from Psalms cxxvii, /, eek
cept the Lord keep the city, the watch
l,lan wal 1 bit VAN.
We have seen thus far in our studies
of the city that the evil elements of our
civilization naturally gravitate toward
the civic center. We have seen that the
city is, in fact, the cesspool of the rural
district surrounding, and it is fact that
the lower and viler the elements that
congregate in this center the more buoy
ant they seem to be. There is something
about the pressure of life in the city
which brings the slums to the surface in
government Municipal misrule is one
of the most painful facts of modern life.
Professor Bryce, who has recently issued
his great work on America, makes this
true observation:
There is no denying that the govern
ment of cities is the one conspicuous fail
ure Of the United States. The defcien-
cies Of the national government tell but
little for evil on the welfare of the peo-
pie. The faults of the state governments
are insignificant compared with the ex-
travagance. corruption and mismanage-
ment which mark the administrations of
most of the great cities" He enumer-
ates the chief sources of this evil
''First-Incompetent and unfaithful
governing boards and officers.
"Second-The introduction of state
and national politics into municipal af-
fairs.
"Third-The assumption by the legis-
lature Of the direct control of local af-
fairs"
These undoubtedly are causes of the
present condition of debauchery in city
government. But the chief causes lie
deeper. They are found in the indiffer-
ence and selfishness of the governing
body, for the people who vote are, after
all, the governors of the city. Boards
and councils are their creations. 1t is
the vote on election day that decides the
government for given period of time.
Boards of aldermen, excise boards, are
not self creating The voting constitu-
ency get as good government as they
deserve. As a matter of fact, the peo-
pie are to blame in the last analysis.
We have so many loafers who have at
tanned the age of 81 and are entitled TO
vote, and yet who do not know how to
vote, that it is as yet an impossibility to
obtain decent government in our cities.
The evil minded are in minority, but
selfshness and Indifference leave the
government in the hands of the rabble.
Now and then these pious, well dressed,
elegant people are aroused by some Wig
orous denunciation or some ringing call
to action. Some glaring outrage has
been committed, and they are indignant
for brief season and desire somebody
to do something about it. They would
like to see the fur fly, but they want
somebody else to furnish the fur. When
it comes to be personal matter, it is
none Of their business, they say. They
are in the condition of the little girl who
was heard to finish her evening prayer
some time ago with these words, "And
saw poor little girl ON the street to-
day cold and barefooted, but it is none
of our business, is it, GodY
COLONIAL DANES"
Then we have great many people
who move inwhat they imagine to be So
ciety. They do not vote or take interest
in politics for various reasons. Some of
them have not sense enough; Others
imagine that they degrade themselves.
A well known German scholar visiting
this country was invited to small re-
ception given in a city. Only the most
prominent of the townspeople were
present. He found them well bred, cul-
tured and intelligent He noticed that
most of the men and women present |
wore peculiar little badges of pins, some |
plain enamel, others set with diamonds |
and emeralds. He asked his hostess, |
They are orders of American originy'
YES" was the reply; 1.-THE tokens that |
their wearers belong to the true American
aristocracy. They are colonial danes, |
sons or daughters of the Revolution"
The visitor inquired into the requisites
for membership and was told that the
badges signified that the wearer was pos
sessed of at least one ancestor who had |
served the republic in the Revolution or
as civil officer in colonial days. "And |
the wearers of the badges, he continued,
they also doubtless serve the state.
They are statesmen and politicians"
'Oh, no, indeedr' was the amused reply. |
Americans of this class seldom vote at
all. Politics is considered by them an
unclean trade. 1t is, as a rule. left to
the bosses or men who follow politics as
a livelihood They wear badges, then,
because they are proud that their grand