The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-02-10
H WEEKLY TRIBUNE,
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY IL. 1888.
ORGANIZE A CRUSADE.


day on existing evils in American cite
in general. and our own in particular
were not intended as a merely cursor.
reference. but us a deliberate reminde
to the people Of this city that the tint
for serious action regarding these things
is at hand.
1t behooves the ministers as well a!
the press and all good citizens to loir
their forces for an active crusade in the
direction of municipal reform and the
suppression of vice. 1t is the purpose o
this artic to point out some OF the
methods that might be employed to at
tain the desired end. Let all differences
Of sect and religious opinion be buried
for the occasion and her decide upon q
plan of campaign, knowing in advance
about what methods are to be employed
and the definite purpose that is to be
achieved.
In attempting to suppress VICE little
reliance can be placed in state or nation
al laws, but municipal regulations may
be made as strong and far reaching as
the convictions Of the people. Though
there is no state law as yet ia operation
which prohibits gambling dens or broth
els. both of these evils may be absolutely
suppressed in 4 city whose inhabitants,
or a majority of them, are opposed to
their existence. We take it that no
argument is needed to prove that both
are great wrongs, which are a tax upon
the public, d menace to the young. and
an unauthorized curse from every point
Of view. Nobody will deny that the out
cas-: women are deserving of pity, and
that their terrible vocation ought not
to be allowed. Nor will any citizen
whose opinion is of value claim that the
gambler is not u distinct evil and NUS
ance that ought to be abateu.
Men are ready to begin this good work,
and women ARE ready to help them with
it. The object being the complete sup
preston of both the evils named, it is
desirable that the city officials should
cooperate heartily with the citizens, and
a committee of public safety might be
formed by way of securing effective or
ganization. A writer who is quoted in
the Review of Reviews for February has
this to say on this particular phase of
municipal reform:
We shall be brought into constant
contact with the city officials. They
aust be made to understand that our
object is to cooperate with them in the
discharge Of their duty; to raise 20 I'M
Just prejudice against them; to put no
nindrances in their way so long as they
are engaged in the administration Of
their offices. We shall be glad to find,
in any case, hat these affairs are honestly
aud efficiently administered. We shall
be ready to give the full need Of approval
to any official who shows himself mind
full of his oath and his honor. We do
not purpose to NEEDLE with any man
who is doing his duty. But we are en-
titled. as citizens, as the responsible
rules Of this community, TO know
whether our employees are doing their
duty or not; and we are determined to
tino out. If they are not doing
Their duty we mean to know why.
1t may be they are crippled or embar-
raised by bad forms of organization. 1t
be that their failure is largely due
to the poor tools which we have furnish
ed them. If so W. must give them bet
ter tools. But whatever the reason
may be, we are going to bring it to the
light Of day.
Neither violence nor injustice need be
to any one, As with the Chinese.
so with the objectionable people referred
to. There are plenty Of places where
they can 90 and dwell unmolested and
tind abundance Of congenial company.
They must be given ample time to dis
pose e their property, and to arrange
for a new place Of residence, but they
must learn once for all that Great Falls
is forever closed against them.
It is worse than idle and useless for
religious people. s~o-stylCl. to 60 into
their churches at stated hours and sit
through "a perfunctory service of no mat
ltl "l-aL ltl3iH vi Au uNNDi' bA' "a
.perfunctory and formal worship is sup
pIemcnted 10y actual effort 10 the field Of
the world for the betterment Of man
kind. The world has reached a point at
which more than ever before in the way
Of practical results, is expected from re-
ligious people, Wonderfully significant
are the signs Of the times and periIous-
ly near are ]upheavais OF human forces
such as have never been known on earth.
Tn" very definition and purpose Of re-
iigious agencies are being changed. and
the great labor leader Of England. John
Burns. who is a good deal Of thinker as
well as a close and accurate observer OF
passing events, says Of it: ''Religion
only retains its hold on people in SO far
as it ceases to be d spiritual agency, and
vies with social and political agencies in
attending to the material wants of the
people"
While this paper does not take exactly
this view it does say that religious socie-