The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-10-22
'UTIES OF CITIZENSHIP.
~- o INTERPRETING SPEECHES Bf RSMYTH ANDJUDGE BALDWIN.
'sG e Who Don't Know What Is Going q Nun cipal AnaIrsy-EvIis of Policy 'ng-Foily O. A Mans Saying Ho wv Vote Only for Christsans.


 delivered at the Dwight Place church last evening by Rev. Dr. Newman Smyth. pastor of Center church, and Judge Simeon E. Baldwin on "The Duties of Citizenship" There was large congregation present, who lis- tened to the addresses with the closest attention.
 Dr. Smyth spoke In part as follows:
 How many men there are who take great interest in our national affairs. but leave the city's affairs out of their thought altogether. Many of our citi- zens read faithfully their New York Tribune and Evening Post and have an intelligent idea of what Is going on in Washington and yet don't know as much about the city hall affairs as a newsboy on the street. The great moral cause of our present progress Is not the unity of nations, but the in- tegrity of the local units, of which nations are made. It Is the welfare of the nerve centers Of our nation that are at stake. This problem of local citizenship is in some respects a hope full one. We ought to divorce 1t more from our national life, although I would not exagerrate too much the independence of the local government It seems to me absurd. however, that there should be any connection between the question as to how streets should be paved, and who shall be president of the United States. Are there not here questions which we as neighbors should take up and settle in busi- ness way like we would any questions which pertain to purely business mat ters? What we want to do after our national and state elections is to take hold of our municipal elections and put in office men. who are honest, who have no jobs to put through, nor any sons, brothers, uncles or cousins fresh from Ireland or from anywhere else to put in off1ce God in heaven! Is there not enough virtue in New Haven to do this? There is no use in un- derestimating the power of evil. The evils of policy playing as existing in this city were first brought to my at tention by some school teachers, who had known of their pupils playing. I was told that it was merely a passion of our colored brethren, but I found that 1t pervaded d all classes and con- ditions of people-clerks in stores, men with 8 weeks wages in their pockets and merchants who were not at all 10th to putting ten-dollar bill into the game I then realized the extent of the evil In the policy business we have to fight a business of between $400,OO0 and $500,oO0. It is, too, an i'm I mense power of political corruption. Y
 This civic warfare is going to con-. tinue whether the people support it or not. Some hand will grasp the ban ner that has been unfurled., There are some evil things in this city that will be buried beneath memorial stones placed there by her citizens. The power of evil in a community can be measured, but who can reckon the power of righteousness? Open your eyes and behold the hosts of the Lord, for they are with us'
 Judge Baldwin then spoke. He said:
 Religion in modern life has come to signify more than 1t once did. A prominent western senator remarked that the Decalogue was no set rule which a politician could follow. It was not long, however, before he lost his seat, due no doubt partly at least, to the baseness of character revealed in such an utterance.
 "But we must be fair to our politi- cal opponents. It is a matter of Chris tian duty for every man to decide with what school of politics he shall iden- tify himself It is matter to which he should give his careful considera- tion. You owe it to your country. In- difference is a kind of treason to your country, What would you think of a that was never in his seat? In Belgium there is law that every elector must vote or pay pen- atty to the state, and in one; at least, of our states in the municipal elec- tions similar law is in force No Christian should need such a law, how ever, to show him his duty. ...--.
 At recent Boston ministers meet ing representative of the Y. P. s. c. E. said that we should vote only for Christians. Now this is evidently a wrong idea and sentiment. While we may expect to find among Christians honesty, industry and courtesy, mans being a Christian does not imply that he has ability, knowledge, skill, fore sight or business experience, and hon esty, industry and courtesy charac- terizes many man who does not style himself Christian. To say I will vote only for a Christian Is to go back two centuries in the history of New England. A man who says that will next say, will vote only for Christians of my own denomination any way of thinking. Religion has a high place in politics, but not in that way. Don't let us forget anywhere the duties of Christian charity. But while we may respect an antagonist that is no reason why we should stop fighting him. Government cannot be as it should be unless the Christian people of a community take an active part in the election. The too, is an immense oppor- tunity of exerting an influence. What could pr. smyth Asvc done without them in this workf eF
 ..All Christian people should exert their influence against the great power of coy.yuntion Ne have had so Rr.<, ,.f,,i