Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-29
GOOD GOVERNMENT URGED
Discussed at a Public Meeting
Tuesday Evening.
MUNICIPAL REFORM ADVOCATED
A Large and Representative
Audience Present.
Addresses Delivered by Father Flynn,
Presiding Elder Barrett, William Il.
Crosby, Harry EinmOns and Bishop
Coieman-Sone remedies Suggested.

BOou government was ublQ lueSuhy /
night in the Opera House. 1t was called
by the Delaware Union for Public Good |
and was attended by large and repre-
sentative gathering.
Among those who occupied the stage !
were: Mayor Shortlidge, Bishop Cole |
man, Presiding Elder Barrett, the Revs. |
Dennis j. Flynn, William p. Swartz, S. |
j. Meeser, Thomas j. Mason, Merritt |
Hulburd, d. d., H. Ashton Henry,
William w. Taylor, George O. Hall, j.
b. Quigg and Albert r. Walker, Chief |
Justice Lore, Judge Marvel, General
Secretary Dow Of the Young Mems |
Christian Association, Police Commits
sioner Pyle, Chief of Police Dolan,
Water Commissioner Pickles. School
Directors Baird, Morgan and Magarity,
Superintendent Of Schools Harlan,
Clerk of the Market Feaster, Charles S.
Rowland, Alfred Gawthrop, William S.
Prickett, T. Allen Hilles, job II. jack
son. Eleazer Ainsworth, William X,
Crosby, James Morrow, L. A. Murphy,
Harry Eminons, Isaac L, johnson, II.
$. Goldcy, David McCloskey, l.. w.
Palmer and Elwood Garrett.
Mr.. Rowland opened the meeting and
announced that Mayor Shortidge would
preside. DR.. Hulburd offered prayer.
The speeches were made by Father
Flynn, Presiding Elder Barrett, Mr..
Crosby, Mr.. Emmons and Bishop Cole
man. Each speaker was repeatedly APP
plauded. Music was furnished by the
Opera House orchestra.
Father Flynn stated that if he had
thought the meeting would have any
political significance or were intended as
general assault on the municipal gov.
eminent in general and the police
force in particular he would not have
anything to do with it and. least of all,
if he had thought il were to have any
sectarian character he would not have
been present. Two months ago he had
the pleasure or suggesting the meeting.
To the public the chief object of the
Law and Order Society seems to be OPP
position to the extension of the rum
traffic. That, lie explained, is not its
only object. 1t wishes to hold up to tho
people the highest standard of virtue.
1t desires 10 say to public men that
there is only one intlexible and un-
changing code of morals, that they can't
put on one garb for dress parade and
wear another ON other occasions. 1t re-
CARDS the saloon in its true character. IL
looks on it rs temptation and, as men
who prize the fair fame of our city, its
members are unwilling to look upon the
devastation which the saloons cause.
The existing evils will cease to
exist when the people rise and say these
encroachments shall come no further.
He advocated the creation of high and
healthy condition of public opinion.
The judges, he said, simply grant what
the people ask. In crying out against
the licensing of saloons the people
should not blame the Judge but the men
who sign the applications for licenses.
He declared that it is prc-eminently I'M
fair to blame the police force for many
of the evils which exist and asserted
that they are due to the apathy of the
people. Let us enforce the law and
strengthen it, he exclaimed. The citi-
zens arc ultimately the custodians of
the law and if the people understood
this many municipal reforms would be
easy. He referred to the charges of vote
buying, made by both political parties,
and asked: isn't it shames"
Public impurity, he continued, is
blighting our social and private life.
THIS is Christian land, but there is in
It much thai fills us with concern. He
suggested as remedies that thoy teach
the people what the law is, that they
teach the children that intemperance is
u sin, that they cleanse the people and
elevate them and that they seek to in-
cuIcate in all branches of society sound
g, and healthy opinions. In conclusion
he said: "JJet us go slow about the
separation of church and State. BY
that mean God and State, religion and
State. 1t will be cursed day when the
church is divorced from the State.
Church and State means religion and
morality brought in our daily life. Let
the fear of God go with US and then
We'll have happy and virtuous com.
munity. Let US do all we can to elevate
our social and private life"
Presiding Elder Barrett said right.
eous and wicked forces are struggling
for the possession Of our cities. The
city is the centre of our civilization
Everything that stands in the way Of
good government ought to be speedily
removed. The liquor saloon is per
sistent, deadly and uncompromlsing fot
of good government in our cities. lgnor
ance is another evil force. Good gov
eminent depends in great sense on the
intelligence of the citizens. In this re
public an ignorant man is dangerous
man. The ignorant voter is menace
to republican institutions. We canno
be too earnest in our efforts to protec
the ballot box. The ignorant man is
plant tool for the corruption of the
ballot. Political corruption is one O
the great dangers in our city to
day and it is danger against which
we should struggle. Poverty, not thu
poverty which spurs to ambition, blu
the poverty which means privatior
and death, is another dangerous force
He suggested two reforms: First, WI
must annihilate the saloon. No TEN
porizng measure will avail. Whethe
the license be high or low the salool
stands for all that is bad In the com
munity. 1t must come out of the com
munity. Second, we must strengthen
and support our public schoo4 system
Education must be accompanied b,
moral development. The young ma
must be morally developed as well a
intellectually educated The youn
man should be taught that if q voter
hands are backened by a bride Ii
should be driven from the ballot DO
with the lash of Acknowledgement. Tn
church of the past, he added, dealt to
much in the realm OF the soul. Tn
mission of Christians is to uproot evi
If we fail in this we fail in our grea
mission. He said in conclusion: "Lt
us agitate. God is on our side and til
people are ON our side. Conquer W
must and conquer we will"
Mr.. Crosby thought our supreme nee
is higher and better type of indiviGu,
citizen. The evil forces in. our cor