The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-23
FOR CHRISTIAN POLITICS.
From the Times-Herald.

From the Times Herald.
Mayor Swifts recent statement. that
there ought to be no need OF a Civic Fed
Grafton In Chicago: the city ought to be
Its own civic federation" emphasizes the
need or a line Of work being done by an
other organization. the National Citizen
ship League. wich had It's birth In Chi
cago. and which has become national In
Its organization and influence. The exist
ence Of the Civic Federation. the presence
OF Its men and wagons upon our streets.
may be in some respects a reflection upon
official municipal methods, but II is also
an honor to the private citizens whose ef-
forts and gifts have made the federat!on's
work what II Is. 1t ought to be unneccs-
sary for private citizens to clean our
streets and enforce our laws. The fact
that II Is necessary shows very low state
OF civic patriotism. II reveals the fact
that the citizenship of Chicago Is careless
as to the Importance Of electing honest
men to office, and that boodlers and ring
sters have readily commanded the sup
port OF reputable citizens. simply because
they. by hook or crook. secured the noml-
nation on their party ticket.
-:-:-
Our citizens have toasted their shins at
home or at the club. while the gang has
run the caucus and primaries. This has
been true In both the leading parties.
What Is true of Chicago is largely true of
the whole country, for the same causes
produce like effects in our legislatures
congress and the senate. The reproof Tor
these things should not be laid alone at the
door OF the corrupt politician or boodler
He Is greatly In the minority, II heads
were counted. and buys the public virtue
simply because II Is for sale cheap, or
steals 1t because the public is too lazy to
prevent it. The blame rests clearly and
unm!stakably upon the so-called better
class OF citizens who claim high respect
Nh hrlt xr,hf thNvt In yNIIh
Is leading cause of public corruption.
Particularly is this true Of the Christian
men of this city and nation whose stand
ard of profession is so high that 1t should
be impossible that their citizenship be
either careless or corrupt.
-
The National Christian Citizenship
League is laboring to correct the preva-
lent evils by going to the root of the mat
ter and combining the forces of righteous
ness against the forces of evil. 1t teaches
a patriotism which Is loyal first to that
righteousness which "exalteth a nation"
1t urges all honest men to the discharge Of
their citizenship duties at the caucus and
primary. the sources of power" In our
government. 1t Is organizing local leagues
in all parts of this and other states, from
the Atlantic to the Pacific. The work of
these auxiliary leagues Is locally to pre-
vent the nomination and election OF cor
rupt officials, and to secure fidelity on the
part of officers intrusted with the execu-
ton of the laws. Cooperating In state
and national matters. they are already
doing effective work on legislation and In
arous.ng public sentiment.
-:-:-
The work is primarily upon Christian
men-men who profess to desire to see the
will of God done on earth-but church
membership Is not condition Of member
ship in the league. The headquarters of
the national body is at 1853 I.aSalle street,
Chicago, from whence II sends out large
amounts of literature and numerous speak
ers and organizers. There are 100000
Christian voters IN this country. Allied
to them are at least 1900, 900 voters Of high
or.rcple. though not church members.
The balance of power Is, therefore. In
Christian hands. In their opposition to
evil these forces have been united and ag-
gressive. as are the saloon and other in
terests. To secure this unity of purpose
and action is the aim of the national
league. The success already attained
gives promise of large efficiency in the fu-
ture. The plans of the league are every
where received with enthusiastic indorse-
ment and cooperation. 1t is not an effort
to combine state and church, or to govern
the state through the church, but to make
Christian principles instead OF greed for
gain or Office the ruling motive In public
affairs.