The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-24
1t ControIs Conventions, LegiS-
latureS and the Nations
Congress.
AN OPINION OF BALLoT.THIEvEs
What a Grand Juror, Who Was Sur
priSed, Said of Judge
Belcher.

Jury" was the title of an address delivered
by Rev. G. o. Brown in the presence of a
large congregation at the First Congrega-
tional Church last evening.
DR.. Brown stated that on the previous Sun
day evening parts of his address had been
received with marks of loud approval such
as clapping of hands and he expressed the
hope that in future there would not be any
more such demonstrations.
DR.. Brown then began his address with
interesting facts in reference to growth of
great cities which have been the center of
power in all elections. They control
Legislatures and Congresses. Corruption
in the cities means corruption in National
conventions and National legislation. He
then said:
The publication of our cities, therefore, at
the present time, is no matter of mere local i'm
portance. 1t is the nobleSt duty of true pa
triotism. The people began to realize this
corrupting Tweed ring of New York City was
robbing the city of millions and thought itself
strong enough to defy not only popular senti-
ment but the courts When Samuel j. Tilden
overthrow Boss Tweed he was the hero of the
hour. The Nation recognized him as a
great patriot and almost made him Presi-
dent. When DR.. Parkhurst overEhrew the
corrupt city government OF New York
few. months ago he became
National hero. 1t would not be at all strange
If his splendid heroism should yet make him
President of the United States. The politicians
have not said It. say 1t; and there are thou
sands of voters, upon whom politicians de-
pend, WHO are hoping that some man may yet
be President who knows how to clean up our
corrupt city governments. 1t may be we need
man who knows all about the great problems
of state that have their center in ''pig from
and 'wOol," but we need more q man who
knows the eternal difference between right
and wrong. We need man who KNOWS that
we must have pure city government or our
liberties are doomed. This movement for civic
righteousness all over the country means
something.
when one wins a victory shows that the people
are awakening TO the vital question of the
hour. 1t shows that the time is at hand when
American citizens in American cities will no
longer submit to the corruption of their police
departments and their police courts. II shows
that we are near to the time when gamblers
cannot openly defy the law while police officers
look on. 1t prophesies the coming day, when
the voters in American cities will not permit
corrupt bosses TO rule the conventions
the Governor OF the State. In other
words the politicians may as well take
q lesson from New York City. The forces of
righteousness are waking up. City politics
must get farther away from the nit and nearer
10 the law of God. 1t must recognize that
righteousness eXalts nation. The city of New
York is in better repute to-day than it has
been for twenty years Why? Because she has
shaken off the bosses. Why? Because she has
moved her Police Department and her whole
City Hall nearer to righteousness. The move
ment will save TO the people millions of dol
lars which the dishonest crowd would have
stolen.
The recent and much discussed report of the
Grand Jury marks a new line in the rising tide
of civic righteousness. That report is out of
the ordinary because its authors felt that some
thing extraordinary was needed. 1t is out of
the ordinary because the members OF the Grand
Jury felt the impulse of this movement for
righteousness. Its authors are patriotic men
and they feel that the great evils which have
cursed our City ought to be corrected. In their
treatment of these evils they may have eX-
pressed themselves in some cases without suf-
hciently guarding their language. 1t may be
that the Implication of censure exists in GER
tain directions and to a degree which they
did not intend. If so it is well for the Chief
would not be expected thata document of such
gravity, pointing out great evils which need to
be corrected, would go without challenge.
But upon the whole that report is saying in
its own way: "The government of this City
needs TO be more righteous in order that the
City may be more exalted"
The fact is that there have been great. per-
sistent, fragrant violations of law. Everybody
knows this. Wives and mothers know it.
They cannot do their shopping in the most
crowded quarters of this City without knowing
it, They honor the Grand Jury for fearlessly
calling attention 10 these places which defy
law and decency in the very presence OF the
police.
There are houses OF evil resort by the score
in the very heart of the City. The Grand Jury
mas dared to say When the Civic Fedora
ton said this the Police Department. said, sit
IS not So" But now it is compelled to pay
attention. All honor to the Grand
Jury for saying it. The eyes of the people are
fore), but to the fact that the attention of the
police had been officially called to it. That is
q fact from which the authorities can never
escape till the heart OF this City is purged OF its
iniquity. Think of two houses OF evil resort
under the very shadow of one of our public
schools one of which had been there for
adj hx-t
Think OF the proprietors OF such places boast
ing of their ''pull." To whom was the other
end of the rope fastened? Give me his name
and will publish it from this pulpit.
No wonder the Grand Jury censures the
police for permitting these things. That Gen.
sure which caused the closing OF these places
was in the direction of righteousness. Go on
Grand Juryl There are thousands OF your fell
low-citizens who wish that with such a record
your power could be perpetuated You have
eyes that can see the crying evils of the City.
Your fellow-citiZens may want sorae of you to
serve in other capacities. The atmosphere is
favorable TO men who can find out where evils
are and can close them up.
Take what the Grand Jury says about cleo
ton frauds. We are American citizens We
know that our liberties depend upon the pur-
ity of the ballot. The freedom wherein we
stand as citizens cost a great price. Martyrs
and heroes by the thousand died to make our
liberties possible. The man who corrupts the
ballot in any way is almost or quite as bad as
amurderer. He is the assassin oil liberty. He
would murder free government. If treason
should be punished with death the ballot cor
rupter ought to be punished with something
almost severe. There is no state of the pub
lie mind more dangerous to liberty than that
which regards the corruption of the ballot as a
trifing matter to be easily condoned.
We all know that great crimes were COM
mitted at some of the polling-places in this
City last fall. Some persons did attempt to
defeat the will of the people by classifying the
returns. Some OF these persons have been
tried and condemned by due process of law
They do not now think that ballotstealing is a.
trifling matter. The Grand Jury has spoken on
this subject in language which is unequlvocal
That report win make the work of classifying
returns exceedingly difficult and hazardous in
the future. 1t has helped to arouse the people
When such crimes against free government are
committed some one ought to investigate The
Grand Jury, sworn TO the honorable perform
ance of its duty, did investigate. In some in
stances it did locate the crime.
When such crimes have been committed
some one ought 10 speak. The Grand Jury has
spoken. 1t was their duty to speak according
to the facts which they found. 1t may as well
be understood now that the revival of civic
righteousness is upon US.
1t may as well be understood that the people
do not longer propose to endure silently the
assassination of liberty by the ballot stealer
In my address last Sunday evening quoted
the following six lines from this part of the
report which contains the reference to Judge
Belcher. These were the words which /
quoted: