The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-02
IT IS NOT idle PASTIME
Rev. DR.. Parkhurst Cautions Reform
ers Not to Trifle with Reform.
WHAT 1T MEANS TO FIGHT SIN
Text of an Address Which Every Amer
lean Citizen Ought to Read and d.
gcst-Tclling Truths of a Brave
and Earnest Man.

gcst-Tclllng Truths OF Brave
and Earnest Man.
Chicago, Feb. 1.-The Civic Fedora
tion, composed Of earnest men, has de-
cded to reform Chicago, Lexow
fashion. Before reaching this decision
they communicated with Rev. DR..
Parkhurst, of New York; and after
some interchange OF letters he consent
ed to deliver an address in this city, be-
fore the Marquette club. He delivered
It Jan. 20. He said:
THE questions that are most deeply
agitating the public mind this year, and
that VIII continue to agitate 1t probably
for many years to come, are not ma
tional ones but municipal. We have
reached period that may be designat-
ed the renaissance Of the city, The
remarkable concentration of popula-
tion at urban centers has operated to
accentuate the municipality; and to
such degree has this concentration
reached, and so largely are material
values and intellectual energies ac-
cumulated at these points, that we
may almost say that the real life of the
nation is lived. and throbs itself out,
at these centers, and that the nation is
going to be increasingly what our mu-
inequalities make it to be, determine
that 1t shall be. AT the same time and
closely connected Herewith is the fact
of quite general deterioration in the
quality of municipal life. And men who
have respect for themselves and who
love their city and appreciate the init
mate relations in which municipal con-
dtions stand to the question of our ma
tional life and to the permanence of
American institutions. are bestirring
themselves. pondering the situation
and squarng themselves to it.
Inter. Municipal Fellowship.
1T is generally in our favor that
there is a kind of intermunicipal fell
luwship in this business. While each
city has Its own interests and INDUCES
in little rivalry once in a while in such
questions as those of relative wealth.
population and the like. yet there is
fellowship among cities. and a good
cause In your city is helped by the fact
that the same good cause is being
worked out in another city, and in q
good many other cities.
II would like to say just at this point,
If you will let me refer to myself-as 1
shall be obliged to do a number of
times in the course of the hour-that
that has been one of the compelling
motives that has helped to keep me in
good spirits during the eXacting war;
fare Of the last three years in New
York, that If the damnable elements OF
evil in our own city could be crushed
that would be in itself demonstration
complete that they could be crushed in
every other city. And you here in Chi
cago, in view of what you have under
taken, need to feel the grand conspiracy
of effort of the same kind, as it is at this
very hour in progress In so many sister
cities Let me add here that that is a
motive which has influenced my ac-
ceptance of the invitation rendered me
by the Marquette club. This Is the first
time l have spoken outside of New
York city for year. but / have felt
that II / could contribute, no matter
how small an amount, toward aiding,
toward stimulating In the task which
you have upon your hands and hearts,
It would be so much done not only
toward redeeming Chicago, but so
much done toward purifying and
Strengthening individual, social and
civic life throughout the great north
west.
Effect of Redeemed Chicago.
You believe in Chicago; I never
struck Chicagoan yet that did not.
But Chicago Is not the whole earth,
and you will do we'll just at this point
or your enterprise to realize the effect
that a redeemed Chicago is going to
exert not only upon yourselves and
your state, but upon contiguous states.
1 mention this because IL you are go
ing to carry this undertaking through
TO the end, you will need the REINFORCE
ment and the buttressing of large mo-
uVes or you will get tired. You cannot
1--WE on the force of a resolution, but If
your machinery Is to be kept running
10 the end of the trip, level grade and
up grade, you will have to keep replen-
ashing your fires by solid chunks of
combustible motive Enthusiasm Is
good, but 1t takes a constant succession
of motives to keep 1t up.
You understand, as I do, that nv
object In coming here and discussing
the municipal problem Is not to rescue
your city. You will have to do that
yourself. The Cincinnati Tribune re-
marked the other day, that DR.. Park
hurst would find DIT another story when
ne undertook to tackle Chicago / am
not here to tackle Chicago, although.
as Tor Cincinnati, / might say i'm pass
ing, THAT have exceptional opportuni-
lies Tor Knowing what her moral and
political condition is. and that 1t will
De more becoming to her to use her mop
IN scrubbing her own dirty floor, than
70 use 1t in bespattering Chicago. I
ann not here to tackle Chicago. 1t is
true have awaited myself of all means
within my reach of acquainting myself
with your condition; but even then Won
know that condition better than I can
hundred to one. As nearly as | can
make 1t out, your municipal depravity
exceeds that of New York. 1t costs ls
no pang to yield to you that pre-emi
nence. You do everything in a colossal
way in Chicago and 1t is natural to
expect, therefore, II your municipality
is depraved, 1t will be colossally de-
praved.
Vice Not Organized in Chicago.
I'm one other particular, however.
am confident that your municipal con-
dition has the advantage over what
ours has been, this, namely, that as to
your municipal depravity, while There
is more nf n AZ Ia not On tbornnubI,, 90.