The Portland daily press., 1895-12-27
THE CIVIC LEAGUE.
Holds Meeting to Discuss Municipal
Affairs-speeches by Rev. A. R. Wright
and Hon. Hiram KnowIton and Rev.
Nkr. Hack.

The first public meeting of the Civic
League at the Free Baptist church last
evening was attended by perhaps one
hundred and fifty persons, many being
ladies. Among the ministers present
were Rev. DR.. Randall, Perkins, Hack,
Wright, Pearson, Lindsay, Shepard and
Allen. Rev. r. G. Hack presided, and
said that Rev. Mr.. Cate was unable to
be present on account of sickness After
the singing of "Stand Up Stand Up for
Jesus, Ye Soldiers OF the Cross" prayer
was offered by Rev. Mr.. Allen, after
which Rev. A. H. Wright was introduced
as the first speaker.
Mr.. Wright said in substance: / think
/ possess one quality that viii, command
your admiration. am ready to stand BIZ
and to try and do my whole duty under
all circumstances. OF all the characters
of Dickens like Caps Cutie, who with
his one good hand, and his ready hook,
was always ready to stand by the best.
The need springs out of the condition,
and if we can get an idea of the condi-
ton of affairs in our city we can get at
the need. We're obliged in single
sentence to describe the condition here
I should say. "There is disrespeot for
law" and true reverence for law is
part of the civic virtues, and at this time
refer to the liquor traffic which is
practically allowed to continue un-
checked, and yet we have a>righteous law
enacted by our legislature. and also
written in our state Const tuition. It is
a sacred law, placed in the Constitution
as an expire ssion of the moral sentiment
of the state.
But there is a still sadder feature. We
have officers appointed by the state, and
officers elected by the people whose duty
it is to see to it that this righteous law
is enforced but Notwithstanding that it
is the duty of these our officers to enforce
this law, it is unenforced, and it is here
as If there was no law.
But there is something that is sadder
still. Notwithstanding that we have this
law, and that 1T is not enforced although
it expresses the will of the people, there
is practically no strong public sentiment
in favor of enforcement or against the
non. enforcing officers. 1t is a lamentabIn
feet that in this Christian city no strong
protest has been made against this state
of things. Not but there is here and
there heard voice invoking a respect
for law, but the strong right arm of ex-
ecutiye authority has not been stretched
out against the law breakers, and there
is no righteous wrath expressed that it is
SO.
This apathy is general, and is felt by
our strong Christian business men, the
men we admire and respect SO much.
Men of moral strength and purpose.
righteous men, who have seen this thing
go on day after day, and yet have never
while discussing the financial interests Of
the city protested against this disregard
for law. Not only this, but our lawyers,
judges, professional men generally, even
our clergy with all their desire to ad-
vance the moral sentiment Of the people.
have not been moved to protest as they
should against this disregard of the law.
If our Christian citizens would but
gather together what change tbsre
would be. l would not be understood as
saying that public sentiment is in favor
of rumselling, but only that it needs to
be aroused.
The public press is silent. The press
of Portland has had powerful oppor
tunities for assisting the cause of
righteousness and has allowed them tn
while the greatest reformer OF the
country was here. / do not propose To
try to answer this question, b ut l do he
lieve that the time will come when the
people will demand to be informed wby
this state of things shall go on without
protest at all on the part of the press.
and with little on the part of the pulpit
The press and the pulpit should work to-
gether for good, and they would be
mighty allies.
And then the politicians of the domi-
nant party are Indifferent to this danger.
Devotion to party mas taken the place of
devotion to right. This beautiful city Of
Portland has been given over to the rum
sellers not only without the opposition
of the politicians, but with their con.
sent.
What are the needs of the hour? First
there is need of municipal regenera,
ton. Deliver us from all these things
that are evil. There must be wise leaders
capable and influential men. This
league will be center for all men who