The courier., 1895-12-21

is trying to work out or else he will
miserably fail In his service to human
ity. The question which we should SER
iously set ourselves to answer now Is
whether the city of Lincoln has any
such ideal; such purpose. Are those
who have charge of its affairs men who
are in any way distinguished for purity
and nobility of their views and the sin
gular virtue of their actions in private
and in public life? Are they men who
have the ability to realize the nature
of the blessings which must undoubt-
edly accrue to the city through years
of steady and loyal adherence to
principle and love of justice, sobriety
and orderliness? In a word, are they
men who rule for the people: for their
eternal peace. prosperity, and we'll
being? Ii they are not such. IL they
are not devout, sincere, courageous
and wise in tn deepest and broadest
sense of these terms. then the city is
falling short of its true end; and must
necessarily fail of that greater glory
which it might otherwise attain"
Answering the question. lis Lin
>chh a 10 ophhihS Nity thc
said: Even the State Journal. which
is more noted for its lack of morality
than for it's possession of so divine a
quality. has informed its readers re-
peatedly through its reporters of the
open and shameless manner in which
gambling is carried on in our midst
The attention of the powers that be
have been called again and again to
this state of things; and yet not so
much as a finger. as far as any man
can see has been raised by these pow
ers against these violaters of the law.
Indeed. the police officers, like the priest
and levite of old. have gone to look
on this crime. this wound inflicted on
the body polite, but they have pass
ed by on the other side" Concerning
the social evil Mr.. Chaplin said.
"Womens virtue and mans purity are
no longer the things most earnestly de-
sired and sought by this municipality.
but rather their common shame"
He declared that the saloons are con-
stantly violating the law.
Continuing Mr.. Chaplin said: But
upon no class of men has the general
10 "IcSSHcSs IL" StdHudIu
of the city seemed to have a more de-
leterious effect than on certain men,
bers of our city council. 1t is almost
inconceivable how some of these per-
sons occupying the positions they do
as heads of families and as reputable
business men in this community can set
private gain before that of the public
veal to the extent that they evidently
do. The larger, the diviner, and the
truly exalted meaning of the offices
they hold seems never to have once
entered their minds, or If it has, ii has
not been attended with the necessary
moral force to cause it to be of any
practical service. 1t is for these rea-
sons, If for no others, that / am lead to
affirm the crying need of this city at
the present hour is not what some peo-
pie are pleased to term a business ad-
but 1t is, first of all a
moral administration. For if We do
really have this there will be little doubt
that the city's finances will be faith
fully and ably cared for What we
most need now is a new political vision
which will enable us to see our civic
duty. and which will guide us uner-
ringly along the pathway of its sure
and glorious attainment"
Mr.. Chaplin has come to the C onclu-
sion that we must be prepared to sacri-
ice everything. Office. political prefer
nent. party ties, private ease. etc.
the city is to be clarified. Undoubt-
IDLY it is going to have a tremendous
sacrifice on the part of individuals to
'escue the city of Lincoln from the
vii influences that control it.
What Mr.. Chaplin has said about ex-
sting conditions in this city is strictly
rue. And the worst of it is, for /
lave already pointed it out. the people
lppear to be quiescent. Last spring
here was an effort to bring about re-