Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-16

The practical politician sees with grief a
great danger In the forward march Of such
organizations Is the United Society Of
Christian Endeavor. Not that there can
possibly be any objection to such conven-
lions as that which has just been held in
Boston, nor may any rational being say
one word in opposition to the efforts of such
societies to improve, by precept and ex-
ample. the condition Of fellow beings whose
moral sense u less keen, an these things
are admitted to be highly commendable and
worthy Of enthusiastic popular support The
danger Is discovered in the likelihood that
the Christian Endeavorers and the Ep-
worth Leaguers and the various young peo-
p1e's societies that have a national organ
ization may try to secure through con-
certed use Of the ballot some reformatory
measure that will not come in response to
Individual missionary effort. The spoils-
men are just now engaged In solemnly
warning the Endeavorers through the
newspapers that unless they are remark
ably wideawake they will be vctimized by
INSCRIPTIONS leaders who have political
ambitions. 1t Is alleged as fact to be re-
GREETED that the political tendency has
cropped out frequently at Boston during
the past week. The indications which have
so Mortified the practical politician were
the things that were said to encourage
every Endeavorer to do all in his or her
power to promote good citizenship. One Of
the speakers was even guilty Of advising
the many thousands Of delegates and others
who heard him to so work that they might
lead great political parties to the highest
virtues Of which masses Of men and wo-
men are capable" Such language as that
Is Of course calculated to disturb the con-
scienceless partisan, for 1t may perhaps re-
suit In so amending political conditions that
the decent men and women of the country
will be able to participate in practical pol
tiles without feeling as though they were
In any sense intruders. Very much sur
prised are the practical politicians that the
language and suggestions Of which they
complain did not provoke even comment in
the convention; they regret the dangerous
inclination and are heartily sorry that the
movement should be under such incon slider
ate leadership. For the religious purposes
Of these organizations the ward-heeiers
have nothing but praise; they sorrow be
cause in the end these admirable sin
fighting forces must inevitably be disn-
tegrated and scattered abroad If they med
die with politics. All this is very mystify-
ing to people who are foolish enough to
~ cult Lie pi dCIlCdi pOiltiCltu Will TIE pos
session of honesty of expression, but it Is
very plain to those who know the heeler for
what he is. The day when the party lead
ers could crack their whips and command
the suffrage of the United States is rapidly
passing away, and so far as the best ele-
ments of our young people are concerned it
has gone forever. If the Christian En-
deavor Society or any other society thinks
it can achieve great good by unanimously
voting for men who are pledged to favor
certain reforms the society Is unquestion-
ably at liberty to vote as 1t pleases. These
same men who object to the moral force
in politics are the very ones who contil-
ually prate Of the benefits to be derived
from party organization; who swear by
Tammany, and who, to be consistent must
admit that other people have a right to
organize and to SO operate as to reach most
rapidly the end desired.