New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-26
UNION OF MORAL FORCES.

CHICAGO like New-York has been in the last
two years the theatre Of municipal reform
movement, but 1t has been conducted in totally
different manner In this city revelations OK
shocking corruption aroused the people 10 sud
den action. and having succeeded in the pur-
poses for which they organized they dispersed
satisfied that their whole duty had been done.
A wear later. when similar issue was present
ed. a new citizens organization had to be formed.
People languldly believe in reform. At election
time they arouse themselves so far as TO say
that the good work should go on. But with all
the talk about individual duty. and the voice OF
the better element making itself felt. the citi-
zens of New-York are too absorbed In their prt
yate concerns to carry the idea Of public duty
into all their relations We like to clean
streets and we like to read about street clean
ing but we do not like the trouble of guarding
ourselves against lttering them We wish laws
obeyed and criminals prosecuted, but it Is a
bother to testify to wrongdoing when we see
it. We have not yet realized in practice, what
ever be our theories, that good government Is,
like good character, something which we must
work for daily; that it is conditioned on every
phase of city life quite as much as on the per-
sonnet Of few officers.
In Chicago the reform organization has been
differently constituted. The Civic Federation is
a permanent combination for the united action
Of all the forces for good, public and private in
the city 1t seeks at once TO promote honesty
and economy in the public administration, to
help in the enforcement OF the law, to promote
charities and bring together workers In differ
ent philanthropic activities. Its origin was in
the necessity of relieving distress during the in
dustrial depression Of 1893 That function dis
charged. it was determined to perpetuae the
system Of cooperation for civic purposes The
health OF the people required clean streets and
alleys, and the resistance to the demands Of cor
porations seeking TO get something for nothing
at the expense Of the citizens whom the Fedora
ton was organized TO assist. Then there was
the issue Of Civil Service Reform. and finally
the necessity Of securing honest officials to pre-
vent the purely non-political aims Of the organ
izaton from being defeated so the Federation
became force in municipal politics. II is com
posed of men and women of both parties It's
membership is organized in small bodies with
representatives in larger councils, SO that the
rank and file Of the citizens is reached as is i'm
possible in movements carried on by imprOmptu
committees Of prominent citizens. The Fedora
ton mas SIX great ueIdrllueHts. 1HIldHlnTopical
industrial municipal. educational. moral and
political The Political Committee has worked
almost exclusively within party lines the differ
cnt members Of it supporting earnestly their in
dividual opinions, at the same time that they
aroused citizens to activity to compel the parties
to respond 10 their demands for good nomina-
tons. In short. the Federation has been
powerful machine constantly reminding the
thousands Of citizens ii could reach OF their pub
lie duty, and bringing an Irresistible force Of
opinion 10 withstand every assault upon the
city's interests. whether made by politicians
corporations or criminals The success Of It's
labors is the justification Of It's methods.
Whether the system Of bringing phanthrOpic
and political activities together would be de-
sirab,c here may be doubted. The charity or.
ganiZations might ALLEVIATE much NJ their support
were they TO make common cause with govern.
mental rcformcrs combination such ms exists
in Chicago can only be advantageous where. as
there. ii is natural growth OF circumstances
But that union Of moral forces for the joint
prosecution Of their several aims Is founded on
a truth which all must recognize II orr society
Is TO be kept sound aud healthy. Public char