The San Francisco call., 1896-08-17
The Speaker Denounces Anarchy
as a Vicious and Impotent
Attempt at Relief.
ROME MUST REFORM OR DE-
The American People Declared to Be
Calling Upon the Hierarchy
to Change It's Course.

Rev. f. Z. Baker. pastor OF the Ep-
worth M. E. Church, was the speaker at
the Good Citizenship meeting yesterday
afternoon. His subject was, "Whither Are
We Drifting?"
There are perils confronting this coun-
try" he said, "and it is no citizen-and q
preacher Is citizen-has right to be si-
lent. The pulpit and the press-those
two mighty arms of reform-ought to
reach out to save the country.
Zone of these perils is soci alism. Un-
derstand me. when l say socialism l mean
socialism gone mad; attempts at reform
by violence. This form of socialism, II
we can call it so. for believe in true So
cialism, is an enemy of the home and an
enemy of the school. With anarchy the
theory is that might means right. The
anarc by spirit is indigenous to foreign
soil, and almost all the troubles that
threaten this country are the result OF for
elgn immigration.
into the hands of such lawless athelstic
band. have no faith in goddess reforms
or movements. True religion is the basis
of private virtue and happiness, OF pros
perity and honor in the Nation. To build
a nation on moral corruption is to build it
on dynamite. Whatever lowers the Ma
tional tone is great calamity. This
anarchy is vicious desire to live without
GOD, without anything.
Another peril is social dishonesty and
impiety. We need moral crusade to
clean out our political offices. Our Super
yisors and other officials will do just as
they please until the citizens shall stamp
their feet and say this thing must stop.
We need more Parkhursts to clean out our
municipal institutions.
I'VE need to have our streets cleared of
indecent show-bills and exhibitions that
make decent mans blood boil. Every
murderer, whether of life or of virtue,
should be made to forfeit his life for the
lie he has taken.
"Mammon is another of the perils that
confront US. The question CT supreme i'm
portance to-day is, What is there in it for
me2' The golden calf has kicked out the
good sense Of good many. We are ap,e
parently drifting toward an oligarchy of
money. Hoarding money is abusing it.
Money should not be made basis OF So
cial precedence. A system which permits
the accumulation OF wealth in the hands
of interpretations or individuals is wrong.
Another portentous evil is the influence
of Bacchus. 1t is the worst enemy of the
laboring man to-day. Chain the drink
monster and all other questions of moral
'"
tie themselves. Gambling is peril also
threatening our Government.
"The last but not the least portentous of
the evils threatening our land is the
Roman hierarchy. Ecclesiasticism in Sec
ular affairs is the aim of that church. 1t
has been alone through Rome's conduct
that the American people have arisen,
calling her to stop meddling with our pub
lie schools and with our beloved flag. The
principles of the Roman hierarchy have
always been the same. If it be afraid to
face its past history why does it continue
to adhere to the principles that have made
that history possible.
Rome in America must reform or die.
The chances are In favor of death, because
Rome cannot stand reform. The very
thing which she must reform is her life
itself. The education of the masses should
be American, and foreigners, and people
who are born in this country, too, should
be made to keep their mouths closed about
our public schools
The speaker. in conclusion, lamented
the fact that the lowest men were allowed
to vote, while "our noblest citizens, our
wives and mothers, are refused the ballot. I"