The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-01-27
EVILS IN CITY POLITICS.
The Duty Of the Pulpit Toward the
Aforesaid Evils.
THEIR AGITATION PUBLIC NECESSITY.
The First OF . Series OF Sermons by Row
9. O. Rankin Of shesrn
Church.


hear the word at my mouth and give them
warning from me."-Ezekiel III. IL.
.'Thls text of Scripture defines the duty Of
the minister. as public teacher. TO all ques-
tions affecting the morals of the people.
He is Waterman on the walls point
out dangers and TO lift up voice OF warn
ing. II he does not do 1t, who will? VIII
the professional politician discharge this
public duty to the peopie7 Has he ever
been known to do such u thing In all the
past? No sir. such a thing Is foreign
to his aims and purposes. He does not
want any reforms in the methods of pol
itics or in the management OF municipal
government. Things as they now exist are
just as he wants them ANY change for
the better would interfere with his
schemes and enterprises lie IS & supreme
iy selfish individual. His only object is Of
flee at the hands OF tho people and the
patronage which is thus brought within
his reach.
Beyond this he has no interest in the
people. He viii connive at anything tina;
will give him votes. To this end, he al
ways gather about him clique OF trusted
and uaScrupulOus followers whose business
it is 10 manipulate ward primaries. Tx up
states, pack conventions and see that just
such candidates are brought forward as
ara in hearty accord with his idea OF dish
iDs out the spoi.s OF public office. HIS
place OF rendezvous Is the barroom and
the frequenters OF these resorts are his
fast friends. 1pon these he depends for
his success. and they have nothing to
fear when he comes into power. Can
you. therefore. depend upon him TO deal
H.Na HHl.HHa
effect the welfare Of the people at large?
Such q thought IS an empty dream
Can We lock TO our lXistins partisan
organization to agltate the issues Of re-
form IN city politics and impress upon
the people the Importance OF the enforce
mcnt OF law? Not as they are at present
constituted and controlled The greedy
politician seems 10 have his thumb on
these examinations ami they are made
TO minister TO his inquitous ends Their
powerfully organized machinery IS in his
hands and ne uses II for all II !s worth
But In al can3or. What has partisan pol
flies "a DO with The administration Of the
city government any way And why
should he forced TO look 10 party or
caaizafioas for reform 81 municipal gov
eminent when these organizations them
selves need reforming worse than even the
city government. II would be a case Of
the blind leading the blind Tho methods
tho dangers that now menace the peace
ard order Of our country. As they now
stand we can not lock 20 this source
for immediate relief. bad fountain can
not send out good water.
can we look 70 our leading and infuen-
tial business uen who represent the can-
ital ~ NE community. 20 point out these
dangers and abuses which threaten ot {
public veal. and thereby stimulate ths
people 20 at Ia the Interest OF their own
wclfarer J. Is hardly reavonahIe 10 ok
% - such thing. Unfortunately FOR
such matters. the7r mon arc zoo hugily
engaged making money TO bother them
selves about the public irtcreets They
nave LARGELY turned these tiiIgs over
INTO tho hands of politicians. You can
not get many OF them 70 attend ward
primaries. or 20 attend the convention
m9," Tess 10 allow NOR na'nes 70 he
uheH IN connection Win public office for
me good OF the peorle- Many or thorn
sfefn perfectly indifferent 70 these Issues
am tfAily some or them are apparently
saushed TO Jet things rock along just
~ they are. Hence, not one % these
largely Fuccossill men IN business holds
any oihre a. 'he hands OF the people, As
result. then. We had just as well make
up cur minds that these leading business
men are nov gong 10 stir the conscience
oi me people 90 the necessity of change
III INC present condition Of things.
az W toYN 1" i4f press ~ tne city
10 leUh out fenrlessiy on these lines OF
needed change IN the administration of
puohc ahalrsf our newspapers are a
potent FACTOR IN the education OF public
sentimental silent influence day aud night
IN the home lie and civilization OF tho
people. They are well nigh omnlprescnt
forces In the pPogtcss OF mankind. We
owe much TO them for the achievement :
which we have made In government They
can make and unmalle issues almost al
VIII.
They usually opcn their columns 10
the pulpit when the minister fairly and
imparially handles the moral aspects 4
these issues. They often reproduce his dis
courses to thousands Of people who would
not otherwise hear them. In view OF all
these facts, who Is moro competent u
II he docs not do IT, who In the com
,nurdty will do ~ lie is srprusCd 20 be
removed from all personal and party bias
and from all business complications, such
as might emharrass other men In handling
themes OF this nature. II he IL true to
the interests committed TO his conscience