Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-16
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
MUNICIPAL RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Abstract Of Sermon on that Subject, Sunday.
by Rev. E. E. Newbert.

Following is an abstract of q sermon
delivered Sunday. by Rev. E. E. New
bert. pastor of the Unitarian church, on
Municipal Righteousness
Isaiah l:26. / will restore thy judges
as at the first. and thy counsellors as at
the beginning: afterward thou shalt be
called, the city of righteousness. the
faithful city.
as broadly as possible OF municipal right
eousness. [ make no charges against
men or parties: | utter no general de-
nunciation of existing conditions: L Of
fer no carping, captiouS criticism; 1
have no sensational ends to gain; rather
do | speak out of love for our city, out
Of my interest in its welfare.
My topic is suggested by the present
And in passing, wish personally to
thank Rev. Mr.. Cummings for leading in
this matter and publicly to commend
the righteousness of his crusade. IF
only half he has said is true. it is
enough to arouse the city to question and
investigation. / can not doubt the truth
as MI Cummings has proclaimed it.
FIRST among our duties. We have been
woefully reinisS in our care of the de-
pendent poor What Il wretched system.
what an aims house, What a place to
send an infant. What provision for a
SICK, aged, helpless woman. Ii the hor-
ilDie picture drawn by Mr.. Cummings is
put half real. it is real enough TO shock
the moral sense Of the entire community.
The revelation brings with it shame and
dlsEface The word has gone abroad.
ana Augusta. beautiful on the hillsides.
an ideal city of homes. known for its in
SltGtlonS and its illuStriouS names,
stands condemned.
What are We to do about it? At this
stage, can we afford to ignore the crit
lcasm? Investigation? Can the city af
ford not to have an investigation? Has
a committee been appointed? Then
ciouhe 1t with authority. In the absence
llFrKEa .tf,rt,f
assume the truth of the severe charges
made? The matter should be probed to
the bottom The honor of the city is at
stake The recent adoption of the fourth
anenhmtht TO the city charter will i'm
prove the situation somewhat. but the
situation does not demand Improvement;
II demands puTgins and burning.
naNlnE said This much of the imme-
diatc situation. would pass TO the con-
Slderauon Of what | conceive to be fun
damental to municipal righteousness. |
am not prepared to place responsibility
Tor the condition Of our poor department
'ionht az fault: the system of admins
ration has been bad; but responsibility
feS'S ilnaily on the City.-on the citi
%onS. In other words. the wrong at bot
loin Is TO be sought in the partisan con-
troi OF municipal affairs. Here, again.
mako no charges against "A party or par
ties, my. criticism is rather of the meth
cd of administration. 1t fosters the rule
me party spirit. or bias. party interest
leads to sef-interests, and then the door
Is open to Jobs and corruption.
Municipal partisan politics is under the
ban of the best clements throughout the
country. Our gravest problems of self
government center in our cities. Hardly
cry OF any considerable size has es-
capped The curse CT partisan maladminis
ration. New York very recently arose
like a leviathan and shook off the pari-
sites of corruption. The citizens did it
Wnen they We're willing to forget party
lines: Ecston generally boasts clean
municipal government. because the cit
izers. are Independent of party and
watchfnl Of the citv's interests.
Prof Woodrow Wilson in writing of the
iunctlonS of the state. says:
:. Government is the organ of society;
Its objects must be the objects of society.
Society is vastly bigger and more i'm
government should serve society, by no
means rule or dominate it. Government
should not be made an end in itself: it
is means only to be freely adapted to
advance the best interests of the social
organism. The state exists for the sake
Oh society. not society for the sake of the
state"
=, Partisan control of municipal affairs.
me development of party prejudice and
me encouragement of self-interests will
TEND to pervert this fundamental idea
oa government. Partisan supremacy is
sure to mean the power of dictation by a
lew lev, men. Such ring" becomes big
ger and more Important than society
~ uoes not serve society, but rules and
dominates it,
W nat are the functions Of a city gov
ei;ntnlent! What need is there of NUM-
eipai government? The functions of a
city government it is needless to say.
are purely practical. Ten thousand peo-
Hae living along the banks of our river.
neveiop the needs of community life. The
anany delegate power to the few In the
eAerclse OF these powers there is no neces-
ir,ta re- ~
a ane city are not identical with the great
c cop and financial policies which be-
iiUn.e the occasion of strong party feel
nf ~ State and nation. The functions
ond = CITY government have to do with law
nrnn oauer: the protection of life and
ppoupgeeIty. the care of highways sanitary
conditions. the oversight of the depend
wv Whp. poor. etc; We want man for office.
tio ,,at snail be the governing considera-
fitnas snould we not demand. first of all
n ,ea,e Tor the office? Will Republican,
or Ma y better mayor than a Democrat
democrat than a Republican? VIII