The sun., 1897-03-06
PARKER TO CHURCH FOLK.
HE TALKS TO THEM ABOUT PRAC-
TIChL Politics.


The Police Commissioner Dweiis Uper tho
Potential Innuence Upon Legislation or
Good Citizens. but Dcpiorc- Their Lack OF
SKIN in tho ways OF winning Politics.
Police Commissioner Andrew d. Parker spoke
in the lecture room of the Marble Collegiate
Church last evening on The Primary Organiza.
tion of Political Parties and the Importance OF
Good Citizens Taking Part Therein"
The meeting was under the direction Of
the Good Citizenship Committee OF the
Christian Endcavor Society. II. A. Kim
ports the lay assistant OF the Rev. Dr.
Burrell, opened the meeting by reading n
message from William Jennings Bryan, which,
he said. had been sent in response to n request
published in the official organ of tho society. in
viting contributions on the subject OF good gov
ernmcnt. The message was follows:
our government will be such "a the people mako IT,
n I do not exert myself to make good laws and to
make our government good what right have I to ex
pect a greater patriotism from Others than am will
Ing TO give?
Commissioner Parker said that he had Just
returned from Washington. where he had wit
messed the crowning act OF all that primaries
are held for and political parties made.
He believed that the influence Of women
In our Government was growing. and that II was
q wholesome one There was nothing wicked
about party politics, Mr.. Parker said. and tho
Republican party which had celebrated its
victory on Thursday had lis inception sixty years
ago in the nnti.slaycry movement. II was
only by exercising the rights OF citizenship In
the proper way that definite results could he OBJ
tanned, namely. by taking part in the primaries
and identifying ones self with ono party or an.
other. ,.
where we have l,IOO election district ;
in which primaries are held every year
H.N a Nntt tHtt lad tptf Ia lao
ular party can bolt mud hold primaries
of their own, Mt which they can nominate
delegates to the various conventions repre-.
sonting themselves; II you neglect this first
sT'Ssp TSp are and must stand aside hc
how ' in the the world AR are the GOOD good people %
going to achieve any results IL they
simply stand on and let the others do the work.
| The machine builds ur the party after the first
impulse and dociTine that actps,cd It have lost
becomes so rigid that II ruins the party.
Politics to-day in his country may almost be
csS WsS NS hS 9gr wgors sSnsa % poi I
quent with them and defeats the exception.
while with those outside victory Is the Gxcep.
business 10 keep In touch with the situation all
the year round.
accomplish your ends. II is the organization OF
| your party, and II constant and intelligent
watch upon what Is going on. ! don't mean
| constant interrogation as to why certain
things are done. IL there is no satisfactory re-
ply you must find out the reason, Hnd IL il Is
| wrong you have tho means of remedyinY II.
| You may give u political boss the best ma
| chine possible. with newspapers and associa.
tons, and faithful licutenants TO do his bidding,
STd yet cSn1sh Ms s5IonE TIng% Rs %s9d
| press, one hundred tongues can shatter
! this organization in time. The power OF the
| boss is ovcrcstimatcd, and thar same sentiment
will live after the bosses are forgotten by the
| party and turned into dust Never he dscour.
| aged by being in the minority Minor.
! tiles are the stun that majorties are
made Of. Engage in political discussion. go
| into the primaries and II they are not congcnial
make them congcna We call this u
Government ot the majority when II Is actually
| Government OF the minority, and YOU
! people in the churches are looked TO for its
! regeneration. Now and then you arouse your.
| self, but. having obtained your object. YOU fall
back into apathy Pardon me for saying this.
but il YOU stick to your work you will he a never
ending force. only hope that the activity
displayed by the church and especially this
| church will continue. | have found. however.
an amazing lack OF enlightenment among church
| people on this subject. which can be 80 easil
| learned.