The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-17
Prac. cal EvanGeIIyat on


Space was given in yesterdays Trib-
Tno To the announce mcut of new
movement, undertaken by the Evan
g lical Alliance, to distribute among
families not reached by the churches
or by the educational press tracts spec
tally prepared by eminent Americans
with a view to intoxicating good citi-
zcnship. At first impulse one might
incline to question the efficacy of such
a distribution, for it has to he borne
in mind that among many persons the
N,ly mention of the word tract" in
cites contempt. But examination Of
the subj-ct matter Of the leaflets which
il is proposed to scatter broadcast re-
moves this doubt and inspires the rea-
sOnable hope that much good may re-
suit The topics treated are of char
acter to cNcit" interest among all but
tha very ignorant; the standing of the
authors invites confidence in their
handling of these topics. and finally
the form of the leanet is as little sue-
gestivr as possible Of the muCh-C -
ridcd tract" Of edrlier days.
one of the docum nts lies before us.
IT consists of sixteen pages of vest
pocket size. II is clearly printed, neat
ly nut together and on the first page
is haif-tOne portrait of the author.
President Andrews. Of Brown. who
TAX as the subject of his remarks
"Tho Duty # a Public Spirit" After
citing some luminous examples from
history of men who combined person.
al thrift with a high sense Of civic
DUTY and a large capacity for elevat-
irC public affairs. the writer laments
that i'm our country and time unselnsh
and constant regard for public affairs
Is phenom4 non. There is occasion
al interest We love our country. Let
her lie attacked by traitors from with
in or by enemies from without, mighty
armics would rise ready to die for her.
But zeal of this sort is sporadic. un-
steady, intcrmittent Would-br good
citizens forget that peace needs its
heroes n" less than war, that the So
cial structure may fan from dry rot
as Wcll as from a cannunade" is
EEypt Athens, Rome? Such a qu s.
tin. Dr. Andrews thinks, is forced
upon one scanning certain unsocial
and anarchic tendencies these days.
Head and front of all our dangers
i'm this kind, he asserts, is the apathy
among our best people toward social
and political obligations w need an
intenser sphit of cooperation in ev-
Crything that concerns our united life.
Public jobs, intended to rob us al,
VT of course reprobate. But there is
a narrow spirit in conducting legiti-
mate business, which desperately
G"Eders the public good. Too few are
the mon and women willing to engage
tn necessary general work for which
money or political prerermcnt DOES not
and cannot pay. II is a shame that 50
many of our fclloW-citizens shirk Jury
duty, for instance, often adding insult
10 injury BY rIdiculinE the jury system.
Equally the crimes of the public are
those who cheat the assessor or the
tax coll ctor. Can such people remem-
her that widows, orphans, and the Door
are sureFt to suffer from their fraud
Unmeasured time and toll have to be
spent by many, wholly without pecun-
larry return, i'm the worl: of institutions
lacking which no community can con-
tlnue civilized There are, for instanca,
the city government and school COM
nlittoe, the directors of banks. saw
iEgs banks, and other financial cor
poratlons, Of hospitals and innrmarles,
various state commissions, and the
board Of education, Of charities and
CORRECTIONS, Of health, and many 9TH
e's, to say nothing Of orphans guard
ians, or Of care for church and fra
ternity interests. Gigantic is the la
hor which all these entail; priceless
Is the good they do. Tasks of all these
sorts have to he don6' or sc"' lv ~0rs