The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-21

but ltN kItal tilhCEs ahu NV kftat-
ness consisted i'm their aggregation.
Rome stood for centuries as the only
4 great city. Later came London. which
remained for many years without n
rival But Rome. Carthage. Athens
n London were i'm greatness and in
fiuence only pigmies as compared to
our numberless cities. The movement
toward cities Is marked In all coun-
tries. In 1880 one-thirtieth of our pop-
ulation was i'm the cities; in 1900 one
twenty-ffth: in 1890 one-twentieth: in
1880 one-sixteenth; In 1870 one-twelfth:
1850 one-eighth; 1860 one-sixth; 1870 one
fifth. 1880 nearly ~one-fourth, and in
1880 nearly one-third. One hundred
years ago one-thirtieth of our popula-
ton. one in thirty. dwelt in our cities,
and the stream of humanity flowing
into the city is rapidly widening and
deepening. From 1850 to 1890 the rural
population increased IA per cent. and
the city 81. Many states had a smaller
rural population in 1890 than in 1880.
In tho New England states especially
many farms have been actually aban-
doned. All over the country many
Protestant church houses have been
abandoned. All a result of the wild
rush for the city. Never was the city
such "A center of influence as to-day.
The country is enmeshed with number
less railroads that find their centers i'm
the cities. News is carried by tele-
graph and telephone beyond imagina-
ton. The daily papers are carried
from the presses still damp to distant
towns. Colleges of all kinds are i'm the
cities. Libraries and reading room
clubs. societies and associations dissem-
mate knowledge. Orators OF the first
rank. lecturers OF every grade. actors
from over the world. and all sorts OF
professional and business skill are ply
ing their minds I'm every city. Labor
nninnS md anifalIsfi. nsSnei.finps in
augurate N carry into effect their
plans i'm the cities. The power OF the
city Is beyond imagination. Millions
are invested in money, and the none
and brains of the city control the ma
ton. AS the city of New York Is. so
viii the country be. Rural districts
count for little i'm our elections. our
city improvements have out-distanced
all other questions of Improvement.
The city street railway magnate is
scarcely second to the railroad king.
Electric and gas plants nave fortunes
in them. Public improvements of all
sorts require millions OF dollars and
mighty minds to economically and
wisely conduct them.
The officials of our great cities have
as important duties as many of u
national officials. As much interest is
and should be taken I'm the selection
OF a mayor for Butte as for "a governor
LOT MONTANA. more interest Is mani
Tested i'm the selection of a mayor for
Chicago or Greater New York than for
a governor for Illinois or New York.
AS the city gains improvements the
country loses them. The present tend
ency Of the country as opposed tn the
city is a backward one, and il will in
crease unless new methods are em-
ployed.
The universal tendency toward the
city is a perfectly natural one. We need
not attempt to check or alter IL. We
must purify the city. When Cain
'builded a city he gave expression to n
deeply seated and inherent characters
tic of man-one of his social proclivi-
ties. The superior advantages Of the
city entice many. While production
will forever regulate the city and rural
population and the labor-saving
machinery of our time render the labor
of many rural workmen useless. The
problem finally resolves itself into this:
What shall we do with our cities?'
Forty years since Prof. Francis Lieber
said: The city is the most difficult
and perplexing problem of modern
times And Alexis de Tocqueville
said, I look upon the size of certain
American cities, and especially upon
the nature Of their population as a real
danger, which threatens the security of
the democratic republics of the New
World These were the observations of
wise men 40 years since. and time has
not only marvelously increased the
magnitude of the cities but of their
government.
Our cities are at present under the
rule of corrupt n unprincipled
bosses, men who care for revenue
only. We must down with all men of
such proclivities. We must stubbornly
refuse their leadings. There are many
good people, but they have become
disguised or vote according To party
lines and are thwarted in their desires.
In city elections what is needed is
the concerted action of all good people.
Not once In a hundred times is there
need of anyone sacrificing a party
principle i'm voting for "A candidate of
a concerted effort of good people.
w need a more stringent doctrine
of naturalization. As il is corrupt. men
will control by race or religious preju-
dices whole bodies of men, and thus
men who are incapable OF s~elf-govern-
ment are the men who elect to office
our rulers.
Men who cannot be Influenced by
reason are influenced by passion, and
thus come into the possession OF mu-
nicipal power. Our only hope is to
unite on just principles and good men.
A duty W. fail to fulfill is i'm not at
tending the primaries. We allow the
ward politician to nominate whom he
pleases and then complain because pad
men are elected. Let us attend the
primaries and see tina; good men are
nominated.
Municipal government is largely IL
not wholly n matter of manhood. as
applied to city officials. If men, men
OF character and intelligence be nomi-
mated and elected we will find all thing
working together for the common good.
we must demand first of all that
our city officials be men. There are
many beings posing as men who are
but men things. They have the form
OF man but are far from men. Real.
true, genuine men are to be found. but
they are to be sought. They are not
proffering their services as a living
sacrifice upon their country's altar.
The question of questions is. how To