The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-19
How TO Make Norfolk Better City Dis
Cussed by the Mayor.
MUNICIPAL AND INDIVIDUAL REFORM
Find Good Men, Elect Them, Tilon
Keep Them In 0Hice-An Able and
forccful Discourse-The question
Moral ono, Says Mr. lInrwcll-

lAtoEcndree NJ. L. Church undertook
! with considerable success to answer
last uight II the second of it's series of
meetings for the discussion of impor-
tant topics of the day.
| HIS Honor Mayor w. II. Mayo and
| Rev. J. W. Moore, paste: Of the Queen
Street NJ L. Church, were announced
as the speakers FOR this occasion, but
the latter was prevented by illness
from being present.
| Owing to the miserable weather last
| night the attendance was much smaller
than had been hoped for. The eXc.cis-
os were begun by 4 solo, beautifully
rendered by Professor George Scott.
Rev. II. II. Bennett, the pastor. followed
with an earnest prayer, after which
Miss Nellie Eckles sang Nov l Lay Me
Down To Sleep" very swectly.
MIR. G. ID. Ferrebec. president of the
league, introduced Hon. Mayor w. r.
| Mayo. who, after a brief prologue.
plunged at once into his theme, saying
that in the matter of municipal reform
he was no high priest, but merely an
humble layman. Municipal reform,
he said, had become the question of
| the day Nothing was safe without
good city government. 1t is 4 question
| that can not be treated lightly or with
| out sincerity.
Stating that there was a necessity for
municipal reform, the mayor went at
some length to define just what u mu-
nicipality is, particularly as compared
with what 1t WIS In olden times when
a city was 4 principally. He explained
how the city of to-day received It's gen
! eral laws and rights from the legisla-
ture. Each citizen Is bound to conduct
himself toward the city only so far as
prescribed by the charter of the city.
q 81 hnI a NH nj "
may outgrow charter, and declared
that Norfolk. with her large and accu
mulat!nS interests and growing popu-
latlon. had outgrown hers. and 1t should
be reformed. y proper chatter, he as
serted, Is the foundation upon which
good city government rests.
Let the best men Of to-day" said
the mayor. set the beacon light of
safety for those who are to tread be-
hind them on the rough road to better
things. Let them set an example wo--
thy to be followed; and that they may
do so. let them assume and keep control
Of government. Let them recognize the
truth, you and I and the rest who cry
out for reform, that If there be need for
| reform 1t is we who are responsible for
such necessity.
"Why are we responsible? Because.
either from sel1shness. laziness or cow
cause of a failure in duty-we have
permitted this necessity to come upon
the city. And let us shake off this sin
for 1t Is n Sin-and, rising to the occa-
sion, declare that reform shall be had,
and that the necessity for 1t not again
occur
Spasmodic reform but weakens those
who indulge in it, 1t disheartens good
men and encourages bad men. Let US
Il
| to our city, our State and our country,
and hence to our God, in stcadiness of
purpose in well doing We are to blame
| If thieves break through and steal, and
| we absolve ourselves not at all by
ana tizing the thieves and then re-
! lapsinS into !naction. The trouble is
! with lis if reform be needed, and also
with us if it be not had and maintained.
The remedy is with u.s. too and had
| we been true there had been no need
for the remedy, and having applied 1T,
| If we then he true, there will be no
further need for it. Good men in other
respect shirk their public duty and bad
men GO: control. How IS the remedy
| with us? Because we hold the ballot.
| which is the only lawful remedy for
| bad government"
| Continuing, His Honor said that the
work CT reform must begin at the be-
ginning. first in our homes, then in our
| city. I, is only by the right use of the
| sacred ballot that this latter can be
done. In order 70 accomplish any
ching in the way Of good government.
good men must be put into office. 1T
| Is only by the use of the ballot that
| evils can he RENE died and corrected
III I'VE do our duty as citizens in using
| our ballots Alright we will have good
men in Ollie" who will sec that the
laws are administered Alright.
y great and growing evil to-day is
n tendency to enact all sorts of laws
| prohibiting things shat can only be
stopped by change of heart. Lei us
SAID he punish real crime hut he care
III! not to enact into law things that
are no: crime Have good laws and
get good men to see that they are adj
m!niS,icred.
After all, this question OF municipal
reform was largely a question of lndi-
viduai responsibility, a sense Of what is
due from man TO man.
Ii reform in governments be needed il
IS inc lauit OF those whose business it
mas been SO make it better Men. how
ever. are not so bad as they are ncgli-
gent.
The city is hut corporation whose
business must be transacted by her cit
'"cns. Mayor Mayo struck Il note OF
warning 10 men of business, who say
"ney nave no time to give to affairs If
me city ThEse men are neglccting
tn"'r highest duties as citizens, and by
'hat neglect permitting bosses" ana
nr:bers 10 do what they would never DO
If the good. honeHt, business men womb
'urn from their desks AID counters lop.
enough to interest themselves in the
VIA question OF good governments.
Nheh Ills Honor concluded his adj
inlrabie address u little later MIR. Fer.
Iencc ami the Rev. Mr. Bennett thanked
MN IN behalf of the league and the au-
dience.