The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-21
FOR MUNICIPAL REFORM
Voice of the Pulpit Raised for
Good Citizenship.
PURIFY CITY POLITICS
The Rights OF the People in Municipal
Affairs Ably Treated in a Tren-
chant Sermon by Rev. Z.
J. Groeneveld.

The feature in Butte's churches yes
terday was the preaching by a number
Of on the subject of NUM-
cipal reform. or good citizenship. A
few weeks ago the clergymen discussed
the matter of city politics n decided
that each should preach a sermon In
the interest of good government at
some time before the city election.
Last Sunday Rev. 1. Newton Roberts
led of at the Second Presbyterian
church with a sermon on this subject,
which was published in the Standard a
week ago. Yesterday our of Butte's
leading clergymen preached able ser
mons. which had particular reference
TO the approaching election.
One of the most pointed OF the SER
mons yesterday was the N delivered
by Rev. f. j. Groeneveld last evening
at the First Presbyterian church. The
subject was Rights of the People in
Municipal Affairs" Mr.. Groeneveld
said:
TT is usually the lawbreakers in the
community. who set up the cry, that
their rights are being interfered with.
when the suggestion is made. that the
laws upon the statute books be en-
forced. The laws may be right and
wholesome. the large majority of the
people may demand that they be e~-
ecuted without Partially, yet a cry :
raised that in this free country. q
law-abiding class must not interior
with the Undertaking class. and stump.
tuary regulations must be ignored and
resisted to the death.
"A large number of people have built
homes in Butte. support the govern
ment of city, state n nation by pay
ing taxes. and are trying to bring up
their children. that they may become
worthy citizens by and by. and not
worthless creatures. who shall be no
credit to the nation. but simply cum
berers of the ground. These people. who
arc proud of their city. and would make
IL good as well as enterprising. insist
that the laws we have be enforced for
the protection of their families and
other interests Here we find some in
alienable as well as legal rights, which
no one even though temporarily ele-
waited into a place of considerable
power. dare violate with impunity.
But is the minister of the gospel the
one who shall take up the cause of this
second class? There are people who
grow purple in their declarations that a
minister must eve NEEDLE I'm poll
tics and soil his clean hands by hand
ling that which Is unholy. The politi-
cal preserve. where all sorts of ma
him work is lone at general expense
lnuef cover, Is especially ClpSeu 10 lflt
minister. We are told TO content our
selves with monopolizing heaven and
let the little hanging bah alone but |
say that my business. quite often is
just exactly with this little hanging
hall. A minister is not at liberty TO
wink at iniquity anywhere. Christ Is
our example, and he pronounced that
blistering woe upon public officials who
ground the face of the poor. The rays
Of the ~ Of Northumberland YnttnH and
illumine the whole solar system of hu-
man life. Many of the most renowned
heroes in the cause of human liberty
have been preachers OF righteous
ness.
The preacher is warned off because
he may interfere with the dark schemes
Of the demagoeue. IL makes no differ
ence. ] claim to speak tonight i'm the
name of the women. who have O the
ballot. of the 5000 boys and girls en-
rolled in our public schools, of the
many who are helpless i'm the presence
of the evils. which are nursed and en-
couraged by the weak and vacillating
attitude of those into whose hands has
been committing the strict enforcement
Of wholesome laws. and in their name.
] max the following demands:
= W demand that the city govern
ment. in every particular, be conducted
in the interest of the public. and not
of any individual or any vicious class.
This Is a corporation. In which each
has a proprietary interest. II is of the
people. by the people Inc for the peo-
pie. that the corporation exists. The
welfare OF the people is the supreme
object. II the business of this firm is
well managed. all are benefited; If
badly conducted. all are injured. Pro
fessor Bryce. in his American Common
wealth. states that the government of
American cities is the one conspicuous
failure i'm the United States. The ex-
t~ravagance. corruption and misman-
agement of cities is remarkable. Some
times the average citizen feels. and
who would blame him. that the GOV
eminent exists only to feed a horde
of chronic oficeholders. As a class
with some noble exceptions do they care