The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-02
A CITY AND IT'S CITIZENS.
The Duty Of the Former to the Latter
the Topic OF a Sermon.

Inc Duty OF the FORMER TO the Latter
the Topic of a Sermon.
"The Duty OF q City to lis Citizens.
was a theme which furnished Rev. c..
E. Clarke, pastor of Thomson N. E..
church last evening. a discourse which,
branching out with the question OF
bridge tolls. was an arraignment OF
the existant evils of a city, and con-
tanning suggestions for the betterment
OF the conditions OF the humber classes.
City ownership OF the bridges and
street railway lines was advocated,
and an appeal made for public parks.
The sermon made quite On timpression.
Mr.. Clarke said that in the minds OF
some people, It was improperly to dis
cuss such topics from the pulpit. The
speaker had no desire to be sensational
he spoke In the interests Of his city and
its people. The text was taken from
the Acts OF the Apostles, chapter S,
verse S: And there was great joy in
that city," After dwelling briefly on
the Biblical Significance OF his text. Mr..
Clarke branched into the main OF his
discourse.
A few days ago. said he, relative to
the announcement OF q change OF toll
rates, the text to have been appropri-
ate. ought to be "And there was great
indignation in that city," Mr.. Clarke
thought that the Island people have al
ways been imposed on. The city proper
was not willing to do without the
Island. The city churches were not
willing tn M ntnpr WITHOUT 1c1npd ror
lshioners. Public enterprises found
their most willing workers on the
Island.
The speaker had no Intention Of re-
necting on a private corporation. But
the people who help support the public
interests have come to feel that they
ought to be considered in the hours OF
necessity. The speaker had heard Il
said that Island people ought not to OBJ
ject to present conditions. that II they
were not hedged in 80 from the rest Of
the city, they would be overrun by 4
poorer and less desirable class OF citi-
zens, hence Island people shouldn't
didn't agree with this argument, which
he termed was selfish. Incidentally, he
stated that he hoped earnestly for the
NAY "ACu IdbOi -bCSiIilCF 81 dlSlllIleu W
elevated that the honest toiler at the
furnace would enter the mill, feeling as
dignihed ms the professional man enter
ing the office; and when the daughter
OF the mechanic would be MS nccomp-
llshed and enjoy all elevating recrea-
tons enjoyed by girls supposed to be
higher In the social scale. But after all.
1t Is absurd to think that physical toll
Is easier than mental toll. People of
that belief have the wrong conception Of
life.
Referring again TO the bridges, Mr..
Clarke intlmated that they should be
free. The city ought to own them.
Further than that. Mr.. Clarke said the
city ought to own the street railways.
1t Is n blessing that someone owns the
street railways. but when a corporation
operates Its line, It certainly does 1t,
and perfectly right. too. because there
is In It a profit. Therefore, the city
should have that profit for the benefit
OF Its people. Glasgow, Scotland, has
done It, and Wheeling can. Wheeling
owns its water works and gas plan;.
1t should not only own In addition also,
the bridges and the street railways,
but 1t should own Its parks. 1t should
buy tracts OF land away from the river
front. and fit them for parks. The
speaker took occasion to score the