The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-09
Interesting Remarks Of SamuaI b.
Capen, OF Boston.

meeting AT indianapolis last Wcch
was productive of thoughtful address
ses from some Of the best minds OF
the L. ). The President OF the
Boston Municipal League, Sam'l b.
.Capon, was "A speaker Wednesday.
The century, now rushing to its
conclusion has seens)me wonderful
problems. AT its beginning "A fee
bic republic was er tering existence.
A strong religious lite that had come
down through g nerations was in 1t.
As "A result of the religious Lille and
the brotherhood of man there came
a contest between freedom and
slavery. When the conflict came,
foreign nations said; This is the
end of the republic" But it is not.
The nation became the home OF the
free. Then came an era OF wonder
iul material prosperity, and the re
public took her place among the
first nations. People of every ma
ton came to America for freedom.
This marvellous growth, material
prosperity and Heterogeneous popu-
lation brought new problems. Aud
now, as the century closes, the
American people, like good business
men, should take an inventory OF
our needs and condition, ascertain
what dangers exist and prepare for
the final work of the century.
The old conflict for the integrity
of the nation is ended. The new
conflict is for purity in the gov
eminent of the great cities, the mu-
nicipal units, which SO largely con-
troll The nation. This is the final
work OF the century. The perils
which confront us at the close OF the
century are: Political Indifference /;
that is, the neglect to perform the
duty of a citizen by manifesting in
terest in public veal and exercising
the influence and vote of citizen
the languidness of decency and the
alertness of criminality. The St
cond peril is the political boss. Mr.
Capen described the boss AS a con-
scienceless, selfish man, who makes
the public business his personal
profit. He depends for success on
the unprincipled. He destroys in
dependence and create officials who
will 90 his bidding. The success
of the boss comes from the hrst evil
political Indifference. A third
peril is the concentrated power OF
great wealth. Mr.. Capen referred
to the concentration of millions in
the hands of few and divided from
this class the few who are philan-
thropical and unselfish. He said
among the laboring men OF the ma
ton there is discomfort, because OF
the selfish use of wealth. This dis
trust BODIES no good.
The fourth peril is in the comb
nation of the boss with the concen
trated wealth. This is prevailing
idea-a fancied helplessness. We
fear we cannot destroy this combi-
nation. A fifth peril is the tenden-
Icy of the people to worship the
"smart" in politics. Those who dc
30 much for themselves constitut.
this class. They represent the grea
American viceof cove tousness. lg
norance is the sixth peril. Gu
: citizens know more of the worlc
than of the nation we lack know
ledge of our own institutions.
DECREASE OF RESTRAINING FORCE.
What adds to this peril is the de
crease of the conservative restrain
ing force in the great cities. In tn
country at large 66 per cent. OF tn
! people own their own homes. II
cites Of 100000 and less this is re
duced to 36 per cent. in cities o
!, over 100, 600 it is reduced to % pc
! cent. in Boston, Is per cent, am
! !, in New York city, 6 per cent. Tn
people in the cities have too little a
: stake, and for this reason Jack in
terest in civic affairs.
!. To eradicate these evils, Mr.. Ca
}. pen thought, it should be laugh
r. everywhere, constantly, that citizen
II ship in a republic is sacred trust
Ii we should stimulate intelligent In
J. terest mall public matters;we shout
J induce our young men to self-sacr
,e flee for the community. This spir
of self sacrifice will lead men int
ID the caucus, the primary and else
ID where, and beneficial results will |
re obtained, for government in Amer
Is ca is shaped at the caucus. Apron
ID er conception of citizenship will lea
us to the ballot box. Neglect I
H. this trust is fraught with peril. tt
IN citizens should vote--not as a priv
lege, but as trust, which ma
not be disregarded. The higher CT
ce izenship cultivated by the near
r. named will lead us all straight int
If, what is called politics, which is sa
OF IN no stdirfv ~ Wa should all 90