The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-07
EQUALLY PERTINENT HERE.
PHILADELPHIA Press.

From the Philadelphia Press
The great sober mass of the commnn-
ity has very little sympathy either with
extreme reformers, clerical or otherwise,
who talk fntch about their discoveries
Of wlckedness, U~ that other and oppos-
ing wing of society which paliiates the
evils exposed, deprecates investigation
and objects to any revelations OF ini-
guilty. Evil exists in every city. Some
resorts of iniduity will always be pres
ent. a certain number of people for
many, many years to come VIII profit by
the Worship of wickedness and the de-
sires and demands of wicked men. This
is no reason for either accepting these
evils rs inevitable on parading any "reve-
lations." The one thing needed is
steady, relentless, unremitting enforce
ment of the law.
Tho community wants this. 1t will al
ways support and approve 1T. III men,
tersymen or others, have any talking to
do about the breaches of law and of So
cial decency they have discovered the
place TO talk is not a hall but the grand
jury-not a pulpit but the witness box.
once month the doors of the grand
jury room are open. No one can be in
jured by any revelations in that place.
Talk there counts. 1t ineahs business.
Elsewhere talk about these things is like
u 1Oul smell. III SHOWS lne pISStnCe VI
corruption. It does not aid its cure.
What the community wants is not revela-
ton but disinfection.
o
For let no Cne forget that the great
currents of an American community are
sound, healthy and pure, tending to
purify ana not TO corrupt. Each gcner-
alton and each decade sees changes for
the better. Any courageous men who
hay
/ have behind them an enlightened public
sentiment and p vigorous public deter
mination to purify the city and see that
| 1t steadily grows better. Any earnest,
honest effort to do this, backed by evil
| dence, followed by indictments and suc-
ceeded by conviction will receive sup
port which will override any possible re-
! sstance. The law is clear. Public opih-
! ion is unmistakable. The courts are
ready to do their duty. The whole COM
munity is at hand with its moral sup
port. But not for mere talk, not for
vague charges, not for assertions that
things are very bad and awful things can
be seen by hunting for them.
Evidence. indictments and convictions
are demanded if true reform is to be ac-
| complished. If these are not secured the
| last estate of the city will be worse than
! the first. If they are another step Will
| be taken in the upward way toward
purity. For he must be blind to all hu-
man records and deaf to all past history
who does not see that year by year, de-
| cade by decade, generation by genera
ton, Christianity and civilization are
steadily raising the moral level of life.
The great fight for purity. decency and
| social order is a winning one. Our laws
! already are far in advance of those else
! where in advance even of a large part of
| public opinion. Again we say to the good
men who are banding themselves togeth-
er to carry the contest step farther
| don't talk, but enforce these laws, gather
| evidence, secure indictments and procure
| convictions. This world is so made that
| one conviction is worth hundred pulpit
| "reminiscences of dubious resorts.