New-York tribune., 1900-04-06
cOLER,s ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.
SPEAKS IN PLYMOUTH CHURCH AND SAYS
BARE KNUCKLES ARE NEEDED
IN POLITICS.

A. Plymouth Church Brooklyn last night there
was a largely attended meeting for the discussion
of Civic Purity" The meeting held under
the auspices OF the Young Mems Club, of Plymouth
Robert Van Iderstine presided. Controller Coler
made a speech the Duties and Responsible
ties OF Younb Men in Public Affairs" He was
listened to with the kecnest attention and was fre
uuently interrupted with applause. At one point he
cautioned the young men not to use the kid
gloves in politics The success have won he
said Il have by the use of Kid gloves
but rather with knuckles"
Dr. Lyman Abbott. for the first time since his re-
tirement from the pastorate of Plymouth Church,
appeared in the Plymouth Church pulpit and made
an eloquent speech After declaring that he did
not believe that all the saints in the church
and that all sinners had gone into politics. he
declared that should not be expected that cor
ruption would be easily vauquished.
Referring TO the attack of Senator Raines upon
Dr. Truman J. Backus, formerly president of the
Board Of Trustees of the Long Island State Hos
pital. DR.. Abbott exclaimed:
We have recently seen the example of man
who has served the State unselhshy, spendidy
and with the greatest self-sacrince; We have seen
him yfiianously attacked by a Senator the floor
of the Senate at time when he could
swer the attack because he was not a member of
an utterance of public officer in public body;
that is true, ought TO be indicted" This utter
followed with great applause.
James McKeen and Thomas G. Shearman also
spoke
When Controller Coler was introduced he said in
beginning that he would answer question put to
him by DR. Abbott:
The only way" said the Controller Ito get rid
OF government by syndicate is by direct nomination
and by the application of sort OF referendum. The
expenses OF the city Of New-York are four times
that OF the State and one-seventh OF the govern
ment OF the United States before the Spanish war.
We have the privilege Of paying 10 cent of the
and wealth is only one-half of the State"
Mr.. Coler continued in part:
No honest man is a bad citizen from choice and
none will vote bad ticket on Election Day If
assured OF equal or greater benefit from voting a
directly responsible for most OF the bad government
Ignorance in a year or generation To the poor
and the ignorant the authority OF government is
and the benefits by the schools and parks. Con-
vince that element OF the population that they
oppression by supporting and intelligent gov
ernfnent than by voting the ticket of some par
every workingman in the city OF NewYork arrayed
the side Of honest politics.
veTsity settlements and the educational alliances
and the other organizations for the study OF civic
societies should work the line of education.
The time is coming when the politicians may stand
IN wholesome awe OF those organizations and their
To the young men Of the colleges and the churches
say in all seriousness import public duties and
Them YOU will sooner or later reap the hitter frIt
Of corrupt and expensive government You NAV ai
rail against socialism, but you cannot answer the
demand that government is intended for the good
all. for the personal benefit OF the few The
greed OF corporations in eternaly seeking TO avoid
taxation by corrupt methods will bring about their
destruction If they do not meet the people on
a fair basis; in the near future the pendulum will
oition Of affairs Will be created.
Learn the details Of the small things in public
are the cornerstones of the government YOU Create
eminent like private business which makes or
breaks community.