Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-06
Or. HAwTHoRNE,s CRUSADE.

Dr.. HAW 7 FOhNE'o OnOSAbEs
The people of Atlanta know that DR..
Hawthorne has the capacity Of making
things lively" when he tries to do so. He
Is a hard fighter and has the Paul Jones
quality OF never knowing when he is
whipped.
He came 20 Atlanta from Richmond.
where for years he, had exerted a very
large influence. He certainly made a deep
impression In this city and left IL for
Nashville, to the regret of a h9st OF ad-
mirers. He is now back in Richmond
as pastor OF the largest Baptist church In
Virginia.
II IS DR.. Hawthorne's theory that a
preacher should not be restricted to the
affairs OF his own congregation. but that
Il IS his privilege and duty TO take part
I'm whatever concerns the public life and
morals OF the community in which he
may reside.
Wherever he has carried on his min
istry he has acted on this principle. He
Is doing so to a very marked degree In
Richmond
The municipal government of Virginia's
capital has either become very corrupt
OF late, or has been outrageously SLAM
dered. 1t has beeh denounced from the
local pulpit and the local newspapers have
arraigned it unsparingly.
A few weeks ago The Times published a
leading editorial, entitled "Richmond's
shame" that attracted attention through
out the country. 1t was provoked by the
charges OF the grand jury that several
members OF the city council and some
other city officials had accepted brides
and the council refused to investigate
these charges, though there was a great
public demand for investigation.
In the course OF its scathing editorial
The Times said:
and now we find the councilmen OF
Richmond refusing to authorize an inves-
tigatiOn Of the charge that they have &C
cepted brides. And they do it on the
ground that an investigation would bring
scandal upon the cityi Heaven save the
mark indeedl
cit IS a novel proposition that an ag-
gregatfon OF innocent men should shrink
from having their official conduct investi-
gated because such investigation would
entail disgrace upon the city. mat prop
osition appears about as strongly to the
intelligence as the excuse Of the negro
who said he stole the sheep he was caught
with 20 keep Ii from biting him"
DR.. Hawthorne has been attacking the
Richmond authorities even more vigorous
" than The Times. He has charged that
all sorts OF vice and corruption are no
toriously practiced In that city; that the
state laws and city ordinances are openly.
fagrantly and dehantly violated without
punishment, or any honest attempt at
t.: that the municipal government Is
rotten 10 the core and that there is not
the slightest prospect OF its publication
by those who now control it.
The Times stands by DR.. Hawthorne
In this fight. endorsing all he says about
the disgraceful condition of affairs in
Richmond. 1t says: HE has made pit
Hess and Notifying exposure OF the s1el-
eton IN our closet"
DR.. Hawthorne and a number of other
reputable citizens have laid before the
council and the police commission proofs
to sustain their charges which have star
tied the city, but the council persists in
its refusal to investigate the charges OF
bribery against it's members, while the
police board coolly declares that in its
opinion further investigation is I'M
necessary"
In view OF the very convincing evidences
that DIR. Hawthorne and others have pre-
scented this skuIxing has aroused public
indignation to very high pitch.
DR.. Hawthorne announces that he viii
continue to expose crime and denounce
criminals" as long as he finds them in
the high OF low places Of Richmond. and
nobody who knows him will doubt that
he means what he says.
The forces that are arrayed against the
city government are said to be growing
stronger every day and their sweeping
triumph cannot be delayed much longer.
Richmond seems TO need a e1eaning out
about as badly as any city in the United
States.