Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-07-26
"WkA1'S I'VE MATTER WI1H
CHICA0O2"

One Of our esteemed contemporaries
the other day launched out In a heated
editorial with the caption what Is the
Matter with Chicago?" In the course
Of the article in question our contem-
porary asks:
rs there no chance TO awaken the
people Of Chicago? Are they no lost
In their personal affairs that they have
no thought for her crying needs?
"Will her people talk forever Of her
vast riches and her great population
and calmly fold their hands while hood.
lers. thieves and grafters are lootins
her treasury and delivering her chill.
dren into bondage?
rs civic pride entirely dead?
"Are our people 80 intent upon their
own petty schemes that they will not
strike one blow for the honor Of the
city they profess to lover
To these hysterical questions the ans.
wer is this:
Chicago Ii the greatest, most pro-
gressive and most prosperous city In
this or any other country. Her achieve
ments have attracted the attention and
the admiration Of the world. They
speak for themselves and for the citi.
sens Of Chicago.
Our contemporary, in the same arti.
Gle goes on to say:
"Other cities In America are badly
ruled. Other cities have their munich
pal scandals: others are infested with
thieving politicians who look upon pub.
lie funds as SO much plumber for them
to loot; but no city in America has ever
been so completely delivered to scoun-
drels. small and great, as this one has.
For years Chicago has been controlled
by corrupt rings Of political freebooters
who have not had the decency to place
even one man Of ability In power.
These freebooters have belonged alike
to both political parties"
This IL an outrageous libel upon the
city Of Chicago and IL not supported
by the facts. we have never had any.
thing like the Tweed and Sharp scan.
dals OF New York, we have never been
ruled by anything approaching Tam.
many ring In rottenness, the disclosures
In Minneapolis just now show that we
could take lessons In municipal free.
bo0ting from that fourth rate town,
San Francisco has not had spOtless
reputation, and strangest Of all Chicago
has had, Notwithstanding the alleged
conditions depicted 80 luridly by
our contemporary, an uninterrupted
course of progress. growth and prosper.
ity that has fairly astounded all CIV
ilization.
The Eagle does not pretend that our
public bodies are all that they should
be. On the contrary, It has always
fully and freely criticised their short.
comings and wrong.doing whenever oc'
casion demanded. But there 10 such
thing as overstating the case, and In
doing SO our contemporary has grossly
libeled Chicago.
In conclusion, the Eagle will en-
deavOr In a few words to answer the
query contained In the caption: what
u the matter with ChicagOf"
This Is what's the matter with Chi.
cago: She has within her borders too
many irresponsible critics, both In the
press and out Of II, who take delight
on every opportunity, and for any req.
son that may suggest itself to their per-
verted imaginations, to distOrt facts,
invent lies, exaggerate conditions, and
generally besmirch and befoul the city
IN which they live, until 1t actually Is
a wonder that the municipality has
either reputation or credit left. That Is
what Ia the matter with Chicago.
But Chicago will continue to grow
and prosper, despite all the calumnies
that have been heaped upon her.