The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-08-20
ADDRESS OF REV. HARRY LUTZ.

Ooau tlIul MONIES.
ADDRESS OF REV. HARRY LUTz.
1t is with considerable hesitancy that
attempt to speak upon this occasion.
NV very brief residence in the city
renders it impossible for me to deal in
"reminiscences of its past: but that has
been done by others more competent.
Were to attempt it my efforts might
we'll be rated at about the value law
yer once put upon the wisdom of a
brother of his profession to whom he
went to ask his opinion upon certain
point of law. Contrary to the usual
courtesies of the professions he drew
himself up and said: Il generally get
paid for what | know" Whereupon
the questioner drew from his pocket a
| half-dollar, handed it to the other and
said: "Tell me all you know and give
me the change" Or l might be like the
college graduate who, trying to be pa
thetic at parting, said: professor, | am
indebted to you for all know pray
do not mention such tritle, was the
professors polite reply.
1t is to be keenly regretted that we
could not have on this occasion the one
person whose name is indisSolubly link
ed with the history of our city; whose
painstaking research into its past has
| been crystallized into work that will
remain as permanent monument OF
honor to his memory, and also OF IN
estimable value to the future genera
! lions. Already your thoughts have
sylla bled the name OF Joseph Wllllam-
son.
His latest work gathering up the his
tory since the appearance OF the first
volume remains still unpublished. L
humbly venture to suggest 1T as lifting
tribute to his memory, and respectful
recognition of his invaluable service to
the public, as well as an appropriate
monument to this semi-centennial cele-
bration, that we institute movement
to secure the immediate publication
of that work, including a biographical
sketch of the author and an account OF
| the proceedings commemorative of the
past half century of our municipal lite.
1t would seem we could take no more
fitting action, nor could we turn this
| occasion to higher service to our city
| than to so conserve the life work OF this
worthy son of its past and hand it on
to future years in permanent form.
| For such a work will increase in value
with every passing year.
| venture to suggest this movement
as fitting memorial to the past as we
unite our hearts and thoughts to pay
grateful tribute to the memory of the
| faithful men and women who have
wrought their personalities into our
city's half century of life.
As we take a retrospective view of
the past fifty years we observe that
marvellous changes have been wrought.
From isolated communities, bounded
by the narrow limits of their own ac-
Invites and interests, they have become
| closely related to the whole world life
Rapid transit, the press, telegraph, tele-
phone, submarine cable, and wireless
biography are fast binding the whole
world into one great community.
But there is one particular line OF adj
vancement that naturally is suggested
to our thought as we review the past in
municipal life. 1t is along the line OF
| sociological inquiry. The last fifty years
called sociology, which is the most i'm
portant study of our day. Its aim is to
study the origin, the development and
nature of all the institutions which
enable society to perform its infinitely
varied functions" Such institutions in
clude every feature of human society
which comprehends the life and action
of group of individuals. Its inquiry
is based upon recognition of all the
psychic forces as the fundamental basis
of human society. These embrace all
phases of life, from physical conditions
of living, what we eat and drink and the
kind of air we breathe, on through the
processes of education, to our feelings,
habits of thought, aspirations and spirit
ual emotions,-everythin in fact that
enters into the individuals life to affect
his manner of living in relation to others
in the community.
Our interest at this time is mainly
with the effect it is working in the way
of broadening and deepening our ideas
of municipal affairs. Our development
thus far has been mainly extensive. The
growth of cities has been for the most
part in numbers, wealth and outward
improvements, providing fine and COM
moGious buildings, improved and clean
streets, rapid and convenient means OF
communication and transit. The prog
ress on these lines has been perfectly
marvellous. If one who died fifty years
ago were to return and drop into New
York, Chicago or Boston, he would be
cOmplotely uollpluSOu W eHo NIL etCAo
that has been wrought. The sight that
would greet him could not have been
pictured by the widest imagination in
his day.
But, upon the basis of the present in
curry of social science, the line of de
velopment is being turned from the &c
| tensive, the material side, to the inten-
sire, or internal improvement.
The time was when the principal
rivalry between cities was confined to
population, extent of territory. and
wealth. 1t is healthy sign OF the
present that the competition is more
and more based upon efficiency in the
transaction of municipal affairs. The
line of progress is rapidly moving to-
ward the practical recognition OF the
real nature and object OF State anC
municipal government.
..Men, not ,oalls make city," 1t is moi
sky.scrapers of steel, a network OF tele
phone and telegraph wires, electric cars
subways. tunnels or elevated railways
neither is it statutes, ordinances o.
charters of incorporation that really
constitute a city,-but people, A city Ii
simply a number of people living to
gether in q compact community. TIT
, municipal government exists TOT the
purpose Of defining the right rela
, lions to be observed among them, ant
, II is the business of its officers to carr.
II into nraptioQ1 of