Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-23
-FOUR CITIzENSHIP.o
Discussed at Second Congregational
 Church by Dr Davenport.

Discussed at Second Congregational
 Church by Dr Davenport.
 The Rev John G. Davenport, DID,, delivered a very interesting sermon at the Second Congregational church yes terday. His theme was "Our Citizen ship," and his text was Acts xxi-39: T am a Jew. of Tarsus in Silicia, a citizen of no mean city," words spoken by Paul when Me was in charge of a Roman centurion, delegated to see him to the castle at Jerusalem after he had been assailed by a mob Dr Daven- port spoke ill part as follows:
 By no mean city he meant a worthy, a prosperous, a distinguished city, and he gloried in his association with it. These words have been much Ill my mind of late as those which ev- cry citizen of this place might well af- firm or himself, a citizen of no mean city Waterbury has been assailed as perhaps no other city in the union has ever been. The newspapers of the state, the country and other countries have united in heaping upon us about all the abuse that 1t was possible to hing. The government of the city and its people, have shared about equally in the vitrperation. We have been said to possess no public spirit, no cour- age, no energy, no power of self-pro- tection, no manhood. The authori- ties have been supine,' says a> Hartford paper. because the law-loving citizens have themselves been supine. The au- thorities haven't braced up because the people haven't had the civic courage to compel them to brace up'
 The spirit says New Haven pa per, which makes community law abiding, peaceful and progressive has been lacking Waterbury said a New London paper, is becoming a fostering sore on the map of Connecti- cut. 1t looks as if the town would need a permanent garrison of regular troops to preserve life and property The Brooklyn Eagle said of Waterbury: Tt used to be an American city Now 1t has fallen to the grade of Sicilian village. A more depiorable incident than the attack on the car crew and one betokening lower grade of mor- a1s has not occurred in our country America cannot repudiate Waterbury, but 1t ought to pronounce itself with emphasis against Waterbury nlethl ods.'
 Quotations might be given without limit, refecting upon the city of our residence and of our affection. It would be idle to say that these harsh words have not wounded us Some of Us have had chronic blush upon our face for weeks. and have been almost afraid to meet the people of other towns, knowing that facts in part, at least justified these savage attacks. At the same time we have felt that
 many went beyond reason. and that Waterblry. the real Waterbury. was not nearly so bad as it was painted. And for one feel that the time has fully come for US to rise up and defend ourselves from these verbal assaults. and assert what we know to be true, that we are residents of no mean city, TarsusS may have had its advantages, but they could not be compared with those of this enterprising. rapid1v-de- veIoping. aspiring. twentieth century ,municipa1ity. We have very much in our favor A location, somewhat iso- lated by reason of natural features. but in easy communication with the rest of the state. of the country and of the world; manufacturing interests in which millions of dollars are invested and which are in business relations with all the civilized earth; men at the head of these establishments, many of whom are of trained abilities broad views and the highest purpose and en- deavor: thousands of working men and women who have received proyerhially good wages, and who have here found prosperity and happiness"