The Washington times., 1903-01-05
WASHINGTON HAS GOOD
"REASONS FOR HOPE"
Bright Prospects in Store for
Clean Government.
CITY HAS SOCIAL PROBLEM
The Rev. John Van Schaick Tells How
This May Be SoIved-Series of
Sermons Closed.
CITY HAS SOCIAL PROBLEM

The series OF twelve sermons on Dark
est Washington, which the Rev. John
Van Schaick, if. has been giving at the
Church OF Our Father, came to an end
last evening with Reasons for Hope"
as the subject The text for the sermon
was Let US hear the conclusion Of the
whole matter" EccIesiastes xiii IS. The
series has been devoted TO the cause Of
good government, historical as well as
prophetic. Last evening the Rev. Mr.. Van
schaick said in part:
Washington has her social problem
believe It will be solved for three
reasons: First. much has been done; sec
ond. brave and skiIlfuI men and women
are at work: third, and behind the dim
unknown standeth God within the
shadow keeping watch above his own
THE doctrinaires and the cranks often
despair. They have their hobby. It is all
they talk about. They meet in Conven-
ton to resolve concerning It They are
angry because the rest OF the world joys
on. doing It's work in its own way abso-
Iutely ignorant OF their Nominations and
denunciations. But the plain people are
moving on, reaching the higher and
higher standards true leaders set.
Districts Ups and Downs.
For q hundred years the District of
Columbia has had its separate existence.
It has witnessed many changes. Presi-
dents strongly in favor Of and bitterly
opposed to internal improvements have
come and gone. Congresses have as
sembled and adjourned Administrations
have waxed and waned But all through
these years the District has been slowly
realizing itself and growing into the
stature of an independent political divi-
sion with its own traditions and history.
Much has been done The struggling
village has grown TO be q mighty city.
Streets have been paved and drained:
sewers have been built: schools estab-
lished; parks opened; rivers dredged.
and prosperous and happy homes placed
on every hill and along every ridge for
miles around Axmen like Shepherd
have leveled mighty blows at the tree Of
municipal Indifference and sent it crash
ing to the ground
Better and better methods have been
constantly applied in every department
OF our government. Mistakes have been
made, but compared with other cities
what intquities of bossism and ring rule
have we not been spared2
7 DO not like the idea so often ex-
pressed that self-government in this
District is dead-that We are creatures
Of Congressional because We have no
suffrage we have no power. Suffrage fs an
incident Of democracy not its vital prIn-
cipIe. II is an injustice that citizens o.
the District have no vote for national Of
fcers.
Wise Municipal Government.
"A wise plan. have no doubt. viii
coon be worked out whereby the power
will be bestowed. But the government
OF the District by Commissioners OF Con
gress Is, in view OF all circumstance
probably the wisest plan for q capitaI
Ike ours. The voice OF citizens is DO
tent Their influence counts.
The need for al enlightened pub1fc
spirit is all the greater here. since We
have to educate Congressman from ali
over the country. And that leads Us to
saythat the second great reason for hone
IS IN the fact that so many brave and
sklllful men and women are al work m
these subjects. Because we have crit
icised District methods Of handling Grim
inals it does not follow that We are pes
simistic. The marvel is that we have
gone as far as We have when every stem
has 10 be taken with the acoufencenee
of practically the whole United States
The men at the forefront Of the ed
ucational. social and political life Of the
District Will not stop where the are
Better buildings VIII come for HOSPITALS
asyIums and jails. and better wavs OF
treating the patients. We have TO keen
hsTnmering away. l want to testify to
night TO the power Of the District press
For two months and over I have been
attacking slum tenements. neglect of the
poor the paupertZatiOn OF the toiIer the
non-education OF the criminal and kim
dred evils have been arguing for the
indetermlnate sentence, the model re-
formatoTy, the new industrial school the
prevention Of disease, the sanitary ten
ement- 1 have been appealing for the
spirit OF brotherhood which will make
Us treat the poor man as friend and
not as q pauper or felon to be stunned
Over and over again have people come
10 NE expressing interest Many have
written, and yet but few of them have
heard what I said Most have read what
the city papers have taken trouble and
pains to print
Press Leads Public Sentiment.
Il look back over the files Of old IA
pers- find editorial utterance for many
years back along all these lines. clear.
leyei-headed and terse-dIIed with
progressive spirit that is wisely curbed
BY common sense The newspapers are
the leaders Of public sentiment. They
are the strong arm Of The Christian
church In this closing sermon 1 think il
only fair 10 say that realize how feeble
are my efforts compared with theirs
and how The influence Of any church is
doubled and trebIed by the cooperation
Of the Christian editor.
"A sensational minister and yellow
Journal are Gre5rands IN q community
II they are feeble and brainIess. they
merely smoke things up a little. II they
are Of sane force, they create discomfort
and iEapeos progress. Ny hope for the
future res On The fact that the lead
CTS II district matters are men sane