The Minneapolis journal., 1904-07-16

SO far we in the United States have to
confess that we have made failure Of
municipal government. We have some sin
gle cities that have a population equal to
that Of our largest states and the prob c
lens of the city are far more perplexing
thar those Of the state. They demand the
highest type of statemanship, yet they are
too often controlled by the lowest speci-
mems Of dishonest politicians. Under such
a regime crime Of every sort flourishes.
Moreover, the American city becomes
the resort of all the worst elements Of the
population Of the earth. Cities Of the old
world maintain a. high degree Of homo
geneity of nativity. London has not over
per cent of foreign population, while
Now York has fully 80 per cent foreign
and of the greatest possible variety Of
natonalities and diversities Of types. Chi
cago is close second. This complexities
| the problem, socially, politically and NOR
ally. Among such mixture of elements
| 1t is not strange that there develops a
/ spirit of lawlessness and disregard of the
rights of person and property. There is
on the average nearly ten times as much
crime in a large city like New York or
Chicago as in the average rural counties
of New York and Illinois. The criminal
classes hide and work in the large cities.
and too often the city Is either indisposed
or powerless to restrain them.
/ Besides, the influence of the home is
less in the city than in the country. Thou
sands leave their country homes and
crowd into the cities, only to live in board
ing houses or hotels. The uplifting influ-
ences and wholesome restraints Of home
| life being removed. they drift away from
! high ideals. Less homes are owned in
the city. Land Is high and building ex-
te:lslye, hence renting with all its insta-
bility and loss Of g home center. The CEN
sus of 1890 showed that 66 per cent Of
farmers owned their own homes. while in
cities this element ranged from is to 36
per cent. The hcme Is the chief restraint
upon immortality and crime. In New York
only per cent of the people own homes. 8
Now, add the fact that in the city the
church grows weaker as does the home,
and we find an added reason for the in
creasing danger from sin. A thousand
diversions In city life turn people aside
from consideration of the fundamental im-
portarce of religion and morality. Life is
strenuous, keyed to high note. Extraor-
d!nary demands are made upon time and
strength in order to maintain ones self
in the station he desires to occupy. The
Bible is neglected. family worship forgot
ten, the Sabbath turned into a holiday.
and church worship ignored by many. The
results of this elimination Of religion are
first an easy morality, then general ir-
, responsibility for the condition of the COM
, munty. This all harmonizes with the
lGxity at the lower end of the city in
{ the s'ed-light region, where religious insti-
IuIlOnS are largely lacking and Crln1nai IS
r rest and breed The number of churches
to the population has steadily decreased In
the great cities. In 1S40 there was in Bos-
: ton cHe church to every 1928 Of the popu-
lation; in 1890, one to every 2,5S1 people.
In New York in 1910 there was one church
: to every 1899 souls; in 1890, one to every
+ 1851. Probably other large cities do moi
: greatly vary from these figures. In Mins
! neapois we have approximately one
:, church to each 1000 people.
That the number Of non -churchgoers
in great cities is small always has been q
:. fact and by itself might not be cause fol
: increased alarm, but when we take init
u account the rapid increase Of city popula
Z zion, the predominating influence which
!. the cities are gaining in our American
z life, then their Indifference to the claims
I of religion and morality, together will
II their increasing criminality, furnishes |
n problem Of profound import.
! C. S. Rollins.
;. Minneapolis, July 13, 1904.