The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-05-14


OF the witnesses summoned by Rev. a. H.
Cristy in his case against Chief Mat .hews.
preached last evening on Civic Right
eousness."
He demanded a complete and thorough
irvestga ton OF every fact md every
rumor relating to the police department.
especially in view OF the efforts Of Chief
Matthews supporters and OF his news
paper organ In the raising or dust 10 OBJ
scure the vision" which he insisted should
be stopped.
81 do not believe In bringing politics
into the pulpit In the first place, as
general rule the preacher doesn't know
enough about the subject 10 preach upon
IL. In the second place, the moment he
brings politics into the pulpit he is sure
10 offend somebody
Another reason and think the great
est OF all. is that the pulpit is not the
place for the discussion OF political quts-
tions. The pulpit is for the preaching OF
the gospel, and anything that is not In
some way connected with tha, purpose
has no place I'm H. | do not believe the
pulpit is the place To discuss secular
affairs OF any kind for their own sake.
The work OF the minister ought 10 be
along spiritual lines. II Is his duty TO
help men turn away from the things OF
this world. But IL is also the luty Of
the minister to do everything he can for
the cause OF righteousness, IN tho home,
in business In society. IL Is his duty TO
exalt the right and condemn the wrong
''The wrong In politics ought To be con-
demned by the minister OF the gospel and
tke right in politics ought TO be exalted
by him. The wrong in secular affairs OF
any kind ought to be condemned by him
and the right exalted. That. / believe, Is
the business Of the minister of the gospel.
That was the business OF the prophet of
old
"For these reasons every minister OF
the gospel ought TO be intensely interest
ed I'm every question OF righteousness be-
fore the community. For -thc-e-rr-asetfs
every minister OF the gospel ough; - he
intensely interested in the great question
now before the citizens Of Providence. He
ought 10 be interested I'm II. not as "A
political question but as -he greater
broader question OF the righteousness OF
our city government.
mot only ought every minister cf the
gospel TO be interested in this question.
but every citizen OF Providence ought TO
be intensely interested in IT, Not on,y
ought they to be Intensely interested. but
j believe they are interested. Not only
that. but / believe they are, strongly in
favor OF having a righteous city govern
ment. For these reasons believe minis
ters OF the gospel ought to have some
thing to say on this subject.
Whether We have the right sort OF
city government Is not for me to say.
am not here to make any charges But
] think you can bear me out I'm saying
that today the air seems filled with
rumors OF various sorts.
There may be great deal I'm these
rumors, there may not be very much I'm
them. There Is an old adage. you know.
that where there Is a great deal OF smoke
there must be some FIRE.
II think we can safely say that there Is
o great deal OF smoke IN the present case;
whether we shall find any Are We cannot
tell. II there is any fire we ought to
find II out. so that we can get rid OF
it. We don't want IL TO consume any OF
the Righteousness OF our city.
1T seems to me these rumors ought
20 be inquired into. II seems TO me
that we ought to go to the very bottom
OF this thing. / believe the people would
be glad TO get through this discussion
Of side issues. I believe they are I'm a
frame OF mind TO see that so much dust
is not raised over side issues that public
vision OF ths really important things Is
obscured
IF the oficials and the attorneys who
are conducting this investigation will
bring the real facts TO light. II t.ley will
let US see conditions as they exist. they
viii render service 70 the public for which
the public Will be profcu cundly grateful
believe the people do not want any whIte-
washing done.
mo honest man who is doing his duty
wants 70 be whitewashed II any man
Is not doing his duty the people do not
want him whitewashed. Let the voice
OF the pulpit be heard in this matter, and
let the press spread II abroad. and II the
people unite along this line a day OF reck-
oning will come.
This Is not a personal or a political
question. The question between one man
and another is n very small part OF the
present movement. The rumors OF which
I am speaking go much farther than
that. II seems TO me that as yet only
the surface OF affairs has been ticked
1T II our duty as a city. now that a
good beginning has been made. TO go
on. There may be nothing there but let
US know II. IL there is nothing there II
Is due to the people 10 know H. II there
Il something there, II Is also due 10 the
people to know II. that the wrong may be
righted.
How can these things be done. you
ask? II there is wrong, how can we find
IL out? How can we get rid OF it7 II seems
TO me that II there is any officer In this
city whose duty II Is TO look into these
things II is time he was about II. I do not
now In offico TO investigate these things,
but IL II In believe he ought 10 do the
work without compulsion.
81 have no sympathy with any officer
OF the law who has TO be forced TO do his
duty If his duty is laid down for him hy
the law. In the name OF his oath let him
do that duty.
''In the name OF the vigilant citizens OF
Providence. I'm the name OF the clty's
good. I call on him TO do his duty and To
do II at once. and believe I can pledge
him the backing and support OF every
man and woman who believes In good
government.
''If there is no such officer In this city
there IN only one other way I can think
of. Let the citizens let their voice be
heard In a demand that II be done. | be-
lieve that II mass meeting OF citizens
were 20 be called I'm n proper way, 20
meet cay in Infantry hall. thousands
would respond 20 the call.
Let the strong. staiwart business men
rf fhe rffr focefher and dcrnaud tha