Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05

as the saloon keepers and The owners
OF the places Of evil resort stand side
by side, the day would not be far dis
tant when all cities would be redeemed
and purgcd OF political corruption. even
as our United Sbtes courtrooms and
our national legislative halls have
ceased TO be a stcnch IN the no.trils oe
all decent people
senator Hor-'r ycstipany.
Thank God, | believe civic purifca-
ton IS not far distant. II is alnest MI
racuous 10 catalogue the rapid changes
which have come within the llte of the
present generation in tho publication
OF our national life. Senator George T..
ISoar died in 1905 A shOrt tine before
he passed away he was axked this
question, Senator. IS the political life
at Washington growing better or
worse" He answered the question In
these words: when / came into pub
lie life in Washington ii 1859 the corri-
doris OF tho cop,tol wore hauptod hv
lobbyists Interested in all sorts Of
schemes for piundsr.ng the public
treasury. There were quite a number
Of senators aud rspreseptat'rcs who
were suspected by tnslr associates os
/ being vensl. When | think OF the con-
dlti0ns which preTniie1 then and for
years following Tweed iutreIchei N
power IN New York. five Judges OF the
United Stotes court fleeing from Office
under threara Of impeachment for cor
ruption, the Credit Nobiicr scandals.
the scandals attending the Austrian
exposition, the lobbying the whole CIV
II service treated &c patronage by now
erfu political leaders, the report Of the
| committee Of military affairs Ia the
house recommending the expulsion OF
four Of its luc.nhers for making sale Of
their privileges Of selecting rouths 10
be educated at orr great military
school, the impca chmept for corruption
OF four judges In New York the whs-
ky frauds On which the private secre-
tary of the president was lmplIcatedJ,
the Belknnp impG lchment. ono eminent
member Of the United states senate
saying 10 another when he declared lie
could find no steal in n pending meas
IRE that Il the senate could find no
steal in it it was not likely to be there.
eight active Rcpuslican leaders in Mas
sachusctts detected in state prison Of
fenses-it seems to me as if wore liv-
ing not only in another age, but in an
other planet"
That was TIE testimony OF the purlf-
cation Of national and state politics in
the political life of Senator George r.
/ TIoar of Massachusetts. MAY we live
to see such a wonderful change in tho
publication OF city politics. May we
live to see our churches aroused poiti-
caly. May orr churches become great
institutions Of moral and political train
ing. May their members side by side
90 forth to capture the political pri-
maries in our cities for purity and
right. May godly men always not only
be willing to serve their fellow men in
civic Offices, but may cody men. by the
grace OF God, 20 forth to elect their
fellows 10 positions Of civic trust. Then
shall tho Declaration Of Independence
of national liberty, signed by our an
cestors for us, he supplemented by a
declaration Of Independence of our mu-
| ncipal charters, signed by us for the
benefit of our children ana our chill
drens children. Ihen, like the Hebrews
of old, we will not only have six cities
of refuge. but all our cities shall be
| cities of refuge, wherein purity and
truth and honor shan love to dwell, and
where Christs affairs shall be the
shrines at which municipal officials and
inhabitunts shall bow the knee and
worship. Nay Coz bless end speed the
contamination Of ON beloved cities
emancipation from sin.
copyright. 1896 by Louis Klcpschl