The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-01-13

The decision of the court of ap-
peal IN Il cases of the convicted
felons, Schmitz and Ruef, was the
subject of at least two eloquent, In
dignant and intense sermons yester-
d1y- One of these was preached by
Rev. Dr. Evans of Grace cathedral,
who said:
We of this city are dumfounded
~ q judicial pronouncement which en-
sbles the high officials of our city to
rob and plunder without any techni-
cal breaking Of the law. It is enough,
such an audacious mockery of the first
principles OF common sense. to justify
the appointment OF lunacy commits
sion 10 inquire into the sanity of men
who could formulate such Judgment
and il ought to provoke an explosion
OF righteous indignation from one end
OF the state 10 the other. We need not
hesitate to declare that such an opin-
ion as this has its inspiration in that
place where public sentiment without
q single dissenting voice would give it
its unanimous approval"
The other address. delivered by Dr.
william RAIDER Of Calvary Presbyte-
rian church. was equally strong and
impsssioned IN its appeal for sanity
and justice in municipal affairs The
speaker said:
7 purpose speaking this evening on
q phrase taken from the prayer that
we all know. Thy kingdom come 1
purpose speaking more specifically on
some OF the reasons why the kingdom
OF God IS not yet made manifest in San
Francisco. Ministers OF the gospel are
not supposed TO ,criticise the decisions
OF the judges Of our courts, but I must
say that the recent decision of the
court OF appeal. however ethical it
may be. is at least confusing.
When extortion is not crime. when
bribery is not even a wrong, when a
confessed felon can learn that he is
really righteous. and that his trial,
confession and conviction have all been
nothing but a mistake slight mis-
take-I repeat that however correct this
may be legally and ethically. 1t has the
eject OF making US stand amazed at
the rapid revolutions Of the legal
wheels. Perhaps tomorrow we shall
learn that this last decision has been
2 mistake. too. I hope so. believe so.
However. that decision has done
more harm TO San Francisco than the
original crime. There is not city
tonight that does not pointlits finger at
Us in scorn. Are We in the hands Of
men who do not believe in Justice?
VIII the kingdom Of God come where
justice is invariably stabhed7
What this city needs is aroused
public opinion: a public opinion that is
invincibly fierce. What is the matter
with character2 What is the matter
with the American man2 Is oak grow
ing weak, iron growing soft fiber be-
coming lax2 I believe the old doctrine
Of he'll FIRE and birthstone made better
character than is shown today by men
who should be the city's protectors in
its evil hour. II is not enough to meet
IN the churches and pray. II we want
70 save the city we must act The
world would be filled with brightness
II we backed up what we prayed for
with a little action
Men OF San Francisco. I beg you
rot to speak in whispers of this deci-
sion. Speak in trumpet tones. I beg
~ you to be patriots: ] beg of you to
save this city, I beg of you to work
for its salvation and your own
At the close of the address Amer
ica" was sung by the congregation,
standing.