Evening journal., 1911-01-14
sATURpAY. JAN. IL. lei
MIR. BoNAPARTE TO SPEAK HERE.

HE members Of the Civic Association are TO
be congratulated upon having secured Former
Acknowledgement Charles ]. Bonaparte OF Balt-
more TO address them. Mr. Bonaparte is a close
student of municipal problems, and he is one Of
the leaders in the Municipal League.
II is TO be hoped that he will be greeted by
large audience when he speaks here Judging by
the number Of letters the local newspapers have
received of late touching municipal questions
there ought to be enough interest in such matters
in Wilmington to cause a large turnout TO hear
such a speaker as Mr. Bonaparte.
1t must be said, however, that lately noted ora
tors confronted small crowds in Wilmington.
II may be all right to read what the men who
speak with authority say in the newspaper reports
of their addresses, but reading an address is NOT
the same as hearing it, and the reports in every
necessarily incomplete.
The members of the Civic Association are de-
termined TO pursue the course they have mapped
out, that of conducting in this city an educational
campaign in the best civic thought As we have
said before the leaders in the movement arc de-
voting considerable time TO what they believe to be
the interests of the people, and they should be
literally supported by the public at large. The
best kind of support that be given is by at
tending meetings such as that Mr.. Bonaparte will
address. Merchants, business men and manu-
facturers, kickers and cranks, and all classes of
citizens should be seen at the meetings.
One or the encouraging signs OF the recent
meeting of the Association was the fact that all
classes OF citizens we're represented by
a few persons not many as there
should be- We have noticed that in
the churches mems clubs coming into prom
inence that there social service clubs and SIM
liar organizations throughout the city. They
should make a special effort to attend the Bona
parte meeting and all other gatherings of a similar
kind II would take very little to arouse a de-
sirable spirit Of civic pride in Wilmington and to
increase the number Of public spirited citizens
The meetings OF the Civic Association are de-
signed to encourage independence OF thought.
They have broadening influence and they stimu-
late the mind 10 free itself from prejudces that so
often shaoke IL. Throughout the entire country
there is an agitation for municipal reform, for
public Improvement and hetterment for a higher
standard Of political and civic life. Mr.. Bona
parte is one Of the best exemplars Of this move
ment Delaware should be in touch with IT, We
need it IN Delaware. Conditions here force II upon
US.
Let the people therefore lend a helping hand,
for such hand costs nothing but an evening now
and then devoted to attending public meetings and
mngling with those who feel the responsibility
of doing something for the benefit of the COM
munity in which they live. There ought to be a
strong, alert, progressive Civic Association in
Wilmington, but whether shall have it or not
depends upon the people Let interest in this
movement not flag because it is the most hopeful
sign Of civic pride and progress that has appeared
IN Wilmington for many day.