THE BATTLE OF GOODNESS WITH THE POWERS OF HELL.
A saint might sit in the seat of power,—the Mayor’s chair—and be powerless to stem the evil.
He is the creation of an election. Vice is the creation of satanic wisdom and diabolical cunning.
The Mayor of the city is battling against the sea of iniquity about him. He has appointed municipal physicians to cut out the moral cancer that is rapidly destroying the city. God speed this noble work.
But we tremble when we think that in the end it may be futile.
Justice has scarcely any way of reaching these criminals. They create their own power, build the citadel of crime and vice about them and dwell securely within.
To save herself Chicago needs a new civic conscience or the stimulation of a latent one.
Chicago needs leaders,—men willing to become martyrs for the sake of their city, their children and their children’s children.
A general awakening to the gigantic, monstrous evil is the only palpable salvation.
Destroy corrupt political power and the victory is won. Then the police force will fulfill the object of its creation. Then concerted crime and vice will fall to pieces. Then the glaring plague spots of assembled infamy will be dissipated. Then we will have a city after God’s own heart and man’s best desires.
We are telling the truth to create public and saving opinion, to destroy lethargy and inoculate the germ of activity.