POLITICAL CLUB LECTURE

Mr. Robert Fulton Cutting of New York City, spoke on "The Organization of the Civic Conscience," at the invitation of the Political Club, last evening in the Living Room of the Union. Dean Hurlbut introduced the speaker.

Mr. Cutting said that since the time of Roman law and supremacy, which have been the source of many of our forms of government, and since the period of the Athenian Democracy, which has served as an idol, though lacking the positive qualities of our modern government, the development of the State government over social conditions has gradually increase. Nowadays New York provides nurses and doctors for the public schools to look after the health of the children in order that they may not be handicapped in becoming good citizens; and when New York City builds new wharves, a second story is added to form recreation rooms for the poor. Is this not pure philanthropy on the part of the State, or better is it not the sign of awakened conscience in regard to the evil conditions of government? The necessity of good government is organized conscience, which would act continuously and forcibly, and would sweep away the corruption.

At present, continued Mr. Cutting, owing to the greater plunder to be obtained there, corruption is rife in the cities. They are now the plague spots, which if cleansed, would in turn purify the State and the National governments. Municipal ownership is one of the phenomina of the groping spirit of conscience. Certainly we cannot afford to leave this spirit in the hands of demagogues. The steadily increasing expenses of government, due to philanthropic motives, can only be rescued from incompetent hands by the organization of conscience.

A sustained effort should be made to purify party life in our cities by the creation of independent organizations with good leaders--men whom the people trust. For the history of our country shows that political parties can be purified from the outside only. But when we are rid of the corruption we will be confronted with a condition of things in which the patriotism of every citizen will be tested. Each man must do his part or the strength of the independent organization will weaken and fall back into the old rut.

Finally Mr. Cutting said that the responsibilities of future political and civic life rest upon the young men. They must take hold and apply their fresh energy in behalf of the right.