p. 14 | TOLD BY THEMSELVES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Dec 12, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 48.

TOLD BY THEMSELVES.

By Editor

THE stories of brigandage and municipal corruption in San Francisco are not made up by rival localities. The very worst representations come from the city papers and prominent citizens. Just now, however, as active investigation has set in, the air is full of recrimination on the part of rival politicians. A published statement by Archbishop Montgomery is significant as touching life in our large cities. It is pertinent testimony in evidence of the wisdom of God when He discouraged city building on the part of the people who, in replenishing the earth after the Flood, came to the great plain of Shinar and attempted to build the city and tower of Babel. The archbishop says:

'I do not believe that we are worse than other large cities, and if San Jose and the outside world generally regard us as being very bad, I suppose we have ourselves to thank for it. We have been making a rather ugly confession of our civic sins lately. But if the saying proves true in this instance that 'an open confession is good for the soul,' we must have good times ahead of us. The proposed investigation of our municipal affairs seems at the present moment to overshadow every other interest. We have suffered disaster from fire and earthquake, but are suffering far more just now from the exhibition we are making of ourselves before the world. We are losing the respect of those who came to our aid so generously in the hour of our need. As matters now are, I believe every well-wisher of San Francisco feels that the only way to retain our self-respect and regain the respect of others is to push the investigation as rapidly as possible to a conclusion.'

We wish, however, to keep it before the people that during the two months or more after the fire, while the saloons were closed, the city was remarkable for good order, as compared with any other period of its history. Even the administration and the police force, which openly sympathize with the saloon element, were compelled to acknowledge what was patent to all.