From a Thanksgiving Sermon [excerpt]

     In the midst of our prosperity we are so engrossed with the more positive progress, that we are endangering our national life by the neglect of the massed multitudes in towns and cities, by allowing unhealthy conditions to prevail in tenement districts, where many persons, and often families reside within small areas, and amid baneful circumstances. This makes possible the sudden outbreak of disease, as small-pox at the present time, which becomes all the more difficult to eradicate, because of the prevailing squalor. Boards of Health should be insistent on adequate space, ventilation, cleanliness, and the observance of all laws which promote health, and prevent disease.
     And in the same congested districts, immoral conditions make possible the production of criminals. Untouched by the higher influences of morality and religion, and living amid vice, thousands of boys and girls are growing up who will positively damage our national life in coming years. Czolgoz the assassin was reared amid blows, and curses, and trained to anarchy in the vicious ward of an American city. Untouched by loving sympathy, uncared for by church missionary or Sunday school teacher, the springs of life were poisoned. Whatever good was in him was never called forth. Had some one loved him in childhood, and been solicitous for his life in early years, on that memorable day at Buffalo he might have brought instead of a smoking revolver, a boquet [sic] of fragrant flowers to President McKinley.