“If the laws we now have were only executed,” said Mr. Dinneford, “there might be hope in our legislative restrictions.  But the people are defrauded of justice through defects in its machinery.  There are combinations to defeat good laws.  There are men holding high office notoriously in league with scoundrels who prey upon the people.  Through these, justice perpetually fails.”

“The people are alone to blame,” replied the missionary.  “Each is busy with his farm and his merchandise with his own affairs, regardless of his neighbor.  The common good is nothing, so that his own good is served.  Each weakly folds his hands and is sorry when these troublesome questions are brought to his notice, but doesn’t see that he can do anything.  Nor can the people, unless some strong and influential leaders rally them, and, like great generals, lead them to the battle.  As I said a little while ago, there are ten or twenty men in this city who, if they could be made to feel their high responsibility—­who, if they could be induced to look away for a brief period from their great enterprises and concentrate thought and effort upon these questions of social evil, abuse of justice and violations of law—­would in a single month inaugurate reforms and set agencies to work that would soon produce marvelous changes.  They need not touch the rottenness of this half-dead carcass with knife or poultice.  Only let them cut off the sources of pollution and disease, and the purified air will do the work of restoration where moral vitality remains, or hasten the end in those who are debased beyond hope.”

“What could these men do?  Where would their work begin?” asked Mr. Dinneford.

“Their own intelligence would soon discover the way to do this work if their hearts were in it.  Men who can organize and successfully conduct great financial and industrial enterprises, who know how to control the wealth and power of the country and lead the people almost at will, would hardly be at fault in the adjustment of a matter like this.  What would be the money influence of ’whisky rings’ and gambling associations, set against the social and money influence of these men?  Nothing, sir, nothing!  Do you think we should long have over six thousand bars and nearly four hundred lottery-policy shops in our city if the men to whom I refer were to take the matter in hand?”

“Are there so many policy-shops?” asked Mr. Dinneford, in surprise.

“There may be more.  You will find them by scores in every locality where poor and ignorant people are crowded together, sucking out their substance, and in the neighborhood of all the market-houses and manufactories, gathering in spoil.  The harm they are doing is beyond computation.  The men who control this unlawful business are rich and closely organized.  They gather in their dishonest gains at the rate of hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, and know how and where to use this money for