The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-17
The APothoosIs or Barnum-vIve II
Bagateilof

Moody and Sankey, the revivalst mission
aries in England, are really under the patron
age Of our distinguished fellow countryman,
Mr.. Banum, may take unthinklng people by
surprise As our readers will remember, the
story is that Mr. Barnum, having won every
triumph in TIE way of adventure and hum
bug. sought, like Alexander, for new worlds
to conquer, and finds them in the religious
sympathies of the great British nation. He
saw people wandering from the faith Of
their fathers, showing signs OF latitudinarian
spirit, following the new cardinals in their
red robes to the verge Of Rome. There was
no knowing where it would end. Cardinal
Manning, with his hat, had gathered around
him all the splendor and glory and fashion Of
the British nobility, headed by the Duke of
Norfolk. So powerful was the attraction in
country Of ritual and ceremony, where
strawberry leaf represents one of the highest
of dignities, that there was some danger of
tho whole Established Church, cathedrals and
all, going trooping after the head of the How
ards. Mr.. Disraeli, in his novel of 'Lothair,
shows the influence OF fashion in reli-
paramount, even in the Church If we
want to have fashionable faith. what
better than that of Rome, with its wealth of
decoration and music9 Great names have
already fallen at the feet of Plus TX There
were Lothair with the rich earldom of Butte
and the Marquis of Ripon, with all the honors
that cluster around the ancient house OF Grey
II was whispered, upon the authority of Mr.
Whalley, that even Mr.. Gladstones lively
conscience was looking to Rome for peace
Now we know the influence of these shining
examples. George w., when first gentleman
of Europe, was graciously pleased to saunter
and roll as he walked, and to drawl in speech
when he talked All England began to
dawdle and drawl So, unless some sudden
stop was put to the whole business, where
would it end
In America the danger was even greater.
The Yankee mind loves lord and when none
better serves we are not above making obei-
sance to macaroni count or Pacific island
king of royal mahogany hue. When the Pope
sent US real prince and q real red be'rettd,
with real count in dazzling raiment to show
us the extent of Vatican splendor be-
fore Victor Emmanuel put an end to
it, the example became contagious. No
event since Jenny Lind appeared at Castle
Garden has made the sensation of the cere-
mony attending the imposing of the berretLd
All New York began to run after the new Car
dinal The ladies ransacked the stores to
- fha ~
robes Rising statesmen, who used to follow
Tweed with his diamonds to Greenwich and
sit in expectant alteration before the dispenser
of power, suddenly became religious, and
could be seen swarmng about His Eminence,
only too anxious to kiss the sacred
ring. All the old cline takers" and
ssrounders" and Americas Club states
men have become devout to the
last degree. The spread of religion among
the aspirants tor Office is most gratifying.
We have professional Irishmen and profess
sional Catholics, whose faith and nativity
are only elements of political intrigue. If it
had kept on we should have had the whole
republican committee tumbling after, headed
by Mr.. Murphy-who, by the way, has always
been faithful-and embracing Mr.. Latin,
General Arthur, General Sharpe and Mr..
Bliss, all of whom would accept, no doubt,
baptism tomorrow to secure o third term.
1t was at this exigency, when the whole
country, democratic and republican, was
about to be converted by red hat, that the
happy genius of Barnum came to the rescue.
Barnum has saved Professionalism In two coun-
tries. The career which began with Joyce
Heth and the FIJI mermaid; which has sue
ceeded in collecting the largest number Of
mummies, clubs and curiosities ever exhibited
for small price of admission, eliminates by
becoming, like Mohammed and Joseph Smith,
the founder of new faith. Nor must we
despise his genius because it seeks humble in
struments for this work. A French writer says
that to found a new religion it only needs
on old woman, a cat and q priest MIR. Bar
mum only needs preacher and singer.
The news that he has taken Moody and San
key as q speculation to save evangelical
religion in America and England may fall
harshly upon the unthinking mind not imbued
with the true philosophy Of the age. 1t may
be thought that our correspondent was misled
by some designing wirepullers such as we
have sometimes discovered behind the scenes
in journalism-men who use the press for
their own wicked and selfish purposes. But
the intelligence did not surprise US. We know
Barnum. We know how largely he represents
the American nation abroad. 1t looked couple
of years ago as if Buchu had superseded him !;
but Buchu soon became resolved into his
original, component parts, and Barnum kept
that primacy of citizenship in these glorious
States which has been his, by general suffrage,
ever since be made thousands of his country
men, at twenty-five cents head, believe that
an india-rubber figure on springs was the
nurse Of Washington. Barnum could not sur
prise US. This news of his newest achievement