Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-07-11
THE FIELD FUND,
Some Fears of Mr.. q. Il. Potter.

Some Fears of Mr.. q. Ii. Potter.
To Cyrus ". Field and Others, Contributors "a
the Proposed E""d for President GdrJdetds
Family
GENTLEMEN As u citizen Of the United
States, interested in common with all
other citizens in the dignity, independence
and purity Of the presidential office, and
its maintenance above and beyond all in
flucnce or suspicion of influence by u
through personal or pccuniary ObIiga-
ticns between the incumbent of this great
Office and any partisan or class of citizens
less than the whole, desire to protest
against your proposed gift to Mrs. Garfield!
and family rs tending in fact, or
in the minds Of some liable to
tend, to lower tho dignity, indcpen-
dcncc and impartiality of the prcsitlcn
tjal Office and as establishing relations
and obligations between the president and
tho contributors other than those which
should exist equally between that high
official and every citizen, from the mil
liOnairo to the honest laborer on the farm
or on the towp.th. The president Of the
party alone who elected him, nor Of those
who may be able by their attentions or
contributions to do most for his own or
IstuIhy OiS VI "boIC
people. AS such he is the great trustee
of tho personal rights and interests Of
every citizen, second in Importance to none
which can bo committed to another lie
cannot in this great office do OF consent to
anything which might subject him in the
minds of any, under any circumstance, to
y suspicion Of psrtiaIity. Ii at some future
time yourselves, contributors to this fund,
Il, III
mcnt of some of your number or some
other person IT, III, Office for which he Was
every way fitted, and an equal number of
citizens who arc known to have declined
or were unable to contribute to this fund
should at the same time propose to the
president another citizen equally fitted for
appoint your candidate, might not the
suspect the president Of having been i'll
iucnccd by his obligation or friendship to
you? If this would be SO, submit to your
not consent to accept your gift. For my
own part, though did not vote for him, 1
can not doubt that he understands too we'll
the office which ho holds to allow him to
lily while in that Office from any Of his fcl-
low citizens. am not Indifferent to the
welfare, happiness and usefulness of the
president.
Ii the president survives, us every good
citizen prays humbly and earnestly he
may, he will survive to greater Opportuni
ties Of usefulness than have been permitted
to any man Of his generation. Admonsh-
ed Of tho danger to which unbridled lust
for Office and the insane demands OF the
votarics Of the system of spoils expose the
official head Of the government and the
government itself, may VIC not hope he
will he found able with the aid of good
men Of all parties to lead tho way in re-
tura, to the simplicity, fidelity and purity
which characterized the administration of
our government in the hands of it's foun,l-
crs. Ii in Gods providence he shall bc
taken from us, the people will take care
OF his family and his fame, and will be
made wiser and better by tho lesson which
his life and death afford. Very respect
fully yours. u. Il. POTTER.
New York, July ., 1891.