National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-09-28
Population Of the National Capital, 100000
Pope Bellows's Bull Against President
Arihmr.

lne NeN' DTs henIy W. DSllONS, pdSloI
Of the Unitarian Church Of All Souls, in
New York, delivered sermon on "The
Death of President Garfield" on Sunday,
the 18th instant, from report of which
in the New York Times of Monday we
make the following extracts concerning
President Arthur:
But one thing duty makes 1t necessary to say to
him and 10 you He has been known for the con-
tempt in which he has held all oivil.service re-
form and reformcrs for the ardor Of his partisan
ship, and for the close intimacy and fcudal fidelity
with which he upheld, even as Vice President
the chief opponent of President Garfeld's admins
trnton the ringleader in the spols ofolicc system
and the factionist par eminence ofthe Republican
party The new President has the
temptations OF NIL his past to put the admins.
traton President Garfield began Off its track,
10 switch 1t into the old custom-house groove and
into the old spoils Office plan. ! can even be-
hevc that hitherto he has thought that to be true
craftsmanship, and is sincere in regarding the
hoped. for policy of civil.service reform as wild
and childish in It's weak inuocency. Well, II that
is TO prove his policy, II he has learned nothing
and has not changed his old and long-known
opinions then let him be warned that he Inns
troubles before him too serious to be hastily in.
voked. The American people arc in no mood TO
go back into n factious and partisan policy. They
love too well the beauty and justice OF reason can
dor, and common sense. They will not submit-at
least not now-to the party whip and the usages of
The old caucus system, where the few in an inner
ring outwitted the general wish.
A greater amount of coarse misrepre-
scntation and malignant venom, q more
defiant disregard of Christian duty and
common decency, could not be compressed
into the same space.
And yet it is but portion Of the abuse
uttered by its author that day. He COM
menced by weaving sentences of which
the warp was pretended praise and the
woof thinly disguised hatred. Thus:
Ills pleasant TO see what testimonies are coming
in to the magnanimity, the courage, the prudence
Of our new President There seems TO be a pro-
found resolve not to judge him in advance, but TO
give him the benefit of every doubt. Let us wei.
come him, not with hypocritical shouts, but with
calm and candid hopes.
Mrs. Candor and Mrs. Sneerwell, in
Sheridan's "School for Scandal" might
have contributed what followed the
above. Here il is:
1t is not his fault that he succeeds to that Office
for which he would not have deemed himselfa fit
candidate, and TO which he could not have been
elected. He is President as kings are kings-by
inheritance and the fiat of Providence not by the
choice of the people
This is pure devilism. There is some
thing to fear in a social condition which
tolerates such malice under the guise of
religion. What evidence has he that the
President holds himself in such con-
tempt? II may be that no man ought to
deem himself fit candidate; but that is
not what this flippant and insulting
harangue meant. 1t was intended to SOW
the seeds of distrust and discomfort
among the people addressed, and to
lessen their esteem for the new Presi-
dent by representing him asan admittedly
inferior man, and man not chosen by
the people. Both statements are false on
the face Of them. That he accepted the
nomination Of his party as al alternate
President in case of vacancy was proof
that he didnot shrink from any of its pos
sibilities, and that he could have been
elected is proven by the fact that he woS
elected by the people to be their Presi-
dent if by any means their chosen Presi-
dent should vacate his office.
Having discharged his poisonous 5siTt,
this Iago of the pulpit ps5ceeis, like his
prototype, tn s5sure his hearers that he
-Ginks the man he is slandering is an
honest man.
Said Iago:
Men should be what they seem;
Or. those that be not would they might seem none!
Why then think Cnssios an honest man.
Says Dr. Bellows:
Ibelieve him to be man of practical ability, Of
large experience, personally modest, unanbitious,
magnanimous, and of kind feelings. He has
shown genuine humility and a just sensibility in
his new position, and no eager snatching at his
seat.
These words were the preface to the
shameful abuse first above quoted. To
that we now return.
And first rs TO the contempt for civil
service reform and reformers which the
President is said to entertain. He has
never manifested contempt for reform
which honestly meant improvement, nor
for reformers, if the word was simply ap-
piled to all citizens who honestly desired
to see an improved condition in any
branch of public affairs. lie was himself
n genuine and sincere reformer in tho
New York custom-house as there is nc
reason to doubt he will be in the Presi
dency. But it is doubtful if lie will desire
to be known by that unsavory name
The word reform" has been monopolized
by class of self-styled reformers, who
are no more legitimate representatives OF
any honest desire for improvement in
public affairs than the Rev. DIR. Bellows is
of Christian charity and truth, Like him
they use the regalia Of their order to give
color of responsibility to most selfish
and reprehensiblc practices. Crammcd
with spleen because they are hopeless o.
preferment by the people, they secl
TO satisfy their wounded self-lovt
by showing each other that the people
are the unworthy slaves of the parties
into which their opinions divide them, in
stead of being tie intelligent asses upoI
which they (the reformcrs) can ride int
official station, high and low. This clas
of canting pretenders are themselves th'
most importunate beggars for olliceiu tht
whole land. They fill the air with theil
moans. They have not thought of {
citizens rights or duties, not word fo
justice against hoary wrong, or an aspira
ton for national growth, enlightenment
and prosperity. "The offices the offices
am excluded from Office by the part.
machine An Office an office My man
hood for an Officer So shrieks the pre-
fessional reformer from January to Jan
uary. His desires are gross, selfish, am
debasing, They are starved, bloody, an
rnunnnns 10 nr Bellows Mhn is nccns