The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-02
A REMARKABLE "SERmON."
4 Lawyer DcnOunceS the Attorht
General ny Worthy Ofn relOn's Cell

General as Worthy 0fH fel0n'S Cell.
WASHINGTON, December LA sensation
was created in Metropolitan Memorial
Methodist Church in this city yesterday
by the orator Of the day, Rev. G. Herbert
Richardson, pastor Of the McKendree
Methodist Church, also Of this city. The
Memorial Church was tlironged with
great congregation, representing a
number ofMethodist pastorates Of the city,
assembled in union meeting for Thanks.
giving services. Mr.. Richardson's sermon
was almost wholly secular in tone, ind
the vigor with which he dealt with politics
and politicians has created no little com.
ment, particularly among persons inter.
ested in the Star route prosecutions. TO
the surprise OF many, the defendants in
these famous cases find in the ministerial
orator IN advocate who does not hesitate
to criticize the methods Of the Government
and its prosecutors. The following extract
contains the substance OF The sermon on
this branch OF the subject.
Dangers to the country arise, first, from
extreme partisansliip. Parties arc right
because necessary TO the existence OF con.
stitutional government, and organizations
are necessary 10 parties, but parties arc
means, not ends, and when they fail 10
secure good government then should bo
laid aside. Men condemn those who seek
10 disrupt party organizations under the
cry Of "bossism," that they may be installed
us bosses themselves. We condemn like.
wise the men who as bosses use parties,
not. Tor the securing oil good government,
but purely for personal aggrandize.
me1it. One OF the greatest evils OF parties
is TINT men will do in the ntme of party
what il done OIL their personal account
would put them in felon's cell. The re.
cent elections show, first, greater indie.
pendence Of party ties, II closer scrutiny Of
candidates and the means by which they
are selected. They are rebuke OF the in
decent language and conduct which char.
actcrlzed instances the House Of Represen.
tatiyes ut its last session, and Of an cxtlaya.
CANT river and harbor bill, Of which Presi.
dent Arthur justly said, "the worse it is
the more popular it becomes" and OF
session OF Congress which, though long,did
little to relieve tic country Of the burdens
oft;'xation. Second, they are condemna.
ton OF the compulsory assessment OF the
salaries OF the employees OF the government.
Third, they show that temperance advo.
Gates are often most unskillful advocates OF
that great cause. Another danger OF the
country OF which shall speak concerns
the administration OF Justice. Here, until
lately, the liquor interest has trampled
under foot the liceuse law Of this Distric:,
while gambling hells and brothels arc
rarely disturbed.
The Star route case for over n year has
engaged the attention Of the country, the
result Of which was 10 render verdict
promptly 10 be set aside by The court. AS.
suming Il failure Of Justice, nearly the entire
press OF the country urnyed itself on either
side, both rs advocate and judge, and trial
by newspaper was substituted for trial by
jury. Grand and petit juries composed Of
men believed 10 be reputable and
honest until their verdict was announced,
have been most unsparingy assaied be.
cause they declined to pronounce u verdict
ofguilty. Are juries organized to indct
and convict? Are those great shields
which our ioreiatliers wrung from
King John at Runnymede as protective
ofthe private citizen against the power Of
the State, 10 be attacked because men do
not see their way clear TO indict or con.
yict?. Is the reported interview between
the Attorney General and the Marshal OF
the District in the press OF to-day correct
Can it.be that the latter, invited to Il sup
posed private and confidential interview
with the former charged and prepared to
question him, and to whom lie spoke in
the confidence and honor which public
officers should to another, finds now, after
the lapse Of months, that q stenogrpher
was secreted to take. down the converse.
ton? Such conduct is so revolving to the
public conscience-so utterly devoid OF all
honor and decency-that we have no
words to express our contempt and ablor-
renee. The man who would do such thiurs
il more fit to occupy ielon's coll than to
preside over the Department Of Justice"
o.