New-York tribune., 1882-02-15
4 STALU1RT AT HIS SHRINE.


4 STALUART AT HIS SHRINE.
Whatever else the Rev. DR.. }. p. Newman
may be wanting in. he certainly does not lack
| zeal. 1t is quite evident that he believes what
ever is worth doing at all is worth doing well,
and that what is worth doing well cannot be
| overdone When he undertakes eulOgy he ex-
| hausts the resources of the tongue. His sweet
ness cl0ys. The opening Of the vials of his
panegy1ic upon the head of a friend is like the
| bursting Of Il cask of New-Orleans mOlasSes
upUn a wharf rat ;-sweet-Oyerwnelming
weet-but, to be frank-sticky; just little
too sticky. A we-meaning man, of course
an uncommonly well meaning man. A man of
considerable gifts; very eloquent at times, and
endowed with fucncy that does not always end
this side of hux. When he sets out to say nice
| things there's no more use trying to cut him
off than there was in trying to stop the old
ladys swectenng the minister's coffee. " He's
our minister said she, "and it wouldn't be
too good for him if it was all molasses.' DR..
| Newman defines himself as a Stalwart from
religions principle and from intellectual prin-
| ciple." Precisely what he means by this we do
! not know nor why he should have SAID 1t at
| a dinner to celebrate the birthday of Abraham
Lincoln But having said it he proceeded to
vndicatp his claim to the title by such wleld-
! ing of the trowrl of aduldti0n over the colossal
! figure of ex-senator COnkling aS must have set
all doubts at rest regarding his muscular de-
vclopmcnt Possibly when he says he is a
" Stalwart from religious principle" he means
! that his admiration of the ex-senator takes the
character of religious worship. His subsequent
remarks certainly exhibit him in something
nearly approaching that attitude toward the
| stately figure of his idol.
| 1t is the opinion of DR.. Newman that the
name of Mr.. CCnkling "will live when the
bronze has melted, and the marble crumblcd,
and the canvas faded away; that it will live
while the stars shine He is, he says, " a ma
! ieStic model Of mana man OF more than
Attic cloauencr OF more than Roman lOgc-a
man who can hold up his hand aS AIistdes OF
" old did, and say there is no stain of a bride
thcrc-a man who preferred to 90 down and
" out of sight rather than sacrifice prncipe.'
From which it appears that Doctor Newman Is
beyond any question stalwart in his admiration
of his hero and rather Stalwart in his manner
Of expressing it. Now we have no desire TO
take Issue with this icrvid orator or to dispute
for a moment the accuracy of his statement
bronze, the marble and the canvas so elo-
quently mentioned. We presume it will.
Doubtless Dr. Newman could offer bets of large
odds that it will, and find no takers. 1t must be
admitted, too, that Mr. Conlling is "a majestic
model of a man =; that his eoquence is more
than Attic cr-Demosthenes himself would
hardly dispute that-and that his logic Is
"more than Roman" 1t will not be denied
tl,,,,,
no stain of brbe there. But really we do not
understand why in that presence DR.. Newman
should specify this particular claim OF the ex
Senator for immortal remembrance. lie was
addressing company in which were many gen
tlemen of political prominence, beginning with
General Grant. and ending perhaps with Emory
St0rrs, who have figured as Mr.. Conklings con-
temporarics, have resisted the same temp
tatons, and for aught we know exhibited the
same Aristidcan superiority to corrupt ap-
proach. Had the call been made, no doubt
every man in the cOmpany--the chairman, the
Hon. John ID. Lawson, taking the lead in the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT have held up his hand
like AliStidcs and made the same remark about
the entire absence Of any stain of bribe. Why,
then, this invidiOus distinction And why
won't they all, including Lawson and Storrs,
outlve the bronze. marble and canvas DR..
Ncwman's remark was true, of course, but it
seems unnecessary. And possibly it made
some of the guests thoughtful.
Then as to Mr. COnkling's prefcrring to go
down and ont of sight rather than sacrifice a
principle This is reasonably accuratc-for the
language OF culogy indeed, uncommOnly accu-
ratc-for we believe it to be a fact of some sol
cmuitv that hc has gone "dOwn and ont of
sight" But what we fail to understand fully
is the reference to his going down rather than
sacrifice principle" If Dr. Newman says SO
it must be so; but might we inquire what the
particular principle was he was called upon to
sacrifice! The public may be all wrong i'll
this business, but the general belief Is that 1t
wasn't SO much principle but a notion that
he owned the President, the Republican party
and the whole country, that he was called upon
to sacrifice. He would rather 90 down and
ont OF sight than sacrifice that, and he did
And the country was willing that he should
Still he is majestic model his clOqucnce is
more than Attic, his logic more than Roman,
and his purity Arstdean. No doubt his name
will outlivc bronze, marble and canvas. And
the Rev. Dr. Newman in the attitude of worship
at his shrine makes an impressive picture.
There are ifty-two Grccnwoods in the