Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-10
GOTHAM POINTS.
rHr PEOPLE AND THE rAxcrEs OF INV
YORK.
chsunc,y Depsw and Bob Ingcrsoii-co un.
urfsit Plates sew Real Dads
is Made Up.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.I
Nru Ynptr Lima q 1888


NEw YORK, June Q, 1888.
I don't think that religious prejudice
ought to get into presidential campaign.
and very seldom does. But at the same
time notice that no political party does
buck against the religious prejudice OF
tho community.
/ am not going to write you political
essay. I'm only going TO mention q
Guiet fact or two of deep significance
that haven't got upon the wires or been
exploited in the news columns. MIR.
Chauncey Depew is one OF the most
popular OF our men Of Affairs in this
State. Whether that popularity is
owing 10 his after-dinner humor at tho
Lotos Club or his management of
the New York Central road depends
somewhat on whether you live in Phila-
dclphia or New York. lie makes the
same brilliant exhibition at an Evangeli-
cal Alliance that he does at n dinner 10
Mr.. Henry Irving. He is the most be-
nign dispenser Of the amenities, whether
il be an occasion OF sgnostics at tho
Nineteenth Century Club or an annual
meeting of the American Tract Society.
He is one OF those same takers who
smile on all sides OF great question
without committing himself on either
Well, on memorial-day Mr.. Robert g.
Ineersoll was selected 10 pay the oratorl-
sal tribute TO the dead heroes OF the re-
public at the Metropolitan Opera House.
IL happened that the General Conference
of the Methodists was in session IN New
York. and there were in that assemblaRe
preachers representing an aggregate OF
several millions of Methodists. They
listened to Mr.. Ingersoll, who dug the
everlasting grave Of heroism in which he
is pleased 70 cali the dreamless sleep of
the eyeless dark, and there he left the
men who died for their country covered
up with his perishable flowers of rhetoric.
There was no other immortality for them
than such as he chose to manufacture IN
bis rd-factOry.
WHAT OF DEPEw .?
This was to be expected of Mr.. Inger-
soil. In his justice the reward OF patri-
otism is the dreamless sleep. But what
was the asSemblage who had stood at the
graves of its heroes to think OF Mr..
Chauncey Depew, who introduced
Colonel Ingersoll TO this vast audience
with such eulogy as is seldom heard,
and who snt wreathed in smiles and adj
miration, while the hot infdel buried
again the heroes between the " barren
peaks of two eternities and then jumped
on their graves.
think a vast proportion Of that as
semblage thought Mr.. Depew might
have been in better business than tend
ing his appreciation to this feat.
couldn't help wondering If the two hun
bred ministers who heard and read him
would advance their millions to vote for
him.
Now all this comes OF Mr.. Depew's
coquetry. He is too versatile to be
hampered with convictions. He repre-
sents one of the biggest material inter
ests Of the country and he represents it
magnificently, not only Mt Lotos Club
dinner but at board of directors; but
when it comes to some of the abiding
issues Of humanity that underie all
merely political and sectarian exploits, l
wonder what he does think anyway? lie
ought, in Justice to the dominating SEN
timent Of the country, to come out fiat
footed and tell us If he admires Mr..
Ingersols doctrines as much as he
Rdmires his words
How much do you admire him, any
way? Enough to put him in your Cabi-
net if Won were elected President OF the
United States Why can't you express
yourself clearly on this point. You've
got clear ideas enough. The trouble IS
YOU are too modest to stand on them.
That is not bit like Bob. He'll stand
on huntington his head il it is neces'
sary to make point. He's the most
unbridled patriot in this country. lie
believes that America IS so great and
FREQ that she does not even need a first
great cause. Now, there's something
admirable about this self-sufiiciency. 1t
never straddles fence, at all events.
ANYWAY, it is worth considering that
there is always in this country viewless
opposition. | have noticed that what
Mr.. Ingersoll calls the warning sects
have not got any war when they stand
on the edge Of the grave, where heroism
and patriotism shed their ralment. Both
Catholics and Protestants can join hands
in "A protest against this barring OF the
doors of eternity against those who went
out in honor.
Iheard soldiers ard widows alike growl
with dissatisfaction at Mr.. lngersolIs
Internationally eulogy. But there was
general impression that Mr. Chauncey
Depew thought it was the greatest thing
he had ever heard In fact, he said so.
NINETEENTH CENTURY CLUB.
"What is the Ninteenth Century
Club ?" inquiries a mystihed stranger,
10 whom the uniformed wit replies
Only parcel of literary people who
are trying TO be fashionable, and parcel
OF fashionable people who are trying to
be literary, and none OF them meeting
with success" But it is much more than
this. II has never been regularly incor-
porsted, its rules and regulations de-
pending mostly upon the guiding
spirit OF its president Mr.. Court
landt Palmer, who first founded
the institution in 1888. In those good
old days before the club had attained
any distinction whatever. and when all
its hopes and aspirations were embry-
in Mr.. Palmer's own house. The
Palmers soon found their commodious
drawing-room too small to accommodate
the guests and members. Finally,
therefore, the club moved to the Ameri-
can Art Galleries. on Twenty-third
street. In time even this spacious
suite of apartments proved too mar
row 10 contain the rapidiy.increasing
influx of the outside element. Last
winter the club changed its headquarters
for the second time TO the assembly |
rooms Of the Metropolitan Opera House,
winch are certainly big enough to con-
tain the whole four hundred of Mr.. Nc
Allister's immaculate swelldom, and a
considerable portion OF humble Bohemia
ms well. During the past season the
club has hOurished like the typical green
bay tree. There is some talk OF build
ing clubhouse especially adapted to