Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-05-22
BISHOP pOTTER's ADDRESS.

One hundred years ago, when Washing.
ton was about to assume the responsible
and trying duties of chief magistrate OF
I these United States, he attended St. PauFs
chapel, where he sought divine guidance
and consecrated himself with earnest and
solemn VOWS to the arduous duties which
confronted him. During the recent CEN
tennial Celebration in New York, divine
services were held in this same chapel in
commemoration of this event. Bishop
Potter, who delivered the sermon on the
occasion, with great directness pressed the
difference between the unbending integrity
and stern morality and earnest patriotism
of the father Of the republic and the con-
duct of politicians who con troll the affairs
of our government in the present day.
The simple and truthful contrast was
such powerful arraignment of the Re-
publican party and its president that many
of the Republican organs have intimatsd
that great outrage was perpetrated by
this man of God in holding up the truth
and sounding note of warning and enter
ing his solemn protest gainst the methods
now prevalent
The Nail and Express, for instance,
| claimed that Mr.. Harrison was the especi-
fally hoAorsd guest of the occasion and in-
| Inmates that the remarks of the speaker
should not have been SO personal. 1t was
not the bishops words but the truth which
was thus disagreeable.
Not one Of the papers have thus spoken
of Mr.. Cleveland who was also present.
With a mind conscious of duties honestly
and faithfully performed and having en-
deavored to restore politics to the high
plane from which we received them from
our fathers, he is said 10 have enjoyed the
sermon very much. We quote a passage
from this celebrated discourse:
''They had invineible confidence in the
truth of those principles in which the
foundations of the Republic had been laid,
and they had an unselfish purpose to main-
tain them. The conception of the Nation
al Government as huge machine, existing
mainly for the purpose of rewarding parti-
san service--this was conception SO alien
to the character and conduct of Washing
ton and his associates that it seems grotes-
que even to speak Of it. 1t would be inter
esting to imagine the first President OF the
United States confronted with some one
who had ventured to approach him upon
the basis of what are now commonly known
as practical politics. But the conception
is impossible. The loathing, the outraged
majesty with which he would have hidden
such creature to begone is foreshadowed
by the gentle dignity with which, just be-
fore his Inauguration, replying to one who
had the strongest claim upon his friendship
aud who had applied to him during the
progress of the Presidential campaign as
we should say, for the promise Of an ap-
pointmeut to office, he wrote: In touching
upon the more delicate part Of your letter,
the communication of which fills me with
real concern, will deal with all that frank
ness which is due to friendship, and which
| wisf should be characteristic feature of
my conduct through life. Should it
be my fate to administer the Government,
will go to the chair under no pre-engage-
nlert of any k,nd or nature 0hateuer. And
when in it, will, to the best of my judg-
ment, discharge the duties of the Office with
that impartiality and zeal for the public
good schicA ought neUcr to suffer connections
Of blood or friendship to haze the least sacay
on decisions Of G public nature"
There were, it is said, perhaps only two
persons in the audience who knew who had
written the letter, the speaker and Mr..
Harrison. 1t turns out that Mr.. Harrison's
great grandfather was the sender of the
epistle and was the recipient of the scath-
ing rebuke. We fear it is too much to hope
that we shall ever return to that purity IN
politics which formerly existed in this couu-
try. 1t will never be so as long as money
rules Charlottesville Jefersonian.