The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-05-04
BISHOP POTTER MAKES A sTIR.
His Centennial Sermon Criticised rs I'm.
American.

%NNN"NNNHN~f
Etw York World.
Biahop PotteTs Centennial sermon at
st. Paulswas thesubjectOi great dealof
discussion yesterday among prominent
men Of both parties. The Bishops out
spoken denunciation Of political abuses
is interpreted by the Republicans as a
rebuke to President Harrison. At the
banquet Tuesday evening the Bishops
address was a general topic Of private
conversation and excited much adverse
criticism,
Rev. DIR. Roberts. Macarthur, OF the
Calvary Baptist Church, who is one OF
Presidents staunchest supporters, was
seen yesterday bya World reporter, and
he condemned the sermon for what he
termed the mack Of good Iaste exhibited.
"Ithink," said DR.. Macarthur, shat
It's tone is In many respects deserving
Of severe criticism. There is a distinct
element OF pessimism running through
| II, There Is q tendency to depFeciate
the present and uuduly to Elorlfy the
past. The whole address Ia character
lied by what may be fairly called an
un.American spirit, Apparently there
Is a desire to depreciate American his
tory, institutions and tendencies and to
gloriiy relics OF the imperial lines to
which George Washington Immediate
ly succeeded, To use an expression EN-,
ployed by q distinguished scholar and
editor, In speaking Of this address to me,
1T Is marked bya spiritoi snobbeIy,'
ut is surprising that on such an occa,
sion Language should have been used
which must be interpreted as rejecting
upon President Harrison and his Admin
istration. Were Bishop Potter preach
ing in any pulpit In his diocese on al
most any other occasion 1t would bt
quite proper that he should express him
self us he felt disposed, but this occasion
was not fitting one for criticisms O
our political life which were capable o
an Interpretation rejecting on the Pres
ident who sat before him. When HI
spoke OF what no called practical poll
tics and compared existing methods
with those which the first Presiden
would have employed II Is difficult L
seq what he meant II not an emphatic
condemnation Of the supposed prac
tees OF the present Administration.
"The Bishop speaks Of the 'steadil.
deteriorating process which he observe
In almost all departments OF official auI
private life. In this he distinctly in
+. dulges in spirit Of pessimism which
! reprehensible, and, as many OF his hear
! ers believe, Is not in harmony with tn
facts. Again, he speaks OF what he call
JaCksonian Vulgarity' which was q late
representative, according to the distiu
guished Bishop, OF Jeifersonian sim
I pllcity, which itself was the more mod
en representative OF Washingtonial
/ dignity. His remarks on this point ar
. certainly in questionable taste. 1t !
: quite certain that Mr.. Lincoln was mol
according to ordinary impressions,
/ representative Of Washingtonian dignity
although he might be OF JeIterBomia
simplicity. Possibly, according to tn
T Bishop, he was o type OF JaCksonial
, yulVarity, but who to-day will say tina
In the presence OF the great, rugged
loyal. hearted Lincoln even Washingto
. was q superior CharaCter2
. "Thero are representatives oil Jack
4 sonian vulgarity In different parts OF til
country to whom these remarke bring
sting and leave a lasting sorrow. Thes
persons stand In blood relationship wit
Jackson; they are not willing to ADM
: the Justice Of assoCiatingthese two terml
Y It would seem as II on such an histori
/ occasion there might have been kline
lier spirit manifested In the address an
brighter hope ioreshadowed for til
future Of the country.
"Tbere Is no personal unkindness
feeling in these remarks. know BIZ
!. hon Potter only to esteem him In HI
d personal character and In his otIicit
position, but clearly in my judgment h
has erred both by the tone which pr
J, yades the address and in tho interpreti
0 ton both OF social and political III
b which he here gives. When any ma
assumes the position OF orator OF such
time and in such place bis remarks N
!, open to fair criticism"