The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-05-18
BISHOP POTTER's SERMON.

victory at the polls last November mas
at 10 time had so severe a rebuke and
check as given to it by Bishop Potter,
of New York, III his centennial sermon
delivered in the same old church TO
which Washington retired from the
stirring scenes of the Inauguration to
reverently bend the knee and to ask
God to bless and guide him.
Two things have been forced upon
the public attention by recent political
events. /. That the pure, honest,
straightforward, honorable govern
ment established by the fathers, has
given place to a plutocrscy, in
which money is the god, and protected
monopolies and wealth. embroidered
corporations, are the angels and arch
angels. 2. That the public man who
has the intelligence to see the dangers
of these influences, the honesty to re-
sist their Establishments and the cour-
age to denounce them is almost cer-
tain to be inundated upon the altar of
his patriotism. The sad thing about it
is that, very largely, the people them
selves are debauched. They worship
the false god and they admire and seek
to initiate his ministers. Money,
ey everywhere 1t has come to effem-
mate our society, to emasculate our
young men, to pull down from an ex-
allied pedestal OF virtue and unseltish.
ness the young womanhood of our
country, and TO debauch our politics.
II is here, in this instance. that the
preacher strikes it, and why should he
not? Is there any vice more vile than
the purchasing of mems condolences,
the degrading of their manhood3 Look
at it for a moment! You will see upon
the streets a procession of enthusiastic
men. 1t is led by martial music, flags
and banners decorate the line, pYro-
technics redden the sky, shrieks rend
the air, the orator Eliminates, and
every adjunct of modern politics
is there; all are bought and paid
for. Or old 1t was merit that
commanded respect. To-day under
the teachings of the republican
party it is money. The rich are becom-
ing richer, the poor are growing poor
er, and saddest of all it is to see these
last led on by demagogues n igno-
rsmuses into planting more firmly on
their necks the foot of the tyrant that
chains to the earth themselves and all
they hold dear.
Less than sixty men to-day control
the great railroad mileage CT the Unit
ed States, and by their autocratic will
levy unjust tribute from the people
of millions piled on millions. A no
greater number lead and thereby con-
troll the policy of the great manufac-
turing interests of the country, and by
trusts, combinations, protection and
other kindred schemes of fraud and
robbery, they fitch from the masses of
the people that portion of tine product
of their labor which should go towards
savings aud betterments. Ia it any
wonder that the farmer is barely able
to make a profit at all, that the me.
chanic scarce makes both ends meet,
that the clerk hopes for no advance.
ment, and that here in America, in
f.aa Amanda 81 rtrf,ano Aosoo
small families are becoming fashion,
able, because large ones are considered
to be burdensome? Is 1t any wonder
when a man who can see, who can
hear, who is neither blind nor deaf, re-
publican though he be, observes that
the highest office in the gift of the
president is bestowed upon a corrupt
man, that partisan service Is consid-
cred above fitness, that shameless pay
ments of political debts are made with
public place, and that gold, and gold
alone, dictates public policies-is it to
be wondered at, if this man is honest,
that he utters a word of warning?
Mr.. Gould does not like it. He
thinks that George Washington would
have been better off if he had had
more money. The name OF Washington
| will live when that of Gould and of his
possessions shall have persisted from
the face of the earth. The republican
newspapers do not like it. How
could they? Up to their eyes in the in
EQUITIES denounced, advocating some,
condoDing others, how could they be
expected 10 relish the chalice of truth?
TO their perverted palates il is bitter
and distasteiul.
The republican party nee had lead
ers of whom 1t might well be proud. 1t
numbers on it's roll of honor such
names as Lincoln, Seward, Freling-
huysen, Logan, Conkling, Washburne,
but to-day the men who frame its real
politics, though mayhap not always
put at the front, are its Blaines, its
Quays, its Chambers, its Dorseys, its
Elkins, and its Dudleys. These win
the victories, and the psalm sing
ing figureheads who reap the benefit
see that they do not go nre Warded.
The sooner the country turns from
It's false to it's true teachers, the sooner
it tramples under foot every ostenla
ton of wealth in public life, and spurns
as it would an insult TO a wife, the ill.,
science of money in our politics, the
sooner 1t will come back to it's old
landmarks, and give evidence of worth
mess of the sacrifices made for it by
such men as Washington.
Great Scottl Just to think of It. The
treasury department at W Washington,
under Mr.. Harrison. has decided that
so-called ship-planking, imported for
use in the construction Of American
vessels, is entitled to free entry. not
w~ithstandiDg the iact that the importer
il not a ship-builder, but merely I'M
ports the merchandise for sale. Why,
If that decision had been made under
| Mr.. Cleveland the blue empyrean
-xo.ll houo koa- hI,a, Lo .1. L.