Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-05
R,shon potter and Mr.. HARRISON.

Bishop Potter and Mr. HARRISON
Bishop Potter was interviewed on Thurs
day last by 3 reporter for the New YORK
World, who learned from the good Bishop
that he had no apologies TO make for what
be had said In his sermon OF the Both April
That sermon is destined TO be long remem-
bered and recalled. II has been asserted
that the Bishop spoke TO President HARRISON
IS NATHAN spoke TO DAVID; but we are ms
ellped 10 the opinion that Mr. HARRISON did
rot allow himself 10 believe that Bishop
Potter had him in mind when he was
drawing n picture OF the difference
between April 80, 1889, aud April 30, 1888.
MIR. HARRISON. as mir ht be said OF most peo-
ME. has pretty high opinion OF his own
eonscientiousness and sense oil duty. FRO
baby the Vice-President and the members
OF the Cabinet, not being disposed TO take
the rebuke Of the Bishop to themselves,
turned It over 10 the President. Anyhow,
we are confident that Dir. 1IARRIsoS's withers
were unwrung. Any man who can talk as
be did some few months ago about civil
service reform and then allow hun~
dreds, not to say thousands. oil petty
nostmasters TO be removed for no other
reason than that they were Democrats, ISL not
man Of the kind represented IN the state
nent thSt be listened TO Bishop PoTTER's ut
terances "with face tightly drawn ana
laws firmly set" oh. no. Mr.. HARRISON
no doubt tithes mint and cummin aud me-
elects the weightier matters OF the law; but
he is not Il conscious hypocrite, any more
than were the Pharisees Of old.
But 1t wss, rs we have iutimated, as natu-
raj for Mr.. DEPEW and the members OF the
Cabinet 10 assume that Bishop POTTER
meant to rebuke Mr.. HARRISON as 1t was for
Mr.. HARRISON to fail TO take home to himself
the words OF reproOf and instruction which
were contained in Bishop POTTEgs sermon.
DR.. FRANKLIN We believe II WA, or perhaps
IT was SIDNEY SMITH, said That A never
heard b preach q sermon In favor OF charity
without thinking that G ought to heed the
appeal. That Is, no man takes sermon to
himself. 1t is sometimes the case, too, that
men whose lives have been marked BY al
most every crime denounced In the decs.
logue declare upon their deathbeds that their
consciences are clear. So, II Mr. HARRISON
declines to acknowledge that Bishop POr-
qER's cap fits his head, be simply does what
other Presidents would do under like cir.
cumstances.
But what was It the Bishop said that occa.
stoned so much comment We give a short
extract from his version. He said:
"a generation which vaunts its descent
from the founders OF the republic seems
largely 10 be IN danger Of forgetting their
pre-emiaent distinction. They were few IN
numbers, they were poor IN worldly posses.
sions-ihe sum Of the fortune OF the richest
among them would afford fine theme for
the scorn OF the llutOcrat OF to-day; but
they had an inYincible confidence in the
truth OF those principles in which the foun-
. dations Of tue republic has been laid,
and they had an uDsel1sh purpose 10
maintain them. The conception OF the
national Government as q huge machine,
existing mainly for the purpose OF re-
wArding partisan service-this was con-
ceplion so alien 10 the character and con-
duct Of Washington and his associates that
Il seems grotesque even TO speak OF IL IL
would DO interesting 10 imagine the first
President OF the United States confronted
with some one who had ventured to sp-
Iroach BIN upon the basis OF what are now
commonly known Gs practical politics.
But the conception is impossible. The
loathing, the outraged majesty with which
he would have jidden such a creature to be-
gene" &c.
"On this high level moved the first Presi-
dent OF the republic. To 1t must we who
arc the heirs OF her sacred interests be not
unwilling to ascend, II we are 10 guard our
glorious heritage !"
ira All a
wholesome medicine that teere il in con-
sentng to zee IL, an element Of innate sad
ness in the effort whch We are making 10.
day. RansAcking the annals OF our fathers
as we have been doing for the last few
mOsths. busy and Well.meaning assiduity
would iain reproduce the scene, the scenery,
tbs situation OF Z hundred years ago Ii as
though out OF the hneaInents OF living men
we would iain produce another Washing
ten. We may disintsr the vanished drape.
ries, we nav revive the stately minuet, we
may rehabilitaie the Old scenes, but the
march Of a century cannot be halted or re-
Nersed aud the enormous change in the sltua-
tion can neither be disguised nor ignored.
Then ideas ruled the hour. To-day there
are indeed ideas that rule our hour, but
they must be merchantabe ideas. The
growth Of wealth. the prevalence OF luxury,
the massIDg OF large material forces, which
by their very existence are standing me-
mace TO the freedom aud integrity OF tue IN
diydcal, the Infinite swagger oil our Ameri-
can speech and manners, mistakipg blgness
for greatness, and sadly contounding gain
and godline,s-all this Is \ contrast 10 the
susiere simplicity, the unpurchasable in
tegrity OF the drst days and hrst men
OF our republic. which make II impos-
tlbIe 10 reproduce 10. day either the temper
or the conduct OF our fathers. As we turn
the pages backward and come upon the
story OF that Both OF April, In the year OF
our Lord, 1888, there Il certain stateiiness
fn the air, certain eeremOniosnes. IN the
manners, which We bave banished long ago.
We have exchanged the Washingtonian
dignity for the JefiersoniAn simplicity, which
was, ia truth, only another name for the
Jacksonian vulgariiy. And what have We
cot In exchange for IL la the elder states
and dynssltes they had the rappinss OF roy
atty and ,he pOmp and splendor Of the
Kings person 10 ill mems hearts with
loyalty. Well. We have dispensed with
the old tltulsr dignilies. Let Us take care
thEt We do not part with that Tremendous
force Tor which they stoodl II there be not
titusaT royalty, al the more need Is there for
perEonsl roy aliy.--li there is To be no nos
b!hty OF descent. all the more indispensa sable
Is IL that there should be nobility OF ascent
scbaracter Ia them that bear rule, 50 Cue snd
high and pure. that rs men come within the
circle OF It's influence they involuntarily pay
bomsge 10 that which is the one pre-emnent
distinction, the reyslIy OF virtuel"
We see no reason why, under the circum.
stances, any preacher might not have made
these remarks
By freclSl order OF the comtnitfe 20 In chu res