The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-05-11
Bishop Potter on Politics.

Bishop Potter's Washington Centennial
sermon has been severely criticised because ne.
smoke Of the vulgarity Of politics which he al
lrres rev ~ in the days Of jackson and con
t;nue 10 this day, The term vulgar, to the
average individual, means low, debased, but
the Bishop used tin the sense OF common
The Bishop is an aristocrat, perhaps WIN
royal tendencies, and yearns for the restora-
lion of that exclusive aristocraey that existed
a century ago, for he spoke of hereditary vlr-
t,es and the nobility of intellect and manners
For this, too, he has been crihelsedi ana ne
went further and spoke of the vulgar rush Tor
office and the low state of politics. lhis was
taken 10 be personal to the Republican party,
and not respectful to the Chief Magistrate VINO
was among his auditors.
The ADVOCATE does not intend to discuss
the Bishops sermon. He is Republican
and never soiled his fingers with a Democratic
ticket Int there are some things he spoke
BEAUTIFULLY. The low state of politics ne al
luded to-the vulgarity ofpolitics present
His political utilization entities him to speak
Of Republican politics, and his party ever
since 1860 has been gradually lowering the
nolitics of this country. The corruption ana
intrigue in that party, among the active work
ars and leaders, has had bad influence upon
the rank and file. Public office, they have
been taught to believe, is reward Tor par
,;so,, work. the character of which Is not
,...tar of concern so success attends IT. In
stead Of elevating the public service, by max
;na honesty and capacity tests of fitness, the
people have been led to believe that pnohe
Office is an asylum for crooked partisan
s,orker,. beelers and other low order oil poll
t;cians. 1t was the Republican party that IN
aueurated bribery at elections; that hrst IN
.roduced false registration, colonization, re-
heating and false counts. These were scarcely
ever heard Of prior to the war, but are now
so common as to be considered almost ne
eessarv part of our political system. lhe
creed for Office, and the madening rush Tor
nlace. is another feature Of politics that Is
prominent under Republican rule. Bishop
Potter remarked, in an interview concerning
his sermon. that the rush for office IS DIS
graceful, and that the President had not de-
voted an hour. not an instant. to statesman
ship, but that his whole time was occupied oy
beseecbers for office, and in trying to nd ms
house of Representatives and Senators by
midnight in order that he could have needed
rest.
The Bishops wholesome truths concerning
the politics of the present, was the caase q
the criticisms upon his sermon from Republl-
can sources. As to his statement that this
..vulgarity' ofpolities began during jackson $
time. it is not worth while to discuss It II
it exists to- day, aud this is not doubted, some
thing should be done to elevate the public
tone, infuse a little patriotism into the people
and have public Office regarded as a public
trust. to be faithfully administered, and not
used as an asylum Cor political tricksiers OF
worked for partisan advantage. The sures'
way to do this is to keep > Cleveland At the
head Of government.