Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-05-20
PARTON ON POTTER.
what the American BiOg raPher
Thinks of the Bishop.

sion regarding Bishop Potter'5 sermon,
delivered on the Centennial Inauguration
day, which is destined to live as the one
utterance of the occasion.
While generally commendable in spirit,
and while showing great grasp of politi-
cal affairs for an ecclesiastic, the dis
tinguished prelate discovered decidedly
un. American spirit in sneering at "Jef-
fersonian simplicity" and in arraigning
severely "Jacksonian vulgarity," as well
az lack of familiarity with the history
and temper of the men and their times
thus criticised. The Worlds latest ex-
p!oit il this connection is IN the
shape OF an interview held be-
tween one of its writers in wash
ipgton and the venerable and highly
informed American biogropher, James
Parton. So full of matter are some oil
Mr.. Parton's statistics on Bishop Potter's
views, and 80 justly laudatory are they to
these two central and monumental hg-
ures in American history, that the HERALD
believes some excerpts from the inter-
view will be of much interest to its
readers, Mr.. Parton sets out by saying:
heartily agree with Bishop Potter In
all that he says about the early days OF
the Republic, and with him deplore the
existence of plutocracy and all the other
evils of our own time. But there ls no
reason for gloom or despair. Down at
| base America is sound, firm, strong ana
great And the overwhelming msloriey OF
the people are honest, virtuous, pa.rlouc
and will work out every problem peiore
them. Tell them what is wrong ana
they will right it; point out the evil ana
thev will correct it. But you must give
them time and let them talk the mateer
over, as it were in town meeting.
Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, LIN.
coin they are America! Ihey represent
it's ideals its purposes, policy, amoitlon'
aspiration. They stand Tor all thae we
are and all that we should be.
At this point the World reported broke
in with the interrogatory "Ihen you
cannot agree with Bishop Potter as to
Jefferson"
Parton's views follow:
No, l do not. Mr.. Jefferson Is 10 me
one Of the greatest and lovel'es' charsc'
,ers in all history-not merely American
history, but all history.
Why, Thomas Jefferson was ou'
Savior in politics. am, think, pa
tient man, but l have no patience wltI
those who assail Jeffeason. In grea'
measure, however, it is the resuit OF eou
cation or mis-education, preJudlce par
tisanehip, devotion TO some little pass
ing, fleeting interest, real or imaginary
The Jefferson administration was an
ideally pure, republican and IN the high
est and best meaning OF the Woro, al
American Administration. Ihe Feoer,
ais, of course, abused and opposed
jefferson and his measures; he was M at
tackled by many religious zealots IN OIL
feient parts of the country, but thosf
who now read history impartlally, or In
vestigate the real facts behind par
tisan history, know how unlus
and unfounded all these attacks were
jefferson, az you know, was opposed I,
all titles. Honorable" "Exc9llency,,
"Esq.," should never be placed
he thought, before or behind TN
name of an American ctlzen, ana ever
wished that "Mr." should be swep
away with them. This was called Frenct
Rei-Republicanism at the time, an.
many worthy men in our own Gay shuo
der when they conte mplate that specIre
! am, however, one OF those VINO admir'
the simplicity" of the Jefferson ADMIN
istratiou, and who consider IL mattel
for regret that it he's been departed iron
by his successors.
| JACKsoNIAN vULGARITY.
Neither can l agree with the Bishop, IL
regard to "Jackeonian vulgarity." An
drew Jackson was one of the mos
majestic of men. He possessed natura
dignity and courtliness, which never
failed to impress every one who evei
saw or met him. Louis Philippe de-
clared that Andrew Jackson was the
most dignifed man, the most thorougt
gentleman he had ever met. The high,
handed manner in which he conducted
his Administration cannot be toe
severely condemned, but on the Other
hand. we cannot be too grateful to him
for having destroyed Biddle's bank
And l do not see how he would have
swept it out of existence by any othsl
means than those he employed. 1t was
a question at the time whether the bank
should rule the country or the Govern
ment rule it. jackson solved tht
problem, and in solving it performed al
incalculable service. But jackson was &
sincere patriot and he had no thought
save the good of the country, as ht
understood it.
PLUToCRACY A INDUSTRIOUS EVIL.
l sympathizs with every word the
Bishop says on plutocracy. 1t is mon
strous evil; but it will cure ITSELF The
first thing to be done, it appears to me
is to destroy the system which makes
plutocracy possible. Now, let us go bach
to the beginning. We were all right a.
the start. Then came Adams. Adam:
was mistake; but it was soou corrected
jefferson followed, and the Government
became under him genuinely Republican
or Democratic. His first inaugural mes
sage is the best thing in all our politica
literature. 1t should be printed in every
schoolbook and be craven on the mem
ory of every American. Madison anc
Monroe followed in the footsteps of JEFF
; ferson, and after them the break began
Nearly every man in Monroe's CabiEe
was candidate for the Presidency, anc
the prize went to John Quincy Adams.
THE AMERICAN POLICY.
Bishop Potter is wrong. The policy o
America is not to build up a class, sec
ton OF the people, and to place them or
lofty reservation wher3 all the rest shall
fall down and worship them. That is MOI
J America. 1t is to lift the whole people
up-to make them all better in every
way. And that is what we are doing
slowly, it may be, but nevertheless
surely. Take our colleges and schools
They are defective in some respects, bu
they are better than any other country