New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-03
TAMMANY'S INFAMOUS PLOT,
RESoRTING TO FORGED SERMONS.
zENs' TICKET-DUPLICATE COPIES OF A BOGUS
ATTACK on CREEDs AND NArIoNALiriES
SENT TO NEwsPAPERs-THE REV.
ROBERT NJ. sTRATToN AMAZED =
AT THE CONSPIRACY.

ROBERT NJ. sTRATToN AMAZED
AT THE CONSPIRACY.
most dastardly and outrageous plot. the
work of Tammany Hall leaders. was unearfhed
last night and its exposition by The Tribune
at this time may have decided effect upon the
result Of the campaign against the members OF
that organization, whose members would be guilty
Of participating in such dishonorable. foul and
vicious tricks. The scheme is an old one. In
few words, it was to put into the mouth Of
clergyman of high standing, and known for his
ability and observation-disclosures. words the utterance
of which he never dreamed Of
Early last week $4,000 was offered to one
of the best known pastors Of this city by
Tammany Hall politician to make a speech or
deliver n in which he should bitterly assail
members Of various creeds and people OF various
nationa lties. He Indignantly declined to do this
sort of work. and reported the attempt to brbe him
to the headquarters of the Peoples Municipal
League 1t was thought that the exposure Of
this disgraceful effort to bribe clergyman would
effectually stop all underhanded work of this
and they see that the people are aroused that
all elements which make up this city are arrayed
in solid mass against them, and they would stop
at nothing to break asunder the ranks of the
indignant and plundered voters
An unsigned telegram was received last night
at The Tribune Office saying that the Rev. Robert
NJ. Stratton was TO preach a political sermon at
4.
pastor took for his text Psalms xxxii V, 12-
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord The
sermon was certainly political, but in no way an
insult to any creed or the individual opinion OF
any man, or stigma against his Nation.
After the service was ended the pastor was
| surprised to hear that a telegram had been sent
| ont announcing his sermon. lie knew absolutely
| nothing about it, Further Investigation brought
TO light one of the most rascally manoeuvres ever
| batched by any political party. On Thursday last
| n constituencies tool of Tammany callsd on Mr..
| Stratton and left with him typewriter COPY
of a paper that he asked the minister TO look
over 1t was put aside, and no further notice
was taken of it till after last nights sermon
Mr.. Stratton was surprised TO hear from the
reporter of Tammany paper that bis sermon
had been sent 10 the papers office early In the
afternoon. The reporter had been astonished at
tie real sermon, not 10 hear a word that Tailed
with the alleged duplicate copy in his hands The
ore delivered was moderate in tone: that in the
reporters pocket rabid. The forged sermon
made a bgoten and sectarian attack on various
classes which supporting the Peoples tlc2ct
and declared that honest citizens did not ask for
| or desire the support Of any Of these
elements. The forged sermon throughout was
drawn upon just such lines as the Iammany
leaders thought would best suit their cause at this
time If it were not such an old political Trick
| il might have caused more surprise than it will
The Rev. Mr. Stratt0n astOnshed, annoyed
and shocked when he read the manuscript OF
what was purported TO be his sermon. lie could
not understand it at all at first.
He said to The Tribune reporter "You were
one of the congregation, and | am sure you can
! say that there is not word in this manuscript
| Whit the manuscript contained, and this is the
first time | have looked over 1t. The Whole
| Thing is a detestabe fraud. ,
| The Tribune reporter can certainly vouch that
Mr.. Strattons sermon had not an unkind WORD In
| it, against any creed or race. tie SAID that nc nc
| did not know who the man was VINO had lelC
| tlip so-called sermon. lie had, however, seen
| him on the stage at a Democratic meeting at the
! Grand Opera House during the week. and had
! noticed him member oil the congregation ths'
Mr. Stratton's brother, who was also present,
and in fact produced the sermon from among
other papers, said he had seen tne man AZ .nG
meeting in the Grand Opera House. and had
! noticed that he was man OF
| snnr authority lie had also seen him
| i'm the church that evening, . ana
| had shaken hands with hlm But he did not
! knew his name. lie was as emphatic in his
denial of any knowledge OF what the manuscript
| boing scnt out from the church asking for a
reporter to be present, he could most certainly
| say that none was sent he looked after all
| that sort of work for his brother.