New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A TIMELY STUDY IN CITlZEN"HlF'

admiration
Bishop Potter in ST. Pauls Chapel. April 90
1850 in the presence OF the PRESIDENT vi INC
United States and in the hearing. so TO SPEAK,
Of the entire Nation. then intent on the co'ii-
rnemoratiye exercises which celebrated the CEN
tennial of the inauguration Of President WASH
,rgton There were not wanting those VINO
thought him censurable for the contrast "hie"
he suggested TO some eminent men peio'e
him between their own ideas and pracuces anu
those Of the day and the man they were com
memorating. Said he
The conception Of the National c'o'eIn'nvm'
as a huge machine existing manly ior .he pu
nose OF rewarding partisan servtce-tnls Was d
conception so alien 10 the character OF WASH
inston and his associates that 1t seems sFoieSls
even TO speak Of it, i wou t ,6 he nite states
confronted with some one VINO hao Neiitulcu
to approach him upon the basis or "iat ar
Rut the conception Is impossible. The loathins
the outraged majesty with which ne "ou'o nave
hidden such q creature be gone.
This to those who were even then enSrosseo
IN the distribution Of public offices COR partisan
services In the recent Presidential campaign
could have been hardly palatahle truth But
those who felt that any sincere conrmemora''oh
of a great man imposes Obligation 10 initiate
his virtues we're grateful, that at the shrine
where the Father Of His Country had consccra' 20
his great office his high I'd cal OF pubic righteous
ness was faithfully set forth In silent but elo-
ouent reproof Of the Nation that mad departed
from It
That memorable address. under the title OF
sCharacter In Statesmanshr" stands second IN
the series Of seventeen included in the present
volume the first OF which. given before the I'M
Beta Kappa at Harvard in 1890. has given It's
title to the collection
During the past summer a Baptist clergyman
~ lat NO
nersonage than Senator Hoar Of Massachu-
setts have on different platforms expressed
their belief that the pulpit is less ethical less
strenuous in Its attention to the concerns OF
Righteousness, than formerly. Such an opinion
ooncurred In from quarters opposite whether
correct or not Is noteworthy. Equally note
worthy as a sign Of the times. and outranking
It as a fact outranks an opinion. Is this series
Of addresses. ethical throughout, ethical IN that
pregnant sense In which the highest ethics Is
religious That zeal for righteousness which
was the keynote Of the Hebrew prophets Is their
fundamental note.
The image OF God in man Is the consciousness
Of distinction between righteousness ana un-
Righteousness . Whether you VIII or no.
that consciousness underl!es that organized LIE
which we call to-day the State Inc
sole foundation Of the permanence or S'A,e ~
IN the moral consciousness the Quickening sense
OF Righteousness, which abides In the heart OF It's
people.
Again and again the speaker recurs to this
central thought He sees signs or social de-
terioration: they proceed from moral degen-
eracy: political contests have become scrambles
for personal emoument the public service Is
practically denied to ia a public trust; honor
able provision for those who suffered and were
disabled In their country's service threatens
under the selfish and interruptions manipulation
Of those who see in the degradation OF their
fellow-citizens a short and easy road to politi-
cal supremacy-to become pauperizing sys-
tenn whose least and most innocent consequences
IA the rninous burden which Is destined
sooner or later to saddle upon the public treas
ury" But amid all these sinister omens he mas
faith in the better instincts OF the people
sAThere Is a great host Of patriotic weu-w'shers
Of their country all over the land who honestly
believe in her great destiny and desire to serve
her" II Is to these he appeals, pointing 10
that one invisible force which. because 1t alone
can rule the conscience. Is destined. one day, 10
rule the world
This book at once lends plausible color and
supplies papable correction to the view OF John
Stuart NH as to the effectiveness OF Christian
ethics In the department Of our civic relations
and duties and the need Of experimenting IL
There nv instruction and inspiration derived
from Greek and Roman sources. Mr.. Potter sets
out indeed by quoting from Platos Republic
~words Of immortal significance" which de-
scribe forever the scholars temptation on inc
one hand and his opportunity on the otheT'-the
Temptation to q selfshly secluded life. the OPP
portunity to be the savior OF his country as
we'll as of himself. The scholars and the states
mans Inspiration to their greatest work. now
ever, IS another matter. and must come from
.reater than Plato What was IT," he asks. that
and tnNn
great? What but this? That each one OF
them held himself. first Of all. as servant OF
enc Power above him. and sitting In the high
chair of state sat there remembering always
nr.t that he was the servant Of the people, and
thet because he was the servant OF GodT
That useful class Of citizens profaneiy re-
rerred 20 by a distinguished statesman In an
explosiys moment as d literary felers VIII
and much comfort, and their censors were they
disposed to read. might find much correction IN
these addresses. the foremost theme OF which
q. Christian citizenship Never more than now,
ssva the Bishop. did the National. as opposed
IA partisan or sectional or personal sentiment,
need 70 be not merely appealed to. but educated.
ropular fallacies corrected and unpopular
truths inculcated by men trained to clear think
,rg with the courage Of conscientious convc-
ZION not merely possessing great ideas. but pos
...sea nv them and by faith In their power
90 leayen and lift up the multitude There Is
but one true aristocracy In the world says
BISHOP Potter land that Is the aristocracy OF
character enriched by learning. We want an
aristocracy In America. and we shall have 1t.
whether we will not. But II we would not
have II one OF hereditary descent. or OF mere
ecclesiasuc or political rank. let US see TO It
that spurning these things. we do not descend
60 that loves, deep. and make 1t merely one
of money" The American character is as yet
uniformed and raw. AS people we have yet to
learn that the life is more than meat. and to
prize ideas that are not nerchantable. The
.practical" man who sneers at everything as i'm
-. IbIIta N t.,.rn