Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-23
The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher-The Re
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The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher-The Re-
fusaI TO give him n HeariDg.
We confess that we do not exactly under
stand why the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
should not be permitted to lecture in this
city, or why the proprietor of the most ex-
tensiFe place for public assemblies which
the city Affords should have declined to
open its doors for his accommodation. Mr..
Beecher is an able man, and his lectures
have hitherto been popular among us; and
that irrespective of the extent of the agree
ment or disagreement between himself and
his hearers in matters of opinion; and how
the present state of things has changed the
relation between him and our fellow-citi-
zens, making that unsafe, or unpopular, or
unacceptable, which before was otherwise,
is more than we are able fully to compre-
bend.
We do not know what Mr.. Beecher pro-
posed to say, and can hardly believe that
those through whose influence the proceed
ing has been stopped are any better in
formed. If it was his design to speak of the
condition of the country-to utter words
suitable, in his opinion, to the state of the
times-his known earnestness and faithful
ness should have insured him at least
hearing. This passing judgment on a man
in advance, upon general principles" be-
trays kind of tenderness not very credita-
BILE to people who value themselves upon
their tolerance in matters of opinion.
Within few months past, the most ram
pant of Southern Secessionists has been per-
mitted to come to this city, and the Opera
house was crowded from floor to dome by
an admiring audience, to hear from his lips
the North misrepresented and DETAINED, the
South eulogised and applauded, and the
most reasonable doctrines and sentiments
enunciated. Mr.. Beecher, we are told, is an
Unionist: are we so changed by the elo-
quence of Mr.. Yancy that we are afraid to
listen to man who, if he should happen to
say word touching our broken aud defaced
nationality would urge upon US to strive for
its reconstruction
In the South it is not safe to disagree with
the current sentiment of the people. The
inhabitants prescribe Northern opinion, not
so much for fear of its effect upon themselves
as upon the negroes. We have no negroes
Are we afraid of the effect of opinions upon
ourselves? What are we afraid of?
A mob-publie disturbance There are
times when the most brutal the most utterly
reckless take it upon themselves to become
pIeternaturally tender and Conscientious in
respect to what Others may think, and to
condemn or aequit, punish OF applaud, upon
some standard Of fitness of their own contriy-
ance. These are the premonitory symptoms
of day Of lawless violence and if such are
pereeptible among us, it is time to look for
the means to preserve the peace of the com.
munity--to double the police.
We contend for free speech: holding with
Mr.. Jefferson, that even "error is harmless
when truth is left free to combat it." We do
not agree with the opinions which, we sup
pose, Mr. Beecher holds touching slavery;
but what of that7 Is it come to this, that
man who proposes to speak in public must
measure his sentences by the sense of the
community before he gives them utterance9
Must he say nothing with which any man
can disagreeP
II Is high time We were over this foolish
fear Of firing the Southern heart If this is
the reason why Mr.. Beecher is refused a
hearing, Il is, to say the least not creditable.
The South never was guilty Of the eOwardiee
of prescribing Southern sentiment upon
Southern sOili and If We are too poor
spirited to come at least up to similar
standard, we need to go to war against
to recover the manhood which,
somehow OF other, has passed from our pos
session. $3.50 Vffn aaAF