Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-05-12
Reverend Henry Ward Beecher
on Canada.

(Ioronto Globe the following
While the debate and Lord Palm
erston's speech on Canadian affairs are
being conned and criticised, reprinted
and reread, with those numerous SEMEN
ees in italics, marking assertions or con-
illusions, pro or con, OF each partIcu ar
editors view; while the torch of rebel
lion family slmmers in its dying h'fu'
light, lost in the dawn of what may be
peace, or another glaring day of war; it
may not be undressing TO see what
Henry Ward Beecher said last Sunday
evening in Plymouth Church, Brooklyn,
about England and about Canada.
"The sermon was not reported in any
Of the "dailies," and might be said to be
partially martial" and partially "com-
mercial." He considered warlike nations
and their greatness in opposition to a
commercial people and their happiness
aud prosperity--the former with their
<pomp, their ellittrins show and wild am
biiion, as leading men away from true
happiness the latter With their peaceful
avocations and quiet pursuits, as being
the right hand of religion. War was 3
perversiou of the original nature of man /;
commerce, on the other hand, beautified
1t in its purity, while peace, prosperity,
amity and happiness--her smiling hand>
maids-made desirable and attainable
.true religion" What was Venice when
a world stood in awe? She was great,
but was she good I? Prussia under Fred
erick the Great, and France under the
first Napoleon? Was this Americas am
bilion-was this her interest--was this
what h wished to become 3! No
America had had enough Of war too
long and too fierce had been the struggle
the laurels that she aow wears-that she
ever can wear--hsve claimed b & b
are crimsoned with her brav-
est, dearest blood. From the pslatial
residences of the eastern cities to the
humble, once happy backwoods home,
naught but a picture is, where living
ION, brother, husband or father should {
De.
We do not want more territory-wr p
ave enough-we neither want Canada /
n the one hand, nor Mexico On the il
Their. Even if Canada were to leave, n
r fall from, her present position, it i, a
fashionable if it were policy to stretch
ut our arms in welcome; and it would -
. an Unfair, unequal, cruel and unman- y,
war with her or with Mexico. We 81
ant them as neighbours, and TO live with ty
lem as neigtbors, in peace and amty +
and receiving mutual benefits T.
J friends, and in the highest of moral as
iendships,- and commerce. .
olden sway to rule. If Canada and :,
Iexico wish republics, we are willing
,e genius of Canada will not wear
rown, she needs II not, and il will NOT
Q offered without she asks it i; and the
ouihern cline Of Mexico is too warm,
rown will melt too soon. Commerce a
nd education are Americas avocation y
nd duty, and will be her pride--wi'h t
hese we will 60 hand in hand in friendly q
ivalry with our weaker neiehbors on the
forth and on the South, to wealth, opu
ence, power, peace, morality, and re-
igion.
We do not wish TO war, with England
/ was not right that two great, two pow
,rful Christian nations should crimson
with their blood their mutual flag of
Christianity-'twere CHARACTERIZATION
70 Christianity. The smoke from
The first hostile cannon would circle and
encircle, till the whole earth was draped
In mourning, and Christianity lurked
fesrfullv again in the dark labyrinths Of
The middle ages.