The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-12
The Second Letter from His Holiness
the Protestant Pope, Henry Ward

The Second Letter from His Holiness
the Protestant Pope, Henry Ward
Beecher.
From, the Herald.
We published on Monday a second epistle
from the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher to mem
Der of his congregation, explaining and defend
ing the Cleveland letter, which has attracted
so much attention and comment. Mr.. Beecher
takes back none of his former statements, and
denies that ne Is sorry that he wrote his previ'
GUS letter. On the contrary he reiterates its
views and sentiments, and insists that the
Southern States ought to be Immediately re-
stored to their constitutional rights. Both OF
his epistes are so conservative and SO states
maniike that we can no longer rank Mr.. Beecher
among the mere ministers OF America. He de-
serves to fill higher position than that of
pastor of Brooklyn church. We nominate
him for the office, and shall hereafter recognize
HIM by the title oil, his Holiness the Protestant
Pope of the United States.
After an attentive perusal Of this latest bull OF
his Holiness, we lind that we can endorse every
word OF IL. He criticizes the President severely;
but it Is IN the spirit OF a friend and not OF an
enemy. As he says, the President has pecu-
liar temper, and is rather apt to assam those VINO
disagree with him; but Horace Greeley and
Thad Stevens have the same peculiarlties, and do
not possess that kindness of heart and sincerity
OF purpose which redeem President Johnson,s
errors. And tins suggests to us the only weak
sin OF omission rather than OF commission;
but 1t ought to be remedied by a good strong
sermon next Sunday, when Pope Beecher re-
turns to his congregational pilgrims. The point
is that he neglects to criticize Sumner, Phillips
Wilson, Chandler, Stevens, Greeley Cheeyer,
and the other radical leaders with equal seve-
rity, Ii President Johnson uses severe Language,
so DO they. "Liar,h TRAITOR renegade - tmur-
derer," and wretch" (oide the IEibunej are the
mildest terms they use in their assaults upon the
President. Surely, his Holiness the Protestant
Pope cannot sanction such epithets as these
and he will take the earliest opportunity Ia
rebuke them.
To President JOhnson's numerous eXcellences
10 his horror OF secession his resistaL ce to the
Rebel leaders, his heroism in the dark DAYS O
the war his jealousy of Capitalization, his sim
plicity of manners, and his true love of the com
mon people-Pope beecher does the amples
Justice His eloquent sentences com pletely eX
tinguish his Would-be critics. He leaves not
rag of poor Greeley's old white coat. RlsinG
above the corrupt atmosphere of parties, he will
not call himself Johnson man or anybody else
man, but regards current events from tn
standpoint of statesman; philosopher, and
Christian. He remembers that II Presiden
did President Lincoln. On his trip from spring
field TO Washington Mr.. Lincoln deaVere
various off-haud addresses, and everybody tEe
thought that he was not earnest enough.
On bis trip from Washington to Springfield
Mr. johnson has also spoken often, and man
people think that he is too much In earnest
Both Lincoln and Johnson sprang from a.
origin not favorable TO finished Oratory' Th
one was q fat-boatman from Kentucky AM
Illinois, and the other tailor from North Care
lima and Tennessee. To expect the polish OF al
Everett from such men would be absurd. II l
enough for Pope Beecher, as for all other sens
be people that these Presidents should haV