Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-11-15
Seward and Bcecher.

EilDDuN Hitdt HI u
pie and yoh have put it in the best shape
TO make profound and lasting impress
sion on mankind. In this branch OF
high art the country hns been lately
furnished with some striking instances
no less remarkable for their mas
terly cmbodiment ormoral truth i'm 'iv-
ing and breathing examples. than for tho
extraordinary quicknesS with which the
people have seized and taken home To theii
hearts the great moral lesson thus taught.
Fidelity To principle. and mistaken loyalty
to conviction. are moral traits of the highest
worth and he whose life is guided and
guarded by their presence and power, is
sure. first or last. To reap the rewards and
hOnors due 10 such precious virtues. But
let him i'm an evil hour yield to temptation
forget his principles. and be Ease To his con
victiOns. and there is no adrOnncss of de
fence, ncr mastery of assault that can save
his name from reproach Or keep him i'm
his high position. William III. Seward had
won a high place and an illustriOus name
by his devotion 10 principle. by his steady
and noble defence of Justice and by his low
alty to the great truths of human equality
and universal justice. Ii was his unyielding
| fidelity to his convictions. his mistaken
steadfts.ncSs to his principles. though wears
of malignant opposition and all kinds OF
obloquy and enmity that made his name
dear tO the people and put in his hands a
more than royal sceptrc with which tO sway
/ the hearts of1milions. AT last under the
balcful Influence ofsomc malignant star, his
loyalty To the principle grew faint, and cXpe-
diency pointed him 10 her paths: he grew
deaf to the still small voice of conscience.
and turned willing cartO the subtitle song
Ofpolicy. and now who is there 10 do him
reverence, So sudden going ont of a
great light. so utter a fading and darkcning
of all glory of great man. has seldom been
seen. and would bc sad beyond expression
were il not so Just and so well deserved.
Look also at Bcccher. for he too. has
been lifted up before all mankind to teach
the same great truth that there Is Il Judge
ment for the highest transgrcSSor. and that
he who forgctS conscience, out of goodness
of heart. and puts Justice rudcly aside that
he may do overmuch honor to mercy. shall
also be beaten with many stripes. Here
was a man OF grand gifts and noble name;
his life had been full of heroic efforts for
humanity: he had ever pointed hiscOuntry-
men To the paths Of justice and of right.
and hung overall crooked WAYS of eXpc-
dicncy and policy the icrrorS of pcrditiOn.
while healSO seemed to bear in cOnsrcraled
/ hands. the KEYS to Heaven. In an eviI time.
when his better angel had lcIt him. or he
had forgotten his prayers, he was led into
temptation became false proplc. of smOOtl.
/ things, cried peace when there Vas no
peace. and took tD blessing those that he
should have fallen to cursng. And how in
one night WAS he stripped Of his royal robes.
/ had the sccpire pluCked from his hand
and his kingdom ovcrthrOwn. ltwould he
mOurnful enough to see such monarch lift
ing up an imploring voice to the people who
will have him for Kin" no longer. and
stretching out his hands in vain To anatiOn
who will have him rcigh over them no
more To see his royalty gone and his sccp-
/ tire broken. did we not find in his fate the
yindication of eternal justice in the punish
mcnt Ola wrong docr. Let every man take
warning by his example. and avoid
/ his great tranSgrcSS;on. Bccchcr ceased 10
be true To- himself and went back on his
earlier life. He relaxed his strong hold on
truth and right; he let the polished blade
of Justice he dimmcl. and the keen edge of
her sword bluntcd he yielded To the blan-
diShmenis of expcdicncv. and could not re-
sist the Turing wiles of policy: hc would
clasp hands with rebellion. and bc at peace
with treason: and he cannot escape the
vengeance due To his sin. He stands. also.
on an cminence before the whole nation.
an example ofthc punishment that will
Overiakc him who. however GOOD or truc
once. has in an hour Of weakness proved
false to his principles. and lcnI his great
name TO the use of the nations foes.
Let all friends of freedom and the Union
look often on the former honor and glory
and The present mccknCss and humilat ion
of Seward and Beechcr and I've taught by
/ their example fidelity To principle. loyalty
, to conviction, and perseverance 10 the end.
CHI. T'rib.