The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-16
DR.. Beccl.er on Buying and Selling.

Beecher has taken new objective point
has turned double somersaut out Of all his
usual topics wilder leap than that Of the
Arab over his twelve loaded guns, and comes
up steady on his feet in front of s.grand bran
new theme-that is, a theme that is bran new
for the pulpit, and would be bran new slto-
gether if the newspapers had not been bang
ing away at it these dozen years. This will be
gladly heard. People lad been wondering
what Beecher would do, and whether his ocou-
patton was not quite gone. Slavery being
definitely dead he was deprived of ono great
year in and year out subject, and could give
us no more canticles of cant on Niger misery.
JEFF Davis is away on bail, and he cannot pa
rade any more the cheap humanity of mercy
to that national nuisance. Niger suffrage Is
q settled question. and woman suffrage is 70
far in the future that the psrson is afraid 10
touch it from not knowing which side to take;
for, having not long since been on the wrong
side ,and compelled to get over, he has the
timidi ty of those who. having felt hot water,
are al raid Of that thin fluid at any tempera-
ture. He is even barred out from the ordinary
run of the political news; for to all appearance
the ga ints Of Plymouth are about evenly
divide6 between the President and Congress.
What 81 lould he do!
He re solves the great question boldly AID
with the genius of one who has studied the
popular taste. He pitches into the BUYERS
and sci lers of justice. Mere than that, he
drives ,savagely at those legislators who are
thought, sold or exchanged" as the second
hand de ,lers say This is very well, and we
are glad that the pulpit has awakened to this
important subject and is disposed to discuss 1t
freely. We are the more glad that a man like
Doctor E:eecEer should enter this field, since
he must do it at some sacrifice of influence or
popularity; fox it is not possible that he does
not recognize in his pews many man who
has been deep into the legislative corruption
as buyer If not seller. He shows his sim
certify by venturing to touch these pursy
saints; but eis safe enough, since they dare
not frown their displeasurs for fear of admit
ting their completely. But we are not sure
that this deRanciation of buyers and sellers is
quite fair as coming from such source. JUS
tice, to be sure, is sacred thing, and should
be free to all men; but are there not things
that even Beecher himself regards as more
sacred than justice and quito as much be-
yond all question Of pricsf Gospel sruth, for
instance, and the grace of God as felt by the
worshippeFs in consecrated temple-spiritaal
instruction, public prayer.
Are not these things, that touch upon the
relation Of man to GOD, far more sacred than
any mere rules that touch upon relations
between man and man--mere definitions in law
or equity? Who shall doubt it. Aad yet
are not even these more sacred thin .s sold,
and does not this very Beecher sell them?
Seneca, il is said, wrote his praise of poverty
on table Of solid gold: but it is mSse bitter
contradiction that this modern philosopher
priest denounces the buying and selling of
justice, standing before the world in boots,
breaches and coat bought with tie price of
things he preterds TO hold more sacred than
Justice. What is the price Of a pew in
tons by us; but whoever is present the next
time the seats in that sacred eGifce are sold
out under the hammer will sea that this par
sons price is high, and, by easy computation,
they can find that more is mad s, ia that buying
and selling than is made by say of our pitifal
city fellows in selling their poor commodity Of
justice, OF even by most legislators. We are
glad, however, that Beecher has opened his eyes
upon certain evils in buying and selling: but
| win be nc. initiate an ever memorable example
| and begin his war against the traders by
| driving them out of the tempie9
|