The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-01-30
COLUMBIA s. c. WEDNESDAY, MORNING. JANUARY 80 1867

all babies, ''since they take the
trouble to be born do not grow to
be men; and he quoted, as cmbody-
ing some very deep philosophy, a
scrap of tombstone literature, to the
effect that wonder struck father, in
composing an cpitaph, did not sec
what his child was begun for"
since he ''was so soon done for. "
But such silly buffooneries were the
least Objectionable part of Mr..
Beecher's remarks. His Plymouth
flock must be q cross between the
wolf and the tiger, if they needed IL
labored argument to prove to them
that it is consistent with their Aboli-
ton principles to feed the starving
ex-rebels. SO far as Mr.. Beecher's
speech was argumentative at all, this
was the sole drift of his argument.
Mr.. Greeley's remarks deserve
moro commendation. In following
Mr.. Beecher, he began by admins
tering a quiet and very neat rebuke;
saying that there were so many topics
which it was wise not to touch on such
an occasion, that he felt embarrassed
lest he should say something which
had better be omitted; and he spoke
for the first two or three minutes in
amplification of this thought. He
said nothing which would not have
been appropriate if he had preceded
Mr.. Decchcr instead Of following
him; but the garment was so perfect
fit that Mr.. Beecher's quick eye did
not fail to catch his own image in the
smooth mirror. His whole face was
sutfused by a prolonged blush. He
relieved himself by frequently whis-
perlng something jocose to General
Anderson, who sat on the platform at
his side; but whether he was making
fun of Mr.. Greeley's manner, or
amusing himself with other topics,
tho audience could not know.
Mr.. Greeley's remarks were full Of
genuine charity and practical good
sense: His stumbling appearance,
and fiat, uncouth delivery, were re-
deemed by an air of artless sincerity,
which secured the close attention of
the meeting, and was more impressive
on such q subject than oratorical ac-
comphshments could have been, had
Mr.. Greeley possessed them. Theidea
on which his speech was framed-if
an etfuslon SO inartificil can be said
to be framed at all-was, that the
generous city Of New York needs no
other persuasion to charity than to
be made fully acquainted with the
distress that required relief Putting
ont of view all the political questions
on which men differ, and every topic
or remembrance which has any briar
Of irritation in it, he gave clear and
pertinent explanation of the present
distressing condition of the South
and of its causes, and pointed out
the means of relief which have the
best chance to be effective. Nothing
could be more considerate, humane
and judicious than his kind and
clumsy remarks, which can CRATE on
no mans sensibilities, either in the
North or the South, and which as
sumo that minds Of ordinary gene
rosity need no other incentive to re-
lieve their perishing countrymen
than a faithful description of the
facts.
We trust the committee appointed
last night will be prompt and dill
gent, and that New York will set q
noble example, which other Northern
cities will nobly emulate.
THE RESULT. The National MteUi-
gence1' says: