New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-29
PLYMOUTH CHRCCH.
SERMON BT THE REv HESRY WARD sEEcHEf
pnocbo, fool- for his tavt


Mr. Beecher took for his text
Isaiah g. g. And Geaties shall ihy light and kings
the brightness Of thy rising
-Four years ago the most influential governments Of
Western Europe looked upon the United states as ma
ton broken by existing wars, and destined, in long
time he still further broken and 10 furnish from its
fragments, many new nations. Theu America should
share the fate Europe standing armies, complex aud
tangled diplomacy and heavy taxes and, emerging at
length from the general confusion would, perhaps, be
seen an American monarchy. Four years ago! How
great the change. When Lord RUSSELL with admirable
ranknes stated that he had been wholly mistaken in his
estimate OF American affairs he spoke for the upper
OF English society, and Of all Western Europe
While the struggle upon and the nation was en-
gagged for its life, the adverse nations Of Europe were
matters Of serious TO but no sooner had the
conflict terminated than English French feeling be-
came OF no account Commercially and morally we are
intimately concerned with the feelings and opinions OF
other nations. 1t would be in bad taste, not
only, but greatly untrue TO say that We have
no vital connections with the common sentiment
Of the globe but they are moral-not political CONNER
cia-nOt civil. Politically by position, by the
character Of our population by the nature OF our sut
tions, almost wholly independents OF Europe; we arc
debtors Europe the past for political ideas We
sOwed the seed which grown on old SOIL but now we
need no longer BRING seed Ihence Id arr hceRce, ana
philosophy We are pupils stl put IN political ahars we
are remotely aft, cted by Europe, while we do exert
prOdgiOus influence upon the common peODle here and
through them upon their governments Indeed America
ndOrcr OF every struggle or the common people OF
their Liberties. In one sense, we the
chefmaker OF the globe 30 long as TINS people remain
prosperous, there cannot but be threat in the whole
hemlspsvre Of Europe against thrones and arbitrary
powers Theoretical doctrines OF liberty could be easily
held in check but thirty million concrete statements of
personal liberty are unlnswerabei no sophlstIy can
pcyert their tendency There scarcely common people
the globe, this side Of India that does not feel the
powerful Influence Of that mode Of government which
prospers in America First IN order Great Britain
acknowledges ~ Who VIII say mat lhe recent keioLm
American victory over Rebellion. The spectacle
Of what seltgoverned people could 40 IN
tremendous emergency, has e1erted an influence /
welded This enkInded the zeal OF refOrners and gave
a moral impetus which II was not Thought wise TO resist
may be the first fruits which will issue from the sur
frage the inevitable results must be the destruction of
some of the characteristic features OF the present English
society and Government The land system OF Great /
Britain must be radically changed though what the pro
cess shall be which shall hereafter regulate the
ship OF land, without which ownership common people
cannot exist no man IS wise enough 10 discern voting
people will not long endure the mOnstrOus mls-aance
between Church and state There will be divorce AT
Government The disgracefu Ignorance OF the English
aborng classes has passed It's midnight and the morning
of intelligence surely coming. When Great Britain Is
divided into reeschOO districts, she VIII have taken
lease of life and Of glory England is destined yet to
career and power such she has never known, and
such her poets and prophets have never ventured
predict for her The schools and free churches VIII
make free men, and when England and America.
her trstborn free intelligent, and Christian They
will be for Christ and liberty against the world Amer
lately felt also upon the Continent 10 is
yet To large extent, disturbing force IN France,
Italy, Hungary and Germany. No people assert and
gain their political liberty except by tho education OF the
masses- The Common school is tho Magma Cnarta OF
modern society. The school book is better than the
sword The schoolhouse is the peoples fort. repub
can is the easiest or any 10 FOUND but the
hardest TO mainain Despotsms are simple in proper
on as they are nense but free governments require
men 90 be sober. temperate, Just, thoughtful self
restrained II men are remain ignorant then they
are governed well enough already Let them seek lib
erty order 60 give intelligence but let them seek te
gence as the indispensable condition of liberty and IL is
the steady spread OF popular education that betokens
more than anything else the coming of better times in
Europe. America refusing TO take any direct part in
EulOpeau
which. without hands, rolls the ocean into perpetual
tidal waves the moral influence of America nvisiby
draws the whole population OF the East but |
if fall short OF theoretical perfection IN
the work OF foreign influence. OF own |
national rets ablishmcnt l. for one shall not be discOur
aged surprised Fully recognizing the dignity and the
guiding power of laws am yet persuaded that the nv
ing OF active far greater and that amelo
ration in governments and in social life do not follow
bayones, but universal convictions Ieglsla
tion is much population is shall not speak of the
temptations nationo immortality through national debt
and enormous corruption IN pecunarY matters by wc
il would though the sec ON purpose
tins population into Judases The disturbed con
dt0n OF fifteen states which are not puele., mercy pe
they are Sill; the political antagOnshs Oh me
revolutions whch VIII follow the 1uI hulsslOh ol le
Southern States into this Union again. these are serious
there are hut what Is the cont9h oi Ie SIND 20
encounter the storms. Can she oullde the utmost VO
ence VI the seat think yea easily, sdioS. fHsl De
cause there Is genuine PATRIOTISM ~ tu h SnS NH
we never could before have suspected-Nhlch VIII ia
every great conhIet OeeSme once fbsTey ce e0
be no such patriotism ,, anlong US as
Ve led thnt question IL has shown that.
In spite the tamperng win mems moral
sense and after discipline OF deOaslng compromises
here remained latent power ol patriotism that only
needed 10 be turned channels TO now as lrresstby
al Fate IL WAS nlso shown that wealth and refinement,
90 far from corruptng this spirit by luxury were favor
lbe TO an enthusiastic love country Inc men OF most
itIre who had received all that cole iate in
tlfntons eond give Them who were refined in their
astes and xqusteir their stood hrst IA the
Is good solders-showing that in this land wealth has
Io corruptad MS and that patriotism has betn IN the
an ~ rie cultnre matter not simply for graft
nde hui for phlosophc speculation, how II could have
,appeued that men coming 10 Ms rom abroad reared
" - - .tions having once alODtod this cuuu- ii