The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-10
Henry Ward Beecher on the Political
Rostrum In Brooklyn.
HIS VIEWS ON THE SITUATION.
Suffrage for All---White, Black,
Male and Female.
ImpOssibility Of Wrestling the Bal
lot from the Negro.
A General Better Fitted Than Lawyer to be
the National Executive.

N
the National Executive.
Last evening the Brooklyn Academy Of Music was
filed in every part by an audience that made the
building present appearance Of the most brilliant
character. The announcement that Henry Ward
Beecher would deliver an address on the ISSUES OF
the Canvass" was enough to produce this effect.
Rarely, indeed, has the Brooklyn Academy OF Music
presented such scene and never has even the pull
Dit orator of Plymouth church made such q sensa-
ton az that which marked his political address last
evening. 1t may be needless to say that the immense
audience composed Of the republicans OF Brook
lyn and Kings county, and from last evening
the republicans Of Kings county must be
q name and power as much as the
old usage word OF "the democrats OF
Kingsn 1t may be stated that il the principle Of
women's rights were once established Mr.. Beecher
would be the most successful political campaigner
that ever appeared in the region known as the City
OF Churches There was an unusual number OF
ladies present, who appeared to pay the greatest
attention to every word that fell from the
lips of the speaker, notwithstanding that his
address was altogether OF q political charac-
ter. At eight O'Clock Mr.. Beecher was seen
approaching from the back Of the stage, and on the
same instant there rose burst OF applause that
seemed to be electrical, so spontaneous, complete
and general was it, The speaker was preceded
by Mr.. Edwin A. Studwell who, on reaching the
rostrum, introduced Mr.. Beecher by bow and re
tired. At this moment, and while the paudits were
loudest and warmest, scene was presented filing
mp the whole back OF the stage, which had the
effect Of continuing the cheers the waving Of hand
kerchiefs and the general applause. The scene pre-
scented in the back ground the Executive Mansion at
Washington; the White House, with two mono
liths one on either side. On that on the right sat
General Grant, excellenty portrayed his left arm
resting On the Executive chair and looking towards
the figure on the opposite side Beneath the General
was an upright figure Of liberty pointing with her
right hand to Grant, and looking with menace and
disdain at the figure on the opposite pillar-Mr.
Seymour who was portrayed as defeated candi-
date for the Presidency and betraying all the pas
sionate disappointment OF the occasion. Seymour
sat under gas lamp, from which niger hung
suspended by the neck while on his left were seen
the flames Of burning mansions and all the evidences
Of mob riot
This well executed scene, towards which Mr..
Beecher looked with much apparent interest, was
cheered for a considerable time When silence and
order were restored Mr. Beecher proceeded with his
address,
When, next March, the President to be elected by
the people shall take his place in washington will
war in It's active form was closed. me coun.
try has during that time gone through vast
until now the questions to be determined are
new, but the principles are old and the same The
issues between the parties Of 1868 are not the issues
substantially that they were In 1893, and still
further back in $780, In 1860 the republican party
practiced 1t went before the country to claim the
administration Of government from the hands Of an
Old party, with long record Of early glory and late
eclipse. The democratic party began by being the
friend OF the common people, ana the whole COM
Er IL & snd se the
strument OF class. That was the damning sin OF
the old federal party, that It represented q
to certain extent, also was the sin and
the weakness Of the wing party; and the
democratic party slew them because 1t did in its
better days believe fervently in the common people,
and after extraordinary career has stumbled into
ne gye asSS .as O s
before the people. second time the people deter
mined that the republican party, by Its principles
chiefly shaped its policy. by its tendencies
in short by Its past and BY its future, ought to ad
1868 the question Is to once more determined by
the people, shall the republican party be instructed
years. or shall the work be repudiated and the demo-
cratic party be installed in power charged to COM
h1e LOOK at The meaning Of The last ten Years
OF American history. The letter and spirit OF our
historical insttutions-ol the character OF our
would arise a moral and then O political protest
against slavery. 1t was impossible In a nation Of
such institutions, Of such early ideas and OF such
spirit that slavery should exist and there be no pro-
test unless humanity died in the bosoms OF men
unless conscience became but a name. 1t was q
matter OF certainty that first or last there would
be men who would feel the nature OF the inward
and would assert them. The anti-savery agitation
answered to that necessity and was the logical
quence OF American ideas. Men dd not make that
agitation. II lay In the very frame and structure
and genius OF our American institutions and govern
menf, and men were the instruments OF causes deep
as everlasting principles. Against the influence or
this protest, irritated, but more ambitious
Of power than irrtated at interference with
their welfare, the South at last committed
drew the sword. The issue inevitable Involved the
question Of liberty The republican party at an
and TO maintain the Union without meddling with
slavery. 1t was the necessity OF nexperience to do
were driven by events that mightier than they
to emancipation, which was the logical sequence OF
carried forward The next step was to con-
fer citizenship and all its privileges and
duties upon all that dwell under our nag with.
out distinction OF color or of nationality. loud ap-
piause.) That innexlbe tendency Of the principle
OF liberty irrcsstiby carried the party forward TO
this and to-day. partly by its intelligence and
votion ana partly by the logic OF events the repub
lcan party based upon the doctrine OF the inherent
happiness. tCheers.) IL IL empty preence; IL Is
living question springing from Vital principle.
the genius Of our people as Wen as from the stugse
from which It came forth And their faith they have
witnessed on all the battle fields. Ii has gone
through IRE and been baptized in blood. 1t is the
faith OF the republican party; their aith In the lib
crty OF the whole common people.
Now do not undertake to say that the republican
party has committed no errors. IL was made M OF
men, and that is to say that 1t did commit errors
Political parties do not represent CELESTIAL things In
this world and to attempt to clear party from as
pcrsion and blame il TO misconceve onc's interest as
well as tho TRUTH All parties are but clumsy ma
chimes, and are themselves acted upon az well as
actors. am far from saying that the republican
party is q party without bunder and without a
mistake No party should lay claim to this.
But admit that 1t has been both on the one side
too cautious and the other side too rash. Admit
that the party lost golden opportunity during the
first years following The war. Admit II you choose
that II lacked the subtle OF Cancellation and the
skill to manage men that Is much to be desired in
parties: admit that In its eagerness it has been less