Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-31
The Beecher Family.
I'M Tho providence Herald.

Tn6 BeecneT dmliys
From the Providence Herald
The Bsecher family is known to be
smart, and is popularity supposed to be
pious. Let US define terms When the
Englishman says of man he is CLEVER,
be means to be understood as erediting
him with natural and acquired ability,
and noticeable proficiency in some direc-
ton useful to mankind, aud some pursuit
honestly and honorably engaged in. The
"smart" man is one who knows how 10
take advantage of the peculiarities and
weakness of his fellow men, and make
thereby money or gain popularity, or
both. The Beechers, trading in their
fathers conceded ability and honesty,
have set for and been credited with reli-
pious fervor, and have made more money
with less expenditure of brains, less dis
play of moral courage, and less belief is
the doctrines they profess, than any set
of men and women outside the loyal
Congress.
When other lecturers were charging
fifty dollars, Henry Ward charged one
hundred, and be never delivered lecture
in his life but that full half of his propo.
sitiens, taken as statements of argument,
philosophy or theology, would, carried
out to their logical results, prove at once
false and ridiculous. He never meddled
in politics, and be is always dabbling in
politics; without showing his fanaticism,
as in practicing Sharpe's rifle for Kan
sss-or his weakness, as when be re-
tracted, for fear of losing his place, sll
that he had said against Lincoln. A
minister without any System OF theology
"a teacher without a credible is saved
from the ordinary shame, though not
from the sin of hypocrisy, by his powers
of digestion and his how of blood. be is
natural actor and born magnetzer.
BE phsycholegizes impresslble women
and unthinking men.
Mrs. Stowe became famous through
"Uncle Toms Cabin" Since that has
been written, she has bestowed upon the
world Sunny Memories of Foreign
Lands" work ss vspid as it was funky-
ish; "Old Town Folks" in the preface
of which--it. bsing substantially theo-
logical novel-she says that question
ing much, doubling much" she at heart
and really "beleves very little" And
in which she puts in all her coldness and
incisive clesrness the most skeptical
theories. Yet because written by her,
this volume is placed-without inspec-
tiou, we have the charity to believe-in
Sunday school libraries.
And last and most carefully heralded,
comes her reopening of all the sad and
most immoral stories ss TO the married
life of Byron. Before giving this senss-
tional article 70 the publishers, there
must have been--ve will presume so
much in her faEor--a sharp conflict be-
tween womanly delicacy and the desire
to make few dollars. She must have
known that what she has said would not
change one iots the opinion of those who
know any thing OF the subject she treats
Of, as 10 the relative characters or blame
fulness Of Byron and his wife. She is so
incorrect in her statements, so utterly
wanting in proof, where proof alone, and
that Of the most convincing character,
could be Of the slightest consequence,
shat she not only does not Improve the
character Of Byron's wife, in the esiima.
ion Of the public, but she does her mem
orr - damage which always results 70
any cause - weak and easily c0atro'
vertible advocacy.
We % not go into ine s4erts Of the
con,roYersy. our purpose is MOTTO ylEs-