Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-22

letter wrote John Stuart Mill onhis sending
me an early copy Of his objection Of wO-
man" and his reply. | am sure that all
the thinking men and women are some
where near you, and will rally to your sup
port if you are bold, frank, and absolutely
| truthful in stating your conviction. Mrs.
burleigh told DIR; Charming she was ready
to avow her belief in social freedom when
the time came. She was weary now and
| glad of a reprieve, but should stand true to
her convictions when she must. Ny own
| conviction is that the one radical mistake
you have made, Is in supposing that you
are so much ahead Of your time and in
daring to attempt to lead when YOU have
| anything to conceal. Do not, | pray you.
deceive yourself with the hope that the love
| OF your church, or any other love, human
or divine, can compensate the loss of abso-
lutte truthfulness to your own mutual
convictions. l have not told you the half
L have suffered since February, but yOu can
imagine, ,knOwingwha my husband is to me
that it was no common love have for YOU
and for the truth and for all mankind.
women as well as men, when decided to
nearly break your heart already lacerated
by the course had been compelled to pur-
sue by sending him away to die, perhaps
without me at his side. | wish you would
come here in the evening some time to
Burton cottage or 1 will meet you in New
York, you appoint, at any time, ever yours,
BELL
On the third Of the same month Mrs.
Hooker addressed a letter to her brother, the
Rev. ThOs. Il. Beecher:
HARTFORD, Sunday Nov. 3, 1872.
Dear BrOther-COme; the blow has fallen.
and i hope you are better prepared fOI il
than you might have been but for our inter
view. | wrote to II. A. GeOglire [H. w.
Beeeher?l last week "Can | help you? |
Here Is his reply:
''lf You still believe in that woman, you |
can't help me. If ycu think Of her, as 1 |
DO, you can perhaps, though do not need |
much help. thread the falSehOOds into the /
dirt, from whence they spring, and 60 on
my way rejoicing; my people are thus far
heroic, and would give their lives for me;
their love and confidence would make me
willing 10 bear far more than have; mean
time the Lord has a pavilion in which
lie holds Inc until the storm be over
past. abide in peace, committing myself
10 Him who gave Himself for me. / trust
you will give neither cOuntenance nor ere
dence to the abOminable canards that have
been put ahoat. The specks Of truth are
mere spangles upon garment Of false
hood. The truth itself is made 10 lie
Thank You for love and truth and silence.
But think Of the barbarity of dragging a
poor dear child woman into this slough.
Yours truly.
Now Tom, so far as l can see, it is he
who has dragged the dear child into the
slough and left her there and who is now
sending another woman (WOOdhUlD to |
prison who IS innocent Of any crime but 4
fanatacism for the truth as revealed to her.
!, by my silence, am conserving unto her
death. Read the little note she sent me |
long ago, and mark its prophetic words.
Here Belle quOteSa lot of rhOdOmOntade /
from Victoria C.l
Oh, my Dear Brother: | fear the awful
struggle to live according TO law has
wrought an absolute Generalization as 10
and 50 lie can talk about ,
ipangleS on a garment Of falsehOOd when
he garment is truth and the specks are
Inc falSehOOds. His first letter to me was
10 different from this. i read it TO YOU, :
)ut will copy it lest you have forgotten il. !
AprH %, 1S73-My dear Belle: | was j
Orry when l met you at Bridgeport not to ]
AVE a longer talk with YOU about themeet-
ng in MAY. | do not intend to make any
peeches on any topic during anniversary
week. | shall be out of town. l do not
want you to take any ground this year eX-
ept on suffrage. You know my sympathy
With you; probably yOu and are nearer To-
ether than any of our family. / can't give
he reason now. am clear; still you viii :
OllOw your own judgment. / thank YOU
or your letter. OF something l neither I
ak nor viii be talked with. For love
nd sympathy l am deeply thankful. The
,nly help that can be grateful to me or
lseful is silence, a silencing influence on
II Others. A day may come for converse.
{ is not now. Living or dead my dear
lister Belle loves me. Do not talk about
ne or suffer Others to God love 7
nd keep you. God keep us all, your low
ne brother, II. W. BEECHER.
NO italics are indicated in the above,
ut Belle proceeds:
The underseOring is his own. When |
sad that horrible story that he begged for 5
few hours notice that he might kill him
elf, nv thoughts flew back 10 the sentence,
rhlch suggested suicide 10 me the I
moment read. Living or dead,
ny dear sister, love me- Can't you |
o to brother Edward At once, give him I
hese letters and tell him what / tell you.
When yOu have cOunseled together rs
rOthers should, also come 10 me if you
an. II looks as if he hoped to buy my
Hence with my love. AT present, Of
curse, / shall keep silence, but truth is 4
carer than all else, and if he will not
peak it in some way, / cannot always /,
tand as cOnsenting 10 a lie. God help us !
II. NOUrS in love. BELLE.