The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-10

BSk8ftko&SyBt9@ SS8k1 Apta7
sllanth reEfsta no, und der the cover III h1
fmanft arinnfsm and liberty, took axay ths
sfrfgbts Of the South that they might reap per
tsonai gnfn and wnfioWs ID fsate CORRUPTION
II No faith beucefOfth 10 northern philanthr0
fpyy or thB sincerity of disinterested peneFo-
Hence. Beechsr being q Republican, more.
fofer, bis Sin is charged by Democrats to bis
ublicanism, and proves to them The gen.
teral corruption of the ReI ublican party. II
twill no doubt be made use Of in the coming
tcampnign ilton,s statement being used as
ia campaign document, Democratic journals
him guilty than the Republican journals,
iabout Fernando Wood or some other Demo-
Icratic leader. They will nseiit to prove the
Ecustom-honse frauds, the need of ciYilser-
vice reform, and of tbe5repealing of the re-
|construction acts. Had Beecher been less
of Republican, be would have been more
continent, but now 1t is certain that the i've
Juveniles ought to be paid in greenbacks.
As.Beecher was great reformer iu almost
every sense, the cause Of reform must suffer
in general for bis supposed sin. His conser.
yatiye opponents will insist that bis reform.
ling procliyities have led him to neglect the
ordinary duties of chastity; that new
theories supplapted in his mind the necessi-
ty OF attending to the old virtues that it
would be better for people not to go too
fast, to be more conservative; that progress
Is generally retrogression; that the old ways
are best, and that everything new is like
ly to carry corruption with it. Reformers
have always been theoretical, and now they
are proved to be Ubiquitous. In short, 1t is
the cause of reform that has sinned in Bee
cher, aud Wemnst guard against reformers.
As, therefore, the old-time churches, so the
old-time political and social conservatives
take comfort and courage at the fall of Bee
cher; and all little folks spring upon him
and dance the dance of victory over his
body, seeing that the mighty Samson is now
disarmed whom they had so long feared but
could not Stay. Hail to the Dellah that has
put him in their power!
And not only the cause Of reform in gene.
raj, but of every special reform in psrlcu-
lar will be charged with and will suffer for
his offence. Freedom, religious liberty, ar
bitration, socialism, female suffrage. all must
bear the brunt and suffer the misfortune of
bis fall.
The Englishman and the foreign moralist
generally will attribute Beecher's fall to his
a oul luSlllutIonS dlC dG iuoil.
Beecher is the representative American, the
pure type of Republican self-reliauce, 'show:
ing at once the advantages and the fatal de-
felt Of the American SYSTEM" They draw
from it an argument against republicanism,
against the separation Of Church aud State,
and against emigrauts leaving their country
for The United States. They see in it the fall
of the greatest preacher of America, the repre-
sentative of American religion, American
morality, and American politics. American
preaching is, therefore, a failure, American
religion defective, American morality vicious
and American politics corrupt. In short,
our nation will be judged by foreigners and
pronounced against By each in that. respect
which he has most against US, or most to fear
from rs.
In conclusion, we may say that the fall of
Beecher, in as far as it is fall, is particularly
unfortunate for almost every good cause, see.
ing that he was identified with almost every
one, and prominent champion and repre-
sentative Of it. There is no interest of HUI
manity that he has not espoused. Every en-
envy can, therefore, choose the point in
which he will make his attack, seeing that
his fall causes breach along the whole line.
We have discussed this matter on the sup
position of Mr.. Beecher's guilt>and scarcely
need say that we have an earnest belief that
be is innocent, and that he will be able to
prove that iunocency SO clearly as to set at
rest the sneers and accusations of all the
classes referred to.