The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-08-04

IL mas Deen reported quite generally
in the papers of the West, and in our
columns also, that a gentleman in
Missouri had secured the services of
Henry Ward Beecher to deliver a
series Of lectures during the present
season in certain cities in the West.
Encouraged by these reports, p. H.
Bristow. of Des Moines. Secretary of
the Central Iowa District Fair Soci-
ETY.. addressed Mr.. Beecher, soliciting
him to deliver an address at the an
pua! exhibition to be held at Des
Moines in September. The letter was
answered by Mrs. Beecher, and below
we publish it, copied from the Iowa
State Register ofthe 23d. 1t will be
seen that it is not probable Mr..
Beecher will lecture this season at all
in the West. But we republish Mrs.
Beecher's letter for the purpose show
ing her undiminished trust in the
purity and nobility of her husband,
after such attempts to crush him as
have rarely been met aud baffied by a
public man. Until the late trial little
had been known beyond the immedi-
ate circle of Plymouth Church and
her neighbers, in Brooklyn, of the
wife of the great preacher. It was
her husband whom that large and
eager throng of church goers, each
Sunday morning. for twenty five years
had gone to see and hear, and whose
praises were upon every tongue. Who
his wife might be; whether che was
his equal, mentally, religiously, or
socially; whether she was happy or
unhappy; living contentedly IN her
pride Of children and husband, or rest
lively, under possible neglect, the great
mass of Mr.. Beecher's admirers did
not seem to know nor care. But when
the great trial wherein his moral
Christian character was tested before
the whole world was ended, that pale
faced, white haired wife and mother
who for six months. without an alb
sence for day, had faced Judge, jury,
witnesses. plaintiff. and that intense
throng of spectators from all quarters
Of the globe, showing by every token
of look, gesture, and word, her un-
shaken faith in the honor and the
Christian virtue of her husband
took full rank as the equal of Henry
Ward Beecher, and woman worthy
of all the eulogy ever poured forth in
prose or poetry in honor Of Spartan
or Roman devotion in womanhood.
The letter to Mr.. Bristow was as
follows:
PEEKsKILL, N. Y, July II, 1875.
PHI. Bristow, Esq, Des Moines, Iowa.
DEAR SIR: In reply to yours Of the
18th, Mr.. Beecher desires me to say
that there seems to be a general mis-
apprehension about his going West
this fall, in September.
Mr.. Beecher cannot travel or lec-
ture in September on account of the
"hay cold" Early in August he is
compelled every year to leave our
home and 90 to the White Mountains,
where he is obliged to remain till the
last week of September. and thus
escapes his enemy. Arrangements
were partially made last fall for Mr..
Beecher to lecture in some part of
the West. under the direction of
lecture bureau; but as you are aware,
all such plans were broken up by the
trial, which for six months, kept him
daily in the courtroom.
1t is quite uncertain if Mr.. Beecher
will lecture at all this season at any
great distance from his home duties.
If he does, the places will be left en-
tirely to the discretion Of the bureau,
and relieve him from that care. It
will, therefore, be wise for you to se-
cure his services through some such
medium in case he is able to go West
at all.
Thanks for your kind congratula-
tions. An unanimous verdict would
have been gratifying and only small
justice, in view of the most vile and
wicked ISLANDERS against the purest,
cleanest- hearted man that the sun
shines on, and after the tortures Of
six months in that courtroom. But
niue against three, and that three be-
ing such as they were, together with
the disclosures of the perjury OF the
Loeder and Price wretches, is consid-
cred here equal to what the full vim
dication would have been had the jury
given their verdict without leaving
their seats. l have no fears but that
even in this life my husband will
stand acquitted before all men-save
such characters as those who have
plotted against him. and even they
know that he is guiltless.
Yours respectfully,
Mrs. H. W. BEECHER.