The Portland daily press., 1875-07-14
CONFIDENCE IN MIR. BEECHER
Tke PeekskiII People Wait Upon
Him.
Mr.. Beecher's Reply to their Express
si0nS Of Confidence.

NEW YORK. July 13.-A large number of
people, under escort of a band Of music and a
military company, waited on Henry Ward
Beecher last night at Peekskil. Judge Wells
iu a speech assured Mr. Beecher that the occa-
sion was an expression by the citizens of Peeks-
kill of their confidence in him. In response,
Mr.. Beecher said:
He could scarcely be approached in way
more tenderly touching to his heart and feel
ings by his fellow citizens 1t was his hope to
die there in Peekskill and be buried in their
midst He said his life had been spent in an
ambition to make his fellow men better and in
being an honest man. This l have done by the
help of God.
l IN. Ike the assertion more emphatic because
not few newspapers seem to think l have
done it by the help and permission of newspa-
pers, but have done it in spite of them. L
don't ask that they should care fer me. My
future is in the keeping of the Lord God, to
whom my mother directed me, and 1 should
like to know who is going to stop my mouth
with a muzzle, or my hand that it cannot
write, if it is given to me to say things which
men want to hear, and to write things which
make men better. Every man that is man,
that has help and courage and patience, and
that is right at heart and head, has his future
in his own hands (applause) ask no but
tressing, ask no advantage Simply let me
alone and will take care of the rest. You
have attended, SIR the trial through which
have gone. Well, L left that behind me so
long ago that feel as the Israelite would have
felt when, after going over the Jordan, some
one had talked of the misery of the Red Sea
passage. 1 went through the Red Sea- but it
was long time ago. The fact is, gentlemen.
that about 1870 and 1871, and for three or four
years, had to go through pretty deep waters
at times, but kept it to myself. A revelation
of it to mankind came within a year. but had
got through it. 1 am receiving :scores and
hundreds of letters, coucbed in the most earn
est and affectionate coincidence for the fiery
trial through which am going, but bless you,
the ashes of that fire were scattered long ago.
l am gaining in strength aud elasticity of body.
1 am all right. (Applause.)
He then referred to the scandal and compli
| mented the legal gentlemen connected with the
| case for making as little exposure of it as
| possible, and said the whole world has seen
how man, not upheld by his sect, assaulted
| by the newspapers, by cunning and experienced
| men, brought into court on most infamous
| charge, having arrayed against him the best
| legal talent that the city and country afforded,
| has stood under the charge Now, because
was an honest man was able to stand up. and
| maintain myself against this extraordinary
| persecution. 1t has been the force that lay il
| my character for honesty that protected me
| 1t is that that saved me.
| He then referred to the letters from different
Baptist, Episcopalan and Catholic clergymen
and the fact that he had been prayed for in
Christian households, which had made him
happy. AS to the future he said he had nc
new course to take. 1 am too old to change
my position. 1 shall go on trusting men.
have followed that doctrine all my life, ant
only once in forty years have made mistake
l shall 60 on trusting men, (applause) 1 shall
love men. [ shall not stop to think of then
faults before love them. II man is good,
shall love him because he is good. If he j:
bad, shall love him because he needs it,
propose to go on with my work, confident in
men, not preaching merely the difference be-
tween right and wrong; but this 1 shall preach
that there is no justice, no severity. no punish
ment, that are good unless they are admins
tered in the spirit of love.
He then referred to the trial again, saying
the expenses of the trial have been enormous
enough to bankrupt country minister (glanc
| ing at the three or four ministers in the crowd
five times over, and would have destroyed me
but for Plymouth church. and even with thei
help shall barely get through, for the expense.
| of the trial to me have been over $4,000. Or
the other side they have been very large, bu
they have got no money to pay them with
| daughter He closed by thanking his fellow
citizens of Peekskill for the manifestation Of
| their confidence.
Chauncey Depew made few remarks
| assuring Beecher of the love of all the people
| in Peekskill, after which there was hand.
| shaking with Beecher, and the assembly broke
| up.