The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-05
THE LOSS AND THE GAIN. /"


DIERs' HOME FOR NEW YORK STATE.
Last night the Rcv. Henry Ward Beecher lectured
upon the above subject to immense and enthusiastic
audience, in the Academy OF Music, Brooklyn The
lecture review OF the losses and the gains all
sections OF the United States caused by the late war;
In the way OF losses the chief dwelt upon by the
speaker the enormous loss Of Ife the
destruction OF property vast social disorganization
prejudiccs envenomed. and certain grave evils Of
subtle character The gains summarized wera:-
The recovery the nations moral scnso the death OF
sectional legislation; the establishment OF mutual
respect between tho contending sectons the distri
button Of wealth in the South; the removal Of grave
danger the manhood OF tho North; the better
understanding Of Me feeling and patriotism OF tho i'm
migrants
For time previous to the lecturers appearance
the house was crowded in every part. Upon coming
forward he greeted with tumuuous cheering,
again and again cwed He was introduced, IL such
a term be proper in the case to tho audience by
Captain Tanner, of the committee who stated that
there fear Of the results OF their efforts that
Hercules had put his shoulder to the wheel They
had determined that the soldiers OF the Grand Army
should not be obliged TO live In homes out
side this State, and their repeated appeals
to the Legislature had been in vain, the officers OF the
Grand Army had determined to about the matter In
another way. An offer OF 1sS OF land had been
rendered them near Montauk Point There they would
build soldiers hone o On behalf Of BROOKLYN they
this night they not able to pledge hc for $4,000
After brief but stirring address Captain Tanner INTRO
duced the Rev He1ry Ward Beecher who was received
with tremendous applause.
THE LgcrrRI.
The reverend gentleman opened his remarks by say.
ing that the of his pubic Lille had always
becn his privilege and his joy his
whatever talents God might have gwen him in favor Of
the needy and the helpless. He remembered the time
when there more excitement than evnced
there that evening whom the tide Of popular feel
tttpx lofrr
more in earnest than that occasion when they
met together for the purpose Of succorng those whose
they had done the country. That night reminded him
somewhat Of tho scenes which Immediately followed
the firing on Sumter; and the scenes OF those days
naturally recalled the days OF the war; just the
bringing back OF the MANNED and invalided heroes OF
the struggle prompted HIM to ask tho question what
had been the loss and what the gain caused to the
nation by that terrible contest, and whether these
had achieved anything which constituted the
nation and more especially the State OF New York,
He would answer tina. there were many lessons
taught by the war which 1t would be great loss both
to and to postcrity not to ponder The
had indeed inflicted tremendous losses, as Is always
the case with It. War; even when most just and IN
evitablc, Is terrible calamity an awful remedy and
betokens whatever the glitter and show accompanying
II, low state Of civilization. In contcmplat-
ing tho subject the mind naturally adverted first
10 the prodgous loss of life loss which statistics i'm
perfectly represent nasmuch as they left out OF the
account all the lingering sickness which eventually
ended in DEATH The loss Of million OF men from
population like ours s an enormous The loss Of
life itself but represented portion OF th" real loss in
volvcd where such multitude Of beads and arms
withdrawn from the Avocatons Of peace This
point was dwst upon At some length.
The second loss consisted OF tho almost incouceva-
BILE destruction wrought by the struggle The very
pense Of the material required for carrying the
test enormous. Then came the utter ruin brought
upon industry Of every description the portions OF
the South where tho armies operated In calculating
tho North The South, which today one with
us, had lost and spent an amount equal
the cost Of the war was at least eight thousand mil
lions OF dollars In this would be included the ut
ter dcsoaton and destruction OF the vast estates Of the
South and all they contained that could DO destroyed
No States In the world were absolute bank
ruptcy and ruin than those OF the South
by the STRIFE the bitter and envenomed hatred which
ensued between citizens and even members OF tho
family. Add to this the losses In religious
Of vicw which can hardly be ovcrcstimated.
Bey ond these there certain grave evils 0f o
more subtle character which had boon gradually per-
vadng the country ever since the struggle. among
which ight be enumerated the expansion OF the cur
rency the stimulation Of avarice, the creation Of nc
the unscttlement Of the counlry's industry
by tho feverish .overproducton OF all
should be remarked that instead Of being bad signs
the present sagnaton oil trade and the universal pres
sure, the period OF distress through which going
really Signs OF the nations convalcsccnce after
long and acute fever. The present inaction Is there
fore good necessary 10 perfect restoration OF the
patient 10 health. These evils obvious, but they
not any greater than are usually incurred by
tons IN such an uphcavai as accompanied the destruc
rho irs victory which was the fruit OF tins porten
tous struggle the restoration of the moral
OF the nation. The North had, IN large measure,
pandered TO the pro slavery feelings and IDEAS Of the
South, because Of the great business interests which
at stake. Here the lecturer graphically
youth and early manhood when any ono
In the North favoring liberty, especially In
the case o. ns IsS ana an Su
and ELECTS OF legislation where the interests OF
Que section aud not of the whole country, we're con-
suited Selfish legislation, no contended would even
tuay defeat itself and ruin its promoters This doc
trne was very pointedy applied to New York.
Of AN era Of mutual respect The contempt OF the
North Tor the south, and reciprocay, had given way
to feeling OF mutual respect, ,nasmuch as each had
learned what the other could do. splendid tribute
paid by the speaker to the ability OF the Southern
generals and the lndomtable vaor OF the southern
audience with great chccring) Further, tho
wa, war had Is true, destroyed rich,
had distributed the wealth country among those
whose condition previous II had boon poverty
hindrancc; evenly distributed It great bcseht
The war had further removed IRON the North the
temptation of being morally emascuIatcd TO which the
youth OF the country had been exposed. They we're
selling their convictions pricc, they did
previous the This point was dwct upon at con
siderable length, and young mon without convictions
IRE, ambition generosity courage, &C. were very
roughly handled by The lecturer
A glowing tribute was next paid TO the foreigners
who having adopted this their country, had helped
preserve its unity ut the price OF their blood Tho
bearing and behavior OF the groes alluded 10
feeling terms Tho army OF surgeons nurses, chap
laius. nc, who had gone under IRE, and many OF whom
had sacrificed their lives, alluded in magnin
cent language Next the iuvincihe army OF
martyrs; the mothers VINO had gwen
what their heart held dearest 10 the country A
stirring appeal ended the lecture Al It's termination
q subscrlpti was opened at the Academy and sums
ranging from $500 10 SIS were promised, amounting in
all TO several thousand dollars,