The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-06
Henry Ward HccChcr.

No one hut person OF great fpparcy
or great malignty can regard the moral
rum which has ovcrtakcn this renowned
preacher and highly gifted man with other
than sorrowful feelings When the lion
tumblcs into the pitfal and faint with
hunger slowly dies, iackal- and vulturcs
hover around to feast on the carcass. Willie
gibbeIng apes turn somciScis in the
overhangiug boughs. But when n strong
man, raised by mental cudowments above
the mass of men, stnmbles 10y the way and
falls prone, the Observer can only grieve
that the head which was lately borue 20
high now lies so low in the mire.
Henry WARD BEECuFR is Il sort Of man
10 command mems attachment and pro-
woke their admiration. lie holds all his
INTEL, ctual forces obcdirnt to his will.
His Imagination is copous, his insight
poetic, his sympathics strong and ready,
and his opinions broad aud catholic.
Though not q graceful orator. after the
manner Of WENDELL PnuLfPs. for in
stance, yet Mr.. BEEcHER Is wonderfully
able one. At times he has produced
really grand effects, and there Is always
something in his virilc uttciance which
compels respect He gives every heareI
the impression OF manliness, vgor.
and power and superiority to the ri.
fling affairs which afict or dsarm
fcebler natures. His physical proportions
ftly correspond TO his mental. ana no
one who has seen him striding about
his pulpit platform or along the lyceum
stage, can fail 10 re-pect the force of the
man. During the heat of the anti-slavery
struggle, Mr.. BEECHER often did splendid
thing. lie fought the enemy with the
proves Of gladiator, and evidently re-
joiced rs a strong man in conflict. Many
people will remember that night at the
old Broadway Tabernacle when, snatching
some fetters brought from Kansas he
flung them to the floor and stamping on
them, declared that thus he trol slavery
under foot. II was n dramatic effect
worthy Of a great actor ana was the i'm
pulse Of the moment. Both orator and
audience were thrilled at the oulhuIst, and
II was easy TO see that Mr.. BrEcHER ex-
perienced that highest JOY that can come
to gifted man, in the successful employ
ment OF his faculties in the direction in
which they are best adapted to work.
The waning of such man, the ebbing
his talents, the SCATTERING of his influence,
and the clouding Of his fame, afford occa
sion for lamentation among all generous
Observers, for exultatiOn only among the
vile and depraved. And in the case Of
Mr.. BEECHER there is the more reason for
sorrow because lie has fallen ut the hands
OF foolish friends, false advisers, and feeble
partisans. a DELILAH cut his hair, aud
his friend smotc him,
Ii is to the credit of Mr.. BEECHER that he
cnnnot succeed in playing the part of du-
phcity. He was by nature an honest
man, hating lying ana de,pisinG trckery,
repellcd by lncanncs. aud inspired by
noble sentiments. Though not of very fine
grain, he Is still capable OF delicate ap-
probation, his scnsuous nature delights IN
beauty, and his mind is quick to appIehcnd
the products OF genius. There is great
stamina about all he does. 1t has that
quality Of vigor and individuality which
distinguishes the outeivings of superior
minds. His letters brought out by the
scandal, and written with the uurescrye of
confidential correspondence, barring some
extravagauces, are in themselves evidences
that their writer is a man OF remarkable
faculty. His own ana his counsel's pitt
ful efforts 10 torture out OF them prepos.
ferrous meaning were defeated by the plain
puport Of the language, and the eloquent
expression II gave TO the mental sunerngs
Of man of a strong and proud nature
confronted by weakness and misdeeds
Mr.. BEEcuER's decisive error was In tax
ing 70 his aid men so small, poor, and NEAR
rs sHEARMAN, the tricky lawyer, and the
little knot OF brethren who have doggeC
his footstepA His case was too grave fol
treatment with quack medicines. Yet tn,
eiminutive lawyer was SGT TO the tasl
Oh manipulating pubao opinion ans