Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-08
Rcecher on the Great Crime.

In his sermon ut Plymouth Church, Brook
lyn, on Sunday, Henry'Ward Beecher spoke
of the great crime at Washington. as fol-
lows:
The first effect of such an astounding event
as this is apt 10 be confusion and fear. But
there is nothing to fear except the evils in
cident To prosperous times. Such is the ma
ture Of free, intelligent government by an
educated common people, that the strength
Of the government is not in itself at all. No
official taken away shakes the fabric. There
have been times when the ends of the earth
seemed to rest on single men. Such was
Moses to Israel. Washington to us. Crom-
well to England. Cavour to Italy, Bismarck
TO Germany. Theirs and Gambetta to France.
Were they taken. it would seem as if the
buttresses were gone and the bridge must
go, too. These are extreme cases. In our
history. when the war done. cur
proudest leader, our distinguished and
noble head, now our revered martyr
--Lincon-was taken, it seemed as il all
was at an end. But nothing suffered. We
have not planted power in any department
of government. The power is in the people
themselves. and they lend it. II the hand
using the power falls the power is left. The
nation stands four square, rs the pyramids
sand. But around it are as many men as
grains of sand around the Egyptian pyramids
Taking the head would not change one great
interest There would be no less ships to
sail or building on the stocks; warehouses
would be no fewer: wheels in factories would
be no less: the hand would work at the anvil
the same and the plough would scour in the
soil. Business would flow on with no check :
no school, academy or college would be put
out no church would be closed. The Ma
ton is broad. various. strong and immovable.
Until it rots at the stills by its own infdelity
and corruption it will stand as unmoved as
the mountains. We are spared anxiety from
national peril Other hands would take the
reins of government if death should relax the
hands now holding. Every department,
would go on the same, and all interests would
he advanced.
But there are lessons for the nation in this
II we review the days of passion and partisan
conflict as we now stand by the side of tn,
sufferer. we may learn much. We are likely
in the heat of politics. to DESTROY all reverenc,
for the Chief Magistrate. No man seek
position without losing reputation. and he il
fortunate if character is not lost also. II
this moment of sorrow we may see the evil o
exaggeration and the injury and wrong o
excess. Our fathers God is ours. On sucl
an OCCASION III seems proper W TecoSulZ'
Gods great mercy. Our feelings are ditferen
than at the time of Lincoln's assassination
Then we were in the dark and troubled perio,
Of the war. 4 storm was in the sky and
tremor in the earth. There was jus
occasion for apprehension and fear
But it passed; our grief did not, but on
fear did. There is no fear to-day. Twice il
so few wears has God plucked down the hea
of the government in widely different condi
tions. Then, in the war time the sky wa
overclouded; now there is no scud of clou'
in the sky The nation is secure and hspp,
in content and peace. This is the echo o
the stroke which took the crowned head il
Russia. In that anomalous people sprea'
abroad, of mixed races, in an inchoa,e con
dition, the stroke of death was precipitate'
on the Gar. 1t was squirt of lightning GU
Of the Russian storm-cloud. ever liable Il
send forth the lances Of death. But here w
were shut in from violence. with no strok
within or storm without 1t was wander
ing and wanton shot that struck. Ii cam
from no palace, no army, no subterranea'
depths, but from lunatic asylum came tina
arrow Of death. In our affection let on
prayers ascend to the God Of our fathers no
to forget US.