Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-04
BEECHER'S THANKSGIVING
TALK.
lie Tells of His Late Trip
Through the Northwest and
SOuIh-The observation-disclosures
of the Far West


Elotihl W Ano puANN
New YORK, November pa basket
Of freshly culled flowers and luscious
fruit was the only decoration on the plat
form at Plymouth church to-day The
building was crowded 10 the aisles, and
many failed to obtain admission. Among
the causes for Thanksgiving, which Mr..
Beecher gave in his prayer, was the ma
tons freedom from foreign entange-
ments. He prayed especially for teach
ers, preachers, lecturers and editors.
Mr.. Bescher spoke upon his recent
Western trim. He said that he proposed
to give brief account Of the circle in
which he swung in his summer vacation.
1t included nearly the whole Of this
country. The survey would be rapid, and
of necessity, superficial He desired 70
say, also, that he besought people not TO
write him letters on the subject. He
could not answer the inquiries which
flooded him in regard to climates Of the
country.
On the line he travelled men who knew
how to work were wanted. Those who
did not know how should stay at home
Farmers, robust, energetic and much en-
during men were more needed than doc
tors, Lawyers, etc. Family reasons in
duced his visit and he had desired to sec
his own country. If he had his own way
no man should 20 to Congress who had
not seen the whole country. He desired
in particular 10 90 South, desire which
sprung up in the last twenty years
Laughter,l The time had come when he
could do II. In, his childhood there wert
100000 in the land, and now there wert
100000.
The West had gone farther and farther
away. In 1910 Chicago was in the North
west, and in 1860 st. Paul was North
west, and in 1880 Oregon and Washington
Territory were the Northwest. His route
Law in these States and Territories, in all
1900 miles, all on rail except few day.
on the water In giving seyenty-fve lee
lures he never missed a connection. ID
Travelled 122 days, and only one day o.
rain interviewed. The States in the Do
minion of Canada might or might moi
come in the Union, but it was blessing
to have such good ones on the borders.
On July 9th, Mr.. Beecher left home
and followed the sickle in the harvest
fields of the Northwest. His line Of tray
Ell was in the great wheat belt which was
one of the marvels of the world. II was
on each side of the dividing line between
the United States and the Dominion, west
Of the great lakes.
Mr.. Beecher spoke pleasantly of his ex-
periences. in the South, He spoke OF
Texas, the marvel Of the world in lis mag
nitude and its resources. No man could
form any idea of land until he Travelled
in Texas. The forests were few, and that
was amistake. An incredible population
was pouring into Texas, and it was de-
stined TO be an empire.
In all the cities where he lectured, he
was received with cordially, and the
managers were fully satisfied with the re-
eeipts of the lectures. He had warm,
personal reception. sympathetic and &C.
NAL. Besides the Texan cities he spoke in
he also lectured in New Orleans, Mont
gomery, Atlanta, Savannah, Charleston,
Macon and Augusta. There were great
many foolish people in the South with
old prejudices, but the more intelli-
gent and active people had sur
yived sectional feeling and the wal
was forgotten. In the whole the material
wealth. OF lle Doulu nhu uttl lNSup1io,
ted, and its wealth was on thousand
times more secure basis than before the
war. People who were asked if they
would have slavery restored, at every
place answered that they would not.
He had no more difficulty in addressing
the people in the South than here. Wher
he said General Butler was to be thu
Democratic candidate for President, anC
he desired TO go down to sec them vot
tor him, the audience was good naturet
and pleased. Manufacturing was spring
ing up in the South. Without protection
against the rivalry Of the North, the in
dustries were thriving. There was grea
interest in schools in the South. Thougl
they did not fare as well as they did here
they were being pushed with admirabl
prospects. The number Of churche
showed that society was being built up OIL
morality and intelligence. New Orlean
and Quebeck were the two most striking
cities In this land. The former ha'
regained It's ascendenoy as a metropolis
Other Southern cities are fast growing up
The poisonous silver was drawn out, AM
the nation was united and one.