The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-30
A BoUNDLESs DIsSEMBLER.
What Beecher Thought of the ''Party of His
tnric Imhecilitv, Six Months Ago.

What Beecher Thought of the ''Party of HIS
toric Imbecility" Six Months Ago.
To the Editor Of the indianapolis journal:
If Blaine is a continental liar'-to use a
Plymouth pulpit phrase-Beecher must be one
of proportions ''voluminous and vast like Mil
toms personiication of sin.
No longer ago than the 18th of last April this
"churish priest wrote a letter to the Chicago
Tribune, setting forth his views of protection
and discussing the merits of the two great parties
as if the Nations fate hung upon his mani
festo The egotism of this decrepit political
dotard is only equaled by his maudlin imbecil-
ity, as shown in his recent blubberng over
Cleyelands idiotic and indecent letter to Mrs.
Beecher Here is portion of H. W. BIS letter
to the Tribune. Speaking of the Republican
party, he said:
''It was the party of liberty as against slavery;
the party of free speech as against intolerance.
1t boldly faced the threat of secession and
elected Lincoln 1t had the courage to accept
the risks of war; rather than back down in the
face of Southern threats. 1t was baptized in
blood and proved worthy of its high calling. 1t
had wisdom and courage to rccompose the shat
tered columns of this Union, and give to it a
grandeur which has won the respect of the
world.
lit met the bloated currency which the war
had induced, and brought back the current with
in the appropriate bounds. 1t never was charmed
with the greenback system, but restored the
dissolute theories to virtue.
In short the Republican party has had the
courage to meet every issue which has arisen for
twenty five years without shutting evasion.
1t has had clean policy, and it has had that
supreme virtue of parties-couIage-eoura
| courage"
In response to the insinuating coquetry of GER
tain Democratic papers which were at that time
silly bidding for his sympathy, Dir Beecher con
tnued:
what ridiculous and monstrous folly it
would be to leave the Republican party because
it is vet blinded with protection, and 90 over to
the Democratic party, that has coquetted with
almost every evil which the war has swept away,
and which has not yet shown that it has learned
a single lesson from the grand struggle of the
last twenty-five years 1t has no faith in itself,
no unity in its measure. no wise leaders. 1t has
learned to construct platforms, and then to run
away from the only wise planks in them-ceur-
aeeous in words and cowardly in deeds.
''What am | asked to dot To 20 over from
the Republican party, that has had the courage
of its opinions, TO one that avows free trade prln
ciples and then plays comedy in Congress 10
carrying out their pretentious reforms; that has
no leaders that dare lose in good cause suffer
for their principles. When some bold advocate
of free trade arises among them like Waiter
son, he is knitted by hisown compatriots. When
the Democratic party shall have mission OF b.
! erty, as it had in Jeffersons day, or even in
L
| throw ridicule upon the name Of Democracy.
When Samson had slept in the arms OF
Delilah he had the grace of suicide given him.
But De mocracy. that lost its virtue in the DO
som of slavery blind and feeble yet prefers to
! grind in the prison house rather than seek an
honorable DEATH
Now read his late Brooklyn speech, and then
peruse the foowing-and you have Beecherism,
pure and simple;
"BRooKLYN, Jan l, 1871.
"In trust with #. p. MoutOn:
MY Dear Friend Moulton-1 ask through you
Theodore Tiltons forgiveness, and l humble
myself before him as 1 do before my God. He
would have been a better man in my circum
stances than | have been. | can ask nothing.
except that he will remember all the other hearts
that would ache. l will not plead for myself.
even wish that l were dead, but others must live
aud suffer will die before any one but myself
shall be inculpated, All my thoughts are run
ming toward my friends, toward the poor child
lying there and praying with her folded hands.
She is guiltess, sinned against bearing the
transgressons of another Her forgiveness
have. / humbly pray to God that He may put
it into the heart of her husband to forgive me.
81 have trusted this to Mouiton in confidence.
I'll. w. BEECHER."
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct %. j. o. o.