National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-14
His Proper Place.

While we do not believe in the theory
attributed to an emin ent American writer,
viz that old men become childish and
mischievous, and ought to be put under
proper restraint, 1t must be confessed that
the recent utterances of the Rev. Henry
Ward Beecher, as published in the New
York World, furnish q strong argument
in favor of tho truth of the theory. Mr..
Beecher says
voted against Folger for whom personally
I entertain a great respect, because l did not
like the way they treated Cornell.
What perfect reason! What incompar-
ablo logic He punished Mr.. Folger be.
cause some one else abused Mr.. Cornell.
A queer application of tho doctrine Of
vicarious atbnement!
Mr.. Beecher is not satisfied with this
fexhibition, but loudly proclaims that he
is republican and shall work and vote
or the democratic candidate for the pres
idency. Listen to his confession of faith !:
"As to the platform, I am willing to accept
1t as so fur better than the monstrous one
adopted by the republicans as to be worthy of
positive commentator"
When Mr.. Lincoln issued his proclama-
tion abolishing slavery few men who
had fought in the union ranks trans
ferrcd their allegiance to the confedoracy
and as bravely endeavored to destroy the
union as they had previously tried to
uphold it. What were those men when
they turned their arms against the union
Union men? They would have scorned
the name. They were honest in their
convictions, and to them names were
nothing, principles everything.
Contrast such men with Mr.. Beecher.
They abandoned their comrades and their
| flag and endeavored to destroy the gov
ernment they had before fought to main
tain. When they transferred their alle-
glance they claimed nothing of all they
had left behind them. Had they remained
in the union camp, sowed treason in the
ranks where they stood and in time OF
action fred upon their own comrades
they would have been just such union
men as Mr.. Beecher and his followers arc
republicans.
Such union men could have said that
they desired and would work for the
success of the confederate cause in order
to save tho union, just as Mr.. Beechei
says.
1 am republican and am opposed to Mr.
Blaine because think that his election would
be the most damaging thing for the republican
party that could occur.
1t has been claimed that there is such
thing as moral idiocy, and Guiteau was
pointed to as proof of the doctrine. II
can certainly be claimed, with equal
truth, that there is such a thing ,as po-
litical idiocy, and Mr.. Beecher bids fair
to equal the most astounding efforts oi
democratic leaders in illustrating the
truth of the assertion.
No reasonable man will question Mr.
Beecher's right to cast in his lot with any
political party he may select, but every
honest man will Indignantly deny
his right to call himself republican
while he is doing all in his power to pro-
mote the success of the democratic party
Mr. Beecher believes in democratic prin
ciples, works for democratic candidates
and insults all good republicans by claim
ing to be one of them. If he is too much
ashamed of his new party associates to be
classed with them, and lacks the decenc.
and honor to give up the name of repub
lican. there should be no hesitation il
drumming him out of camp. He is not
republican.