The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-29
MR., BBBoHBR,s OPPBNsB.

Mr. Beecher has Christmas present and
New Years joy He was warned to 'let up
on Blaine, and in response waged more bit
ter war. Now, to gladden. the holidays of his
seventy first year, comes the intlmatlon that
the men who supported him in the storm Of
Tilton's prosecution will wreck his church and
send him adrift in the day of the triumph of
the cause he espoused By like seeming
paradox, in this defeat he may win his highest
honor. To a younger and less famous man
such martyrdom would be commonplace.
For the man who has grown hoary in serving
Brooklyns most aristocratic congregation and
gained the title, 'the worlds greatest preach
er, to be Thrown out of work for standing
by what he believed right is about the only
event that could place him higher in the
worlds gallery of heroes. 1t is singularly
fitting that the champion of free thought
should be the victim of puritan intolerance
which it is our boast has been nearly outhved.
Louisville Commercial.
The Commercial puts a wrong interpreta-
ton upon the attitude of Mr.. Beecher's pro-
testing parishioners. His offense in the recent
campaign was less against the Republican
party than against the church and the cause
of good morals. Not content with rushing to
the aid of Mr. Cleveland, he must parade the
claim that Cleveland's offense against morality
must not operate to his prejudice. With no
disposition to open an old sore or to parade the
Nations shame, we feel justified in condemn
ing Mr. Cleveland's effense every time it is
apologized for or put forward at the expense
of national self-respect. Mr.. Beecher was not
content with supporting Cleveland on polit-
ical principles, but must proclaim his personal
sympathy because of the charge of social i'm
morality, a charge at once unqualifedly
admitted by him. The action of MIR.
Beecher was as though he wished to
place himself in the same moral boat with the
Democratic nominee, and then to challenge
criticism We do not recall that the great
Brooklyn divine, at any time, in any way, ad-
mitted that Mr. Cleveland had even erred.
On the contrary, in brazen defiance of public
opinion, and utterly needless Of its necessary
effect upon public morality and upon the ris
ing generation, he seemed rather to rejoice in
the fact that man had been nominated
WHO QWelL uuueF lHe SIduOW VI u
crime similar to that laid at his
own door in years past. The members
of Mr. Beechers church are, we think, justi-
fed in expressing their Indignation at such
prostitution of a moral teacher, seeking
rather to make sin respectable than to clear
himself of its faint The members of his
church have very much of its responsibility
on their shoulders They saw fit to stand by
him when he was prosecuted for an infamous
offense, but they do not feel that he can rea-
sonably expect them to follow and hold up his
hands when he apotheosizes such a wrong.
1t does not appear that they have "conspired'
to break down Plymouth Church or its ven
cradle pastor If they see fit, However, to
Withdraw their Endorsement of Mr. Beecher
when he becomes the defender of hbertinism
and the slanderer of the pure men and women
of an entire State we do not sea how excep
ton can be taken to their course.