The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-03-27
Beecl,er on the South.

WASHINGTON, March 10.-In his lee.
ture on "A Circuit of the Continent"
which Mr. Beechel delivered here last
night, he frankly confessed the surrender
of many misapprehensions relative to
the conditions and prejudices of the
Southern people. During his stay IN
the South he frequently spoke of the
nleasant impressions which had been
made on him both by his kind reception
and by his observation of the new South
ern civilization. These utterances were
considered as influenced in some measure
by his surroundings and present sympa-
thies. They have, however, only been
emphasized by the deliberate, we'll dl.i
oested opinions formed in the retrospect
of his visit. He left New York and
travelled West to San Francisco over the
Northern Pacific, of which great enter
prises he and Horace Greely were among
the first promoters. From San Francis
co he cane down through the Southwest
to the Gulf, thence back to York along
the Atlantic coast, making literally
circuit of the continent on about as large
a scale as possible. He travelled over
1S 0OO miles and was absent from Brook.
lyn l22 days, not one of which was rainy
where he was. His outline of the scenes
along his great circuit and the dsscrlp-
ton of the great resources OF the NORM.
west we're in Beecher's strongest. But
no part of his lecture was so entertain
ing as what he had to say of the South;
Said he: "For q long time VIM. Lloyd
Garrison, Wendell Phillips and l were
the most hated men in the South. NOW
all that is past. saw no trace OF 1t on
this visit. New Orleans was the first
real Southern city / visited, and there l
met warm welcome. | found lntelil-
renee, kindness aud hospitality on every
Side. As | progressed through the South
I continued to find these things wherev-
er went. The condition of the country
is most hopeful in every sense. l saw
evidences of this fact in Savannah, At
lanta, Macon, Augusta, Charleston
everywhere. Macon and Augusta "a, are
the TWO pret,iest cities l ever saw. Inc
people of the South are just as much
reconstructed and just as patriotic as the
people of the North. Everywhere
among tue Southern people is pervad-
inr love OF the Union. They are as
proud of this country as the Norlh Is.
They are ready to defend it and to CO.
operate in any great movement Tor Its
advancement. They are as eager TOR
EDUCATION, and are building up a great
educational system. They are honestly
in favor OF educating the negroes, and
are dol ly it," Mr.. Beecher elaborated
these poin.s with his usual force. He
said that he was proud of The South, and
that no man could tell what lis future
would bring forth. I never heard him
speak more eloquently. 1t was pleas
ure to see a man of his great mind lay
aside all the prejudices of his life and
honestly utter his convictions among
people who had shared his mistaken
views. He has been fearless always in
Speaking what he believed. Ills word as
to the real condition of affairs in the
South, Us to the real sentiments ana
aim* Of its people will stand against the
fnry of thousand cheap demagogues
whcse prominence in the North is
achieved only by keeping alive the pas
sions tina, ali good and intelligent men
il all scctlons wish to see buried forever.
-Cocciak to .Atkunta Constitution.