The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-10-27
prEcunn ANppLYMouTn CHURCH

4 Scnthing Review OF the Great beechef's
GA is Attitude Towards blaine.
The following communication appeared
in the Brooklyn Tines, addressed to the
editor;
In paper Of recent date I read With
moro than pushing interest the following
statement copied from the Hartford
Courdnt: IN 1860 Dir. Beecher In his
speech In Cleveland, Ohio, for n day
abandoned his loyalty to the cause Of the
the towntrodden negro, bu! lie was
speedily recalled TO that loyalty by m EN-.
phatic dissent from Plymouth Church. In
the present yehf, also, Mr.. Deecher has
suffered another, Cleveland to beguile
him, and Tor some reason has parted coin.
pany with TINT Republican pnrty which
hu hAs SO nightly contributed to create"
Now, while there has been no corporate
official expression OF dissent OH tho part
Of Plymouth Church in regard to tho
present singular attitude OF its pastor, !
know that many OF its lcadins aud intlu-
entail members arc very much dissatis-
fled with tho course which Mr.. Beccher
las taken with tho present political CAM
pnigh; a course wholly inconsistent with
his lifelong teachings, and at utter vari-
ance with his most solemn public dcclara-
tons. Ef
Many of his warmcst friends cannot for
get the fact that while no is vainly trying
to injure the public reputation OF James
G. Blaine, heis at the same time attempt-
Ing to make the people believe TINT
Grover Cleveland Is a manly honorable
and excellent man, Notwithstanding he Is
openly charged by the press OF his own
city with crimes very closely allied In their
nature to these for which tie people OF
Plymouth Church contributed over one
hundred thousand dollars in defense Of
their spiritual advisers ussailed, but un-
satisfactorily vindicated character.
1t is arrange that Mr.. Beechcr should
desert the party which by tongue and pen
he has SO largely and grandly helped 10
call into being.
It Is stranger still that he should find q
political home in u purity which he has SO
long, long, loudly, and bitterly cursed, but
that he should cspousc tho election OF
Grover Cleveland to tho oiIiccof President
OF the United States is wholly inexpli.
cable, save Oh the hypothesis advanced by
foe and heard with deep modification BY
friends every day and everywhere that:
"A fellow feeling makes us wondrous
kind" or by the application Of the princi.
pie involved in the yet more oft repeated
saying: Birds Of y feather lork to.
gc,hcr." g.5,5; .i.s.. lfs
AS great men are not always wise" so
! it " Mr.. Beecher' s misfortune that he, too,
often takes counsel Of the ungodly and
foolish man, instead OF seeking instruction
from the wise and prudent. As he has
suffered for his follyin the past, so he will
again receive iolly's sure reward.
Like So many other men esteemed by
the world as great and wise, Mr.. Bcecher
has drawn around him men who are
neither safe nor prudent counsellors. That
this has been MIR. Beccller's experience in
the past, it is only necessary to recall the
history OF the past. That he is surrounded
to-day by men whose cotinscls arc neither
wise nor safe, and who detract brightness
from his fame, instead OF adding lustre to
1t, is known to all conyersant with the in
terror workings OF Plymouth Church.
Among his most intimate friends are
Thomas G, shcarman, Esq, and General
lIoratio G. King. OF their. private reputa-
ton, which SO far as know is above re-
proach, ] 10 not propose to speak, but OF
their public acts and utterlnces, | have
the right and propose to criticisc them.
Now, while Mr.. Thomas G. Shearman may
be IN able exponent OF the English no.
tons OF free trade and cheap labor, as well
rs Of that very wonderful and truly orisi-
nal idea that the wealth Of a nation is in
proportion to the amount it owes, and fit
representative Of that class OF attorneys
who understand how 10 protect clients in
their attempts TO steal the revenues OF
great public corporations, l submit that he
does not truly eXeniplify the interior and
spiritual life OF Plymouth Church.
As to General Horatio G. King, he may
be thoroughly well yersed in military tao
tics, but when he undertakes to excuse /.
hrinous crime committed at the mature
age Of forty yenrs by n man thought by
the Democratic party to be wise enough to
I'LL the high office OF President OF the
United States, on the plea OF incxperieuce
and the indiScretions OF early youth, FUR
minded and right thinking men will natu.
rally and justly question his loose notions
concerning private and public morals, and
yet Thomas &. Sherman and Iloratio G..
King stand in closer relations to- Mr..
Deecher than do any other members OF his
congregation, and it is the shcercst non
sense to say. Us some have. already ex.
pressed themselves, that Mr.. Bceclter's
political attitude is not influenced. 10 a
greater or less degree by these very men.
In common with others, 4 admire Mr..
Bcecher's wonderful genius, and am deep.
ly sensible OF the great good that he has
accomplished III his day and generation,
but because OF his transccndent abilities
and because lie has been icalled 10 be Il
| teacher OF men,, all the more is he sacredly
bound to defend the truth, the right, and
good morals. n. 10. :,eI.ilG ,.t.is
No man questions Mr.. Reechers right
to act with that party into which his free
trade proeliyities naturally lead him, but
every man who looks up to him as Il
moral teacher has the right to question
his present attitude towards the standard
bearer Of the Democratic party. AS my
guide and instructor in spiritual things, I
have the right to, and do demand, why he
should exert his great influence in elevat-
ing to the office. OF Chief Magistrate OF this
great nation, man adjudged by the cler-
gymcn Of the city in which he dwells as
grossly immoral, not twelve yearsago, but
now. Furthermore it is my right 10 ask,
and / do ask, why it is. that Mr.. Beechcr
! is SO swift to accept OF the biased state
ment OF oneof the Governors staiToliiccrs,
when he is so slow to believe lin the un-
biased testimony OF condemnation of so
many OF his ministerial brethren in tho
city OF Buffalo? SO, q,
Instead OF sending the Chief Captain Of
the band up TO Albany ID inquire into tho
coniessedly licentious conduct Of the Gov
ernor, it'wolild have been wiser in Mr..
Beecher after having lookcdupon the bull.
nccked, hanging jaws, distenling nostrils
and Henry the Eighth cast Of countenance
OF His Excellcrcy, aud remembering the
fact that he was leading a bachelor life
away from tho refining and controlling in
huence, OF .virtuous women, to: have ac-
cepted tho truthiulness Of the statement
ma,le by his brethren, and then sent IN
ambassador to, Albany withGthis Pauline
message: ut is GOOD not 10 marry, Int Il