Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-31
BEECHER ON THE SOUTH.
PRAISE SHOWERED ON MASTER
AND SLAVE.


Carpet Baggers Blamed for Long Years
of disruIe-W cnderFuI Moderation of
the Freedmen and Unparalleled For-
bearance of the Whites-Hts Explana-
tiOn OF Why Suffrage was Bestowed.
LOUISVILLE, KY, March 30.-Rey.
Henry Ward Beecher lectured before a
large audience here tonight. In an in-
terVieW, to be published in the Courier
journal tomorrow, Mr.. Beecher gives his
views of the past and present relations of
the colored people:
First. The state of slavery in the South be-
fore the war, with all its sOftening, was an
evil and only an evil, both in It's effects upon
the blacks and whites alike, and was on the
whole, both in morals and in political econ
omy, exceedingly bad. A terrible price was
paid for the destruction of the slave system,
but it was worth to posterlGy hundred times
what it cost.
Second. The putting Of the vote into the
hands Of an ignorant race was an astounding
event in political history. 1t came not from
belief OF their fitness for suffrage, but from
conviction that it was necessary for their de-
tense.
WHY THE BALLOT WAS GIVEN.
The legislation of some Southwestern States
which, under the form of Vagranoy laws,
seemed intended to subject the coEored people
to essential slavery again. alarmed the North
and led to defensOry legislation; but aS1l2aeIOus
as was that faith in liberty in the outrage
which led the West and North to
give full citizenship and Political
power TO the emancipated, the resHlE has
shown that the ceaored people lla*8 not
misused the power. / must say that the
colored voting since the war has been fluffy as
wise as the white voting was before the war.
The cOl0red people Of the South after be-
coming citizens did not seek revenge nor
mischief. They intended well.
CARPET-BAGGERS TO BLAME.
1t was not their fault that many results
were evil 1t was bad enough for white citi-
zens to see late slaves led by foreign infiuence
1t might be political necessity. 1t was not
any less grievous to be borne by their White
fellOw-citizens. But where the emaneipated
were largely in excess Of white voters it
amounted in fact to a subjection of the
white people to the legislation Ofs the
cOlOred; and in those States whore
| the Legislatures were In the power Of the
late slaves, and where Northern men, not
always the Wisest, led them to foolish and
Wasteful legislation, increasing taxation and
squandering, the results of it plunging the
State deeply into debt by an unmerciful Issue
of bonds, it is not to be wondered at that
something like revolutionary methods were
adopted, and that self-defense led men to
violent resistance.
GOOD CONDUCT OF THE SLAVES.
Third. When at a little later period of MIS-
tory, no longer under the influence of violent
and heated passions, men shall sit in i'm
partial Judgment upon this whole movement
or quarter OF q century, these truths VIII
stand out prominently. The admirable conduct
OF the slave population during the war, IN
dustrious, orderly, humane and peaceful, their
great bravery when the North made them
part of the army, their good conduct aftCf
peace was established and their thirst for ed-
ucatiOn, we're indispensable conditions Of good
citizenship. Their future may not be what
theorists predict, but it VIII be auspicioUs.
THE sOUTH'5 WONDERFUL FORBEAR-
ANCE.
Ero,,.Jd Tho rom orIrob1o conduct oF +ho
white population of the South hurled from po-
litical power, defeated in war, wasted j. all
resources, wounded in every household in the
loss of husband, son or father, 9ll Industries
subverted, and tOs be refoun0ed on
new basis; and worse than all,
to see their late slaves changing places with
their masters, holding the reins of legislation
under foreign leadership, IS it wonderful that
at such revolution, cOnYulslOn rather,
Southern citizens often mistOOk the way of
duty, that some rude remedies Of violence I
were practiced, that some counter methods Of 3
violence were attempted?
WORKING OUT THE EVILS.
These things are not to be justified. but is it
not now matter Of transCendent wonder
that evils were so few and that the patience
and self-contrOl of the Southern peOple so
soon readjusted the whole Industrial and civil
economy l glory in the history, which, with
all its infrmities and blemishes yet presents
to the world the most notable instance Of the
force OF self-goVernment that has ever Oc-' 3
Cured in history. On one or two points
allow me TO be explicit.
INTERMARRIAGE NOT RECOMMENDED.
l do not think it wise that whites and blacks
should mix blood, yet 1t is their right and
liberty to do so If they choose, but it is to be
discouraged on the ground of humanity. The
slaves are free. They must come under the
universal law as to their social position. No
legislation can put ignorance and knowledge
On the level OF Incidence and
industry, virtue and vice, rudeness and
refinement. The household is to be free to
choose its company. No obstruction should
be put in the path Of education. All Oppcr-
tunities for development should be sacFedly
kept open to every class and every encour-
agemenb given to industry, wealth, refine
ment and good citizenship.
THE POLITICAL MELENIUM.
After that society must be free, SO far as
legislation is concerned, to choose its own
partnerships. and now that a new era and re-
adjustment of all the national questions has
been reached, am for the welfare of an unA
divided nation and l belong in detail to that
party which shall best serve the interests CT
the whole land. L am not a slave of either.
Party is my servant. I am not lis
slave. The administration, with that strong
and Just man, Cleveland, at its head, has my
hearty support and my full confidence, not
because it is Democratic, but because it is ma
tlOnal, patriotic, and adapted to the eXI-
gences OF the hour, Should it fail in its ma
CiOnal duty, shall still seek the honor and
welfare of this great nation, but by another