Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-04-02
BEECHER on THE SOUTH.

The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher delivered
a lecture one night last week in Atlanta,
Ga, on Evolution. While he was in that
city he was interviewed by q reporter for
the Constitution, and exhausted his opinion
about men and things without reserve.
ored people will be of general interest.
81 know of no section of the Union," said
Mr.. Beecher, "with grander future than
the South. Now that disturbing political
issues and the curse Of slavery, which stood
as q barrier between it and the civilized
world, have been removed, the country
will begin to grow and develop in such a
way as to put in the shade the wonderful
progress made by Western communities.
But have seen so little with my own eyes
that perhaps I should leave the statement
of it's advantages to Others"
"What direction will Southern progress
take?"
"The building up of its manufactures
first. Money always seeks profitable in"
vestment. | find that many progressive
men of the South, who have the ears of
Northern capitalists, have secured large
influx Of money, the result of which can be
seen in Atlanta, Chattanooga and Birming-
ham, In time this draws population. The
South, though the richest portion of our
national heritage, was walled in by slavery
in contact with which free labor could no5
come without degrading itself. The hardy
peasantry of Europe who sought our shores,
did so with view of bettering their con"
near the slave line. Take Mississippi, for
instance. There is State blessed by na-
ture, fortified by human inventive genius
and made attractive by wealth, the natural
centre of the United States. Her lands, her
minerals, all were inviting. Yet the great
flood Of immigration rolled over it and kept
on until Kansas was reached, where labor
was the freeman's heritage, and the COM
munity was not weighted down by an IN
cubus from barbarous age. But the events
of the last twenty years have changed all
this, and the incoming of the present Ad-
ministratiOn has set in motion new era IN
part"
sFour years ago." said Mr.. Beecher, af-
ter a pause, "when the Garfield campaign
was in progress, said to my people hoped
to see the day when / might vote for a
Southern man for President. What was
then Il wild dream has now come to be q
reality. There are Southern men now BE-
fore the Democrats-Whom would
vote for to place in the Presidential chair.
| have no names to otfer-it is too early
to name men for the next race, and many
things may happen in four years TO change
the drift of public opinion-but II the elec-
ton were to take place to-day under the
present influences, there are Southern men
who would be we'll thought of in the North
for the Presidency"
"What are the prospects OF the Democrat
ic Administration and its continuance IN
power -"
"Conducting the Government on the high
plane which Mr.. Cleveland has marked out
for it, hearty adherence to the principles
of the civil service law, giving the country
peace and prosperity, there is no reason why
It should not have half dozen terms in the
Presidency The worst danger that could
befall the Democracy now, would be the re-
moval of Cleveland. The accession OF Hen
dricks, representing the ultra Bourbon De-
mocracy, disposing of the offices as rewards
for political services, would throw the coun-
trv back-recall Republicanism into favor:
The conduct of the South during the last
two weeks has been remarkably heroic.
With the Presidency in its possession, 1T has
NOT hnmpered him by pleading for Office,
but has stood by in dignitied manner ana
allowed him to shape affairs in his own way.
The Presidents plan is to fill the responsible
bureau chiefships with representative South
ern men, such men as have influence at
home, and whose appointment will have
more influence than hundred clerks. The
enforcement of the civil service rules will
not destroy party organization. The men
who fill the offices are but barnacles who
really do nothing for party success, are noisy,
and have little influence at home. If some
men who do not get into office are dlsap-.
pointed thereat, and threaten to KICK out OF
partv traces, those who keep in office Will
become Democrats, and thus time Win make