The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-31
REV. HENRY WARD BEECHER
His Views Concerning Past and Present
Relations of the COlOred People.
An Inferential Justification of the Conduct
Of the Southern BulldOzers During
the Reconstruction Era.

LOUISVILLE KY, March 30.-Henry Ward
| Beecher lectured before large audience here
| tonight. In the Courier Journal tomorrow
Mr.. Beecher will say:
'.Allow me to state explicitly my views of the
! past and present relations of the colored peo-
pie.
'First-The state of slavery in the South
| before the war, with all its sophistry, was evil.
and only evil both in its effects upon blacks and
whites alike, and was, the whole both in
morals and political economy exceedingly bad.
A terrible price was paid for the destruction of
the slave system. but it was worth to posterity
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 the
belief of their fitness for suffrage but from
conviction that it necessary for their de-
Tense The tentative legislation of some of the
southwestern States, which, under form of
vagrancy law, seems intended to subject colored
| people to essential slavery. again alarmed
| the North and led to defensory legislation. But
| audacious as was that, the faith in liberty and
| suffrage which led the West and North to give
full citizenship and political power to the eman-
| cipated the result has shown that the colored
people have not fnisused power. ] must say
| that colored voting.snce the war has been fully
| as wise as white voting was before the war;
| The colored people of the South, after
| becoming citizens did not seek revenge
nor mischief. They intended well; it was not
| their fault that many results were evil. 1t was
| bad enough for white citizens to see their late
slaves led by foreign influence. 1t might be
| political necessity; it not any the less
thing grievous to be borne by their white fellow
| citizens. But where the emancipated were
largely In excess of the white voters it amounted
| In fact to the subsection of the white people to
| the legislation of the colored, and in those
| States where legislatures in the power of
| the late slaves, and where Northern men, not
always wisest led them on to foolish and waste
full legislation, increasing taxation and squander-
ing the results of it, plunglng the State deeply
| into debt by an unmercifu issue of bonds, it is
not to be wondered at that something like revo-
| lutionary methods were adopted and self-de-
| Tense led men to violent resistance.
"Third-When, at a little later period history
| no longer under the influence of violent and
| heated passions shall sit in impartial judgment
upon this whole movement of the past quarter
of a century, two results will stand out promi
nently-trst, the admirable conduct of the
slave population during the war; industrious,
orderly humane and peaceful; their great
bravery when the North made them part Of the
army their general good conduct after peace was
established and their thirst for education
as an indispensable condition of good citizenship
Their future may not be what theorists predict
but it will be suspicious Second, the remark
able conduct of the white population of the
South--hurled from political power, defeated in
war, wasted in all resources wounded in every
household. in the loss of husband, son or father:
all industries subverted and to be refounded on
new basis; and worse than ALL to see their late
slaves changing places with their masters and
holding the reins of legislation under
foreign leadership Is it wonderful that at a
time of revolution and CONFUSION, Southern
citizens, often in the way of duty, practiced
| some rude remedies of violence; that some
| methods of violence were attempted These
| things are not to be justified. But is it not
| matter of transcendent wonder that the
evils were SO few, that the patience
| and self-control OF the Southern peo-
pie soon readjusted the whole situation
of civil economy? glory in the history which,
with all its nfirrnities and blemishes, yet pre-
sents to the world the most notable instance of
self-government that has ever occurred.
'On one or two points allow me to be explicit.
do not think it wise that the whites and blacks
should mix bloods, yet it is theirright and liber
ty to do so if they chooses but it
is to be discouraged on grounds of
humanity The slaves are free. They must
come under universal law AS to their social
position no legislation can put ignorance and
knowledge on a level, incidence and industry
virtue and vice. rudeness and refinement The
household is to be free to choose or refuse its
company. No obstruction should be put in the
opment should be sacredly kept open
to every class, every encouragement
should be given to industry, wealth. refinement
and good citizenship. After that. society must
be free, so far legislation is concerned. to
choose its own partnerships.
And now that new era and readjustment Of
all national questions has been reached I am
for the welfare of an undivided nation, and l
belong in DETAIL to that party which shall best
serve the interests of the whole land am
not the slave of either. Party is my
servant. l am not its 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 national, patriotic,
and adapted to the exigencies of the hour
Should it fail in its national duty, shall still
seek the honor and welfare of this great Nation,
but by another road"