San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-09
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1885.
sgEcHER's PREMoNITIoNs.

Beecher, the old man eloquent of Ply
mouth pulpit, the most eloquent
preacher Of this century, and the most
noted divine in many particulars that
America has ever produced, is nearing
the end of his remarkable career. The
intirmities of age are not crowding hard
upon him. There is no special abate-
ment OF his natural fierce. His eye
shows no signs of dimness, nor his mind
Of decay. None the less, however, does
the old divine feel the approaches of age
and he has been admonished thereby.
His recent slight attack has alarmed his
friends, and induced them to send their
old counsellor, teacher and spiritual d.
rector upon his summer vacation full
month earlier than usual. Mr.. Beecher
makes no cOncealment Of the fact that
he considers his work almost al an end,
and does not hesitate to say that he
hardly expects again to be heard in
Plymouth pulpit. He is of the impress
sion that he will not live out
the year upon which he has entered,
and thinks that an apoplectic stroke
will carry him off suddenly, perhaps be-
fore his return to these shores. He has
a singular ambition to see and aid Glad
stone in his work for Irish reform. He
sails with his wife for Europe next
week, and will offer his services to Glad
stone to make speeches for the liberal
party during the ensuing election cam
paign. 1t is just In the line OF Mr..
Beecher's life work to undertake such q
labor Of love for his old friend and cor
respondent, the great English leader.
No matter what else may be said or de-
MED concerning Mr.. Beecher, his intense
love of liberty will not be questioned;
his deep and abiding faith in humanity,
his belief in the masses, his warm advo-
cacy Of all measures aiming to restore
to the people their civil and political
rights, his deep sympathy with the OPP
pressed, and his chivalric devotion to
the cause of popular liberty, will be
everywhere conceded. The struggle of
the liberal party in parliament, to restore
to Ireland the ancient rights of which
she has been dispossessed, has found in
the old Plymouth preacher most in
tensely interested spectator. Every
phase OF that movement he has carefully
noted. His large warm heart beats as
responsibility to the call OF Ireland as
though he was himself lineal descend
ant Of the old sod. As he renews the
situation and forecasts the coming strug-
gle he scents the battle, and his blood
courses more swiftly through his veins
as he centemplates taking possible
hand in the coming contest. He remem-
bers his labors for America in England,
aquarter Of century since, when he
stemmed the tide Of popular feeling
against this government and reversed
the adverse verdict of that country. To
revisit the scenes OF that old triumph and
raise his voise once more for popular
liberty, for the liberty of Ireland now,
not America, seems to be his one ambi-
ton. The purpose is worthy Of the man
and If the occasion for his services offers
the man will be found worthy the OPP
portunity he has sought. In any event
there will be million eager eyes on this
side the broad Atlantic will follow his
course with deepest interest and
million warm hearts will bid
him God-speed on his journey and
a safe return to his Brooklyn home.
THz prohibition organs that complain
the country over of the undue influence
exercised by the liquor element, the sa-
loon-keeper and all interested, in poll
tics, should take to themselves the les
sons they read others. Mixing politics
and whisky, the very thing of which the
prohibitionists complain, is the very and
express purpose for which prohibition
were instituted. This max
ing political question Of the restrain
ing or INDUCING ola physical appetite
is opposed to the good sense Of men at
large. The Inhibition must come In