Year: 1866

is the meaning OF the Presidents receptions at
every point along his journey.


The New Pilgrims Progress-BrotherB Beecher


and Ben Butler Part Company.


For long while past Brother Beecher and
Ben Butler have been travelling the same road.
Butler joined Beecher at the beginning Of the
late war, and they both talked negro and
interesting to observe the different departments
of the two pilgrims. Beecher, who had thrown
away his Sharps rifle, OF Kansas fame, passed
along with his hands folded his lips moving in
prayer and his eyes turned devoutly upward.
OF course he made many stumbles, but still he
kept steadfastly upon his way, looking neither
to the right hand nor to the left, while above
him lowered bright angel, leading and guild
ing him. Butler, however, although upon the
same road as Beecher, met with many more
adventures. AS he trotted on he swore at
every obstacle, while Beecher prayed. Then,
too, he would switch off the track to insult
women and rob adjacent houses Of pianos and
silver spoons and Bermuda Hundred wine. AT
one time he was lost in ditch, called the
Dutch Gap canal; at another he was bottled
up, like the imp in the Arabian Nights, and at
another he declared that Fort Fisher could not
be captured when General Terry had already
taken it. A mason at Lowell gave him an an
noying check, and at Big Bethel he came out
at the little end of the horn. Always bobbing
about, talking fight but never showing it, with
an eye to the spoils instead of the enemy, and
more ready to storm bank vault than fort,
Butler trusted for protection, not to Beecher's
angel, but to well-known character who
dresses in black, loves birthstone, has forked
tail, and is popularity supposed 10 take care Of
his own.


The people wondered to see these singularly
consorted pilgrims travelling together, the one
all prayer and the other all viciousness. Still
il was evident that there was some sort of a
companionship between them at this period
for ever and anon they would link arms at an
election and rejoice together over political
success. Beecher's thoughts were too much
upon heavenly things for him to scrutinze
Buffers conduct very closely, and perhaps he
imagined that the hero of Big Bethel must be
great warrior because he Dragged and blus-
tered so much and SO imperatively insisted
turned piously upwards, could not observe the
spoons sticking out OF Buffers pockets, nor
the quantity of other peoples furniture which
he had strapped, Ike John Browns knapsack,
upon his back. So it happened that, about
two years ago, when these two pilgrims rested
for awhile at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, upon the
occasion Of apublic reception given to Butler
by the loyal leaguers of this city, Beecher made
a speech, in the course of which he nominated
Butler for President. Butler made speech
also, and pretended to be very patriotic and
conservative, very anxious for the restoration
of the Union and the return Of the rebellious
Southerners 10 their allegiance. The pilgrims
were in such happy harmony that everybody
was delighted, and when they started off once
more, the ubiquitous Wetmore ssrewed their
path with bouquets Of flowers and the HERALD
magnanimously gave them its benedlction,
after ascertaining that no spoons were missing
at the hotel.


But it came to pass that as these pilgrims
journeyed on their way they learned that
Grant, Farragut Sherman, Sheridan, Thomas


and our brave soldiers and sailors had sup
pressed the rebellion, and soon afterwards
they arrived at point where two roads met.
That to the right had finger post upon which
were the words Peace, Restoration, Reunion,
Happiness, Prosperity and Power, and i
seemed TO lead upward to sublime and glow
ing heights of national glory. That to the left
had finger post very differently inscribed, for
upon it were the words Civil War. Disunion,
Reputation, Misery, Woe and Anarchy, and it
pointed grimly downward to dark and dismal
depths of wretchedness and shame. Beecher's
good angel led him by the right road, but But
Ter, after considering that there were no
chances for silver spoons and other plunder
along that route, deliberately marched TO the
left, thus parting company with his fellow pill
grim. The wise, patriotic, Christian and states
manlike letter Of Brother Beecher which we
published on Sunday shows that he has Sc
lected the true course and that II agrees with
him, and all good men viii cheer him on. The
blood and thunder speech of Ben Butler (which
we published last week, is an evidence that he
has become more demoralizcd than ever; for he
now asserts that the only right remaining to
the Southern people Is the right to be hanged,
and talks about getting up rebellion q. the
North to make q raid upon our valuables as he
did upon those Of the South. In vain will poor
Greeley and twaddling Tilton and the radical
trustees of Plymouth church attempt to bully
Brother Beechor into going back to the cross
roads and taking the other turn with Butler.
II is too late for him to cast in his lot with
Thad Stevens and Satan Butler may rant and
rave and paddle his canoe upon the lake OF
fire and birthstone, but Beecher has chosen
that good part which shall never be taken
away from him.