HENRY WARD BEECHER ON-ENGLAND.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 76, 15 June 1868, Page 144

HENRY WARD BEECHER ON-ENGLAND.

The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher preached a remarkable and eloquent sermon on Thanksgiving-day, in which he reviewed the issues of the American War, which he contended had had a great influence upon Europe. America was now “the moral instructor of all European peoples.” As to England he said:— T ;

“First in order, Great Britain acknowledges: the; influence. No one I think, will deny that the recent Reform Bill in Great Britain is the firstfruits of that great struggle and victory of the American Government over rebellion. The power of the people, their energy and skill in war; their unexpected resources, both military and pecuniary ; their perseverance; the | maintenance of,law, and the preservation of order, in short, the whole spectacle of what a self-governed people could do under a; critical and tremendous emergency —this exerted an influence which no arguments nor eloquence could have exerted. This influence rekindled the zeal of reformers, gave new tone to public conscience, gave a moral impetus which it was not thought wise to resist; and our victory is echoed by another victory of human rights in England. It is the firstfruits of the harvest, there however, are other fruits yet to come. Whatever may' be the first use made of suffrage,. . the inevitable result after- a ‘while must be the destruction of some of the characteristic features of the present English society and government. It is just as certain as that corn will bring com, and wheat will bring wheat. The land system of Great Britain must and will be radically changed. The laws which regulate the acquiring, owning, and transmission of land are; in influence upon the national condition, next to the natural physical laws. Popular liberty cannot exist without the ownership of land. The .English yeomanry will die out, or the land will come back into their hands. What that process shall be by . which this takes place no man is wise enough to discern. The general result we may safely -predict. Neither will a voting people long endure . the monstrous mesalliance between Church and State. Whatever shadow or pretence or benefit there once, was, there cannot bo any now in such an alliance. There will be a divorce ere long-that will remove loads spiritual from the English Government.' It; is but a question of time. This, too,,Caine,from suffrage; and suffrage was the rebound of our struggle. The disgraceful ignorance of the English laboring, classes has passed its midnight; and the morning of intelligence .is surely coming. It will not .be long before the men that hold the,vote wUL demand intelligence for tbeir-children"and they will not then take it as a whether parcelled out by the or offered by the consecrated handshf priesthood. Education is mot a,thing that descends from any;; source, .except from God. Otherwise; education-is something that grows out fifom people and belongs; to them;; It is; not a privilege sent, downfrom reigning powers. It is hut the'opening of -manhood which belongs tq ; manhood. They will ..demand i^glitl’frrt'"will : be ‘ free because it is. their own; • not a boon nor a charity—a right.. Every man on the globe has a right to intelligence. Men - are; finding-out that intelligence in the.-^oimgj'4&^;i^s;hnabled : a hun- . dred men to govern a million. Intelligence for liberty will be mightier than intelligence for - despotism. When Great Britain is diyided into free-school districts, England will .take, a, npyr lease of life and, of glory., .1 have no particle of sympat}iy; with those tHat look with . ple^urev.p9^^S’b|.de^y|i^f':biir;''old ’ . in the; piosperityKof < the? stock from which ieve on> tHe^lphefiyucl^e^p^ai; never . 5 uv -, giob&”^