A Christianity that tells man what his origin is--of God; his destiny, to God again; his errand on earth, to grow toward goodness, and make the most of himself--this Christianity is rank rebellion in despotisms, and insurrection on plantations.
Beecher describes a Christianity that promotes personal growth and challenges oppressive systems.
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Having given to America its ideas and its institutions, I think the North is bound to stand by them.
It will go on to a crisis; its settlement will be an era in the world's history, either of advance or of decline.
The South, the truest representation of Absolutism under republican forms, is mightier in our National Councils and Policy to-day than New-England, the mother and representative of true republicanism and the whole free North.
It is the only basis on which the poor, the ignorant, the weak, the laboring masses can entrench against oppression.