The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-05
he Observation-Disclosures Tragcdy-The
vicisus "Isms's or New ENGLAND.

This now celebrated case is 20 far removed
Into the past that we can afford to calmly look
at 1t in all its relations and all its bearings
One OF the three persons mainly concerned in
the affair has passed away from us. His doom
Is sealed. A higher than any human tribunal
has decided whether or not he was a ''true
and pure man" or whether he was a heartless,
self-conceited and deliberate seducer. Another
languishes in felon's cell, awaiting the judg-
ment Of his countrymen and fellow citizens.
The third party-in some respects the most
guilty Of ths taree-enjoys a honeymoon
which is not much more desirable than the cell
or the coffin. We have no desire to fling filth
on the memory Of the man who is now unable
to speak for himself. We have as little desire
to add to the misery of another man, whose
hands are stained with blood, and whose life
must henceforward be a burden to himself.
Mrs. Mcfarland, who has brought one
husband to an untimely death, and who has
brought another husband within view of the
scafold, has, perhaps, sorrow enough to JUS
tify US In leaving her alone. We would will
lingly say no more Of the three principal parties
in this sad affair; but we owe duty to the
public which mercy to individuals will not
warrant us in dsregarding. We have no desire
to review the circumstances for the purpose Of
three. We are willing to let the past be the
past, SO far as that is possible; but looking at
the whole affair from high moral standpoint,
1t may be necessary to reflect on the dead and
to wound the feelings of those who are already
suffering enough.
Looking at this sad business as we look at
it, it is the fruit of a certain class OF prin-
ciples which, rightly or wrongly, seem to us
to be Of New England origin. 1t is a strange
truth, but truth, nevertheless, that like the
on the memory of Lord Byron, this tragedy
must be regarded as the fruition of New Eng
land teaching. Look at the facts of the case
Richardson was q New England man, and to
New England his ashes have been removed to
mingle with those Of his ancestors. Mrs.
Mcfarland Is New England woman, and a
disciple Of the school of Free Love- which is a
New England '.ism." Look at the parties
who have been mixed up in this case-the
Beechers, the Frothinghams, the Greeleys, the
sinclairs, the Calhouns and the others-they
are all Of them New Englanders. Let any
intelligent man or woman examine the case,
remembering the words Of Scripture, ''Thou
shalt not commit adultery" and ''Thou shalt
not covet thy neighbours wife," and then listen
to the words of Mr.. rockingham, Unitariap
clergyman, and of Henry Wrd Beecher,
divine who claims to be representative of
the Pilgrims, and then let it be answered
whether it is matter Of wonder that such
crime should have happened in the midst of
us. Richardson, as Beecher and his friends
knew, avowed his determination to possess
himself of this woman, cohabited with her
while yet she was the wife Of another, and
married her on the strength Of q certificate
which has already been proved to be worth
less in this State; yet Mr.. Beecher accepted
the responsibility Of this unholy marriage,
and dared to speak Of the deceased as
"a true and pure man." But the
WhOiO eAiu5 40 Va % PAcSo, ohu Az 40 A>CW A<AS
land all through. The women's rights women
justified Richardson and his paramour; Henry
Ward Beecher is the President of the Women's
Rights Association; what could the shepherd
do but follow his fockp If the s'true and pure
men" of Plymouth church be such as the I'M
happy man whom the pastor of that church
mas just eulogized as true and pure, the
Plymouth flock must be lambs indeed All
that we have SAID u Mr.. Beecher might be
said with equal truth of MANY Of pis friends
Some Of the disciples of Fourierism, SSssass
names are connected with Brook Farm, have
forgotten their early love. If the conversion
Is genuine we have no ground of complaint;
but the consistency of others of that school
has been amply illustrated IN the case of this
latest and most fragrant transgresson of the
laws of God and man. In oil this behold the
latest rebound from ancient Puritan theology.
1t is not possible to close our eyes to the
fact that some Of this misery has resulted from
other and more special causes. Our boarding
house system is one Of those special causes,
and the easy manner in which divorces are vet
procurable is another. In this country we
are rapidly losing all idea Of home.
In the boarding house in the great
city In winter, in the crowded hotel
in the country In summer, 1t is o
simple impossibility that those feelings which
were wont to give sanctity to hearth and homo
and to all the domestic relations should grow,
blossom and bring forth fruit The boarding
house and the hotel give the opportunity and
present the temptation, and year by year the
ties which bind husband to wife and wife to
husband, parents to children and children to
parents, grow weaker and weaker. Where
the domestic virtues are not cultivated society
soon becomes rotten and it must be admitted