The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-12-09
The Richardson Case.
From the Phila. Evening Bulletin. Dec ID
~ II nj IA ~. v,orr;r,

FROM the FhhA. Evening onllouhi OeC 81 J
Albert d. Richardson died this morning.
If he could be quietly put under ground.
without any further sensational scenes among
the New York apoloRists for adultery. 1t
would be a good thing. But this Is not
Likely to be the case, and decent journals
out of New YoIk have. therefore. duty IT,
perform in repeating their commenda:ion ct
the aduterer, and of the journalists and min
iAtArs of the gospel who have been making
hero and martyr of him for the past few
days. 1t is gratifying to find that few Of
the New York papers have began to take q
proper view Of the case, and now join LIS in
condemning Richardson and his literary and
clerical supporters.
The pretended marriage between Rich
ards,n and the partner of his guilt, which
took place night before last at the Astor
House. W as the grand sensation scene in this
tragic comedy. Ii is shocking TO read the
prayer uttered by Rev. q. B. rockingham
by the dying bed of the adulterer shocking
to read the words of Rev. Henry Ware
RSecher invoking the divine blessing upon
the two guilty people When it is remem-
ber-d that Mrs NJ Farland got her divorce
in Indiana. without the knowledge of her
husband. the legality of such divorce will be
denied by every right-minded person. The
marriage pronounced by Mr.. Beecher was.
therefore. no marriage at all. 1t was an
outrage upon the sacred institution, and an
insult to all yirtuouS men and women. Mr.
Horace Greeley has been regarded a pure
and honorable man but he has forfeited his
right 10 such consider alton by the conspicu-
Gus part taken by MIN at the bedside of his
wicked associate. and by the blazHnry in his
paper of the laudations bestowed by un-
hfpE tha Il Of in
this drama OF sin. Hon. Schuyler CoIfax.
Vice President of the United States. is a
gentleman who, although belnnging to Indi-
ana, has always respected tine obligations of
marriage. and it is impossible that he can
have known all the circumstances Of Rich
aTdsou's conduct. when he telegraphed his
tender message of sympathy and sulicitude.
That George Francis Train should have
done the sane thing was quite natural and
proper but the other prominent men, men, q,
whose kilograms and letters the Tribune has
spread before its readers, acted thnughtless-
ly and from wrong impulse. when they
presented themselves as comfurters to a man
, who had no right to the respect of men who
believe in the sac edneSs Of the marriage tie
But Richardson is dead. ard it would be
we'll if the story of his guilty and wretched
death could die with him. This. however.
will not be allowed. He will have a pom
pous and solemn funeral his pretended wife
will be made q pet heroine; the man who
shot him in frenzy caused by the news
that the wrongs done him mad been aggra-
vated by decree of divorce from the moth :
er of his chidreu. will be tried for his life.
and the whole of the vicious and morbid in
tiuence of the journalists and ministers that
have surrounded the dying adulterer. will
be used to secure his punishment. McFar-
land is condemned already by the papers and
preachers that have been sustaining Rich
ardson. 1t does. not appear that any Of
these parties. literary or clerical. endeavored
to bring Richardson to 8 condition of repent
ance before his death This. at least, should
have been an Object with the ministers Of
the gospel that attended him. Not ole of
them seems 10 have tried to obtain from him
an acknow Judgement that he had sinned.
So far as the death bed scenes have been de
scribed, he appears to have been treated as
the most immaculate of saints might have
been. Nothing was done to prepare him
for meeting the great Judge of the eel done
in the body. The whole affair, in its pro-
gress and its finale. has been shocking and
demoralizing. and the actors in it deserve
the emphatic condemnation Of all honorable
and virtuous men and women.