New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-14
Swisshelm About Beecher.
Mrs. Swisshelm writes to the Chica
Tribune as follows:

| MIS-. oWlssheim writes to the Chlcag
Tribune as follows:
SIR-Please let me state my reasons fo
differing with you on the Beecher Bower
case. l think it would be unwise for ths
Congregational Union to attempt any inves
ugation OF it, because it Is matter which
| SO primarily concerns Messrs. Beecher
| Bowen, and Tilton that no one has a righ
| TO interfere, except at the instance of Oue
| or more of those three men. If Messrs
| Bowen and Tilton have slandered Mr.
! Beecher, it is Mr. Beecher's business to de
inand redress. If he does not choose to dc
so; if he prefers to forgive and forget, who
has right to say nay7 Has that gentle mau
been officially declared of "unsonnd mind -
| and had d guardian appointed? People
may think he needs one, and that his treat
| ment Of this story proves insanity; but,
until he has been pronounced insane, his
forgiveness of personal injuries is nobody s
business; and no one has u right to question
his motives, since no one has been injured
by his magnanimity.
If, on the other hand, the story afioat is
true, look at the position of Mr.. Tlton |!
What knight of the Olden time of chivalry
ever stood for his lady against such fearful
Oddsg The man who could attack hun in
such place is a coward, l care not under
what pious pretense he wells that attack. A
husband who could SO guard SHINING wife
deserves to take rank amid the Doblest of
the martyrs; and, if the Congregational
Church has the honor of developing such q
Christ-like example of selt-immolation and
heroic devotion to q sense of duty, even
though it may be mistaken one, it can
well afford to bear any weight of Mr.. Beech
er's weakness.
As for the Union going into such hunt
with Mrs. Woodruff and her hopeful sister
at its head, think shall have sufficient
warning To take my name off the roll of
membership before the start. l do not pro
pose to be one of those who shall congre-
gate around Mr.. Tilton's residence to clap
hands, hailoo and shout:
Seize him, Wei Catch him, Claf1in!"
Ii the Congregational Union is to get up a
grand rat-hunt and send its terriers inro
Mr.. Til'on's cellar, pantry and bed ROOM
may l be good ways off. No woman's
rights association ever did get me to fellow
ship Mrs. Woodruff, and if the Congrega-
tioDal Union proposes to take her for a
leader. l, at least, will not be one of the
led. When a story from such source can
throw a large religious denomination into
commissions, it is time for individuals who
wish to avoid commissions TO get outside such
organization.
The worst that can be believed is Mr..
Bsecher's guilt, Of which we have no proof;
butt even granting it, what has the Church
OF the world to gam by nosing after his phi
vate sins There Is no complaint that there
is anything wrong in his teaching. He is
not using bis influence to make sin popular;
he is not apologizing for it; but, on tho con
trary, his public attitude OF denial is a CON
domination of the sin, and, if it condemn
himself, that stands between him and bis
Judge. ITO his own Master he standeth or
falleth"
No one can deny that God endowed him
with special gift of teaching; has inspired
him with great truths and power of utter
aDce which have made him a messenger of
good to millions. He has been, to his age,
= cup OF Overlooking with precious |
iranghts Millions have drunk from the |
brim and been refreshed tor duty Sha |
W. break the cup because there lis - haw III |
it, We all acknowledge that Gud puts His |
treasure into earthen vessels. Is He under |
any obligation to use only those made of |
he finest clay and in the most excellent |
formhi Has He not an undoubted right to
put the most precious portions of that
reasure into the ugliest brown mug He
,yer made.
No matter how coarse the CLAW of
which Mr.. Beecher may be made, no matter
low crooked or missha pen. he is full and
nnning over with precious truths-truths
rqnired for the healing of this nation; he
: Gods messenger, and, 80 long Ms his mes
age is right, SO long as the shape and sub
tance of the cup do not injure the con ents.
o long we have nothing to do with the cup;
ut his case is only one more evidence Of
he truth of what we call compensation.
mall people, like myself, whether they be-
eve him innocent or guilty, may take com
,rt that. after all he has heavy load to
AIRY. and modify our envy of his talents
18th compassion for his wrongs or for his
eakness. Those who think the worst of
i'm may be consoled for their parative
Significance by the thought that they can
0 to sleep nights without hating them
'lves, as one OF his moral sense must do if
, have been so overcome by evil, and
ragged through the miro at the chariot
heels Of ungodly lusts
JANE GREY SWISSHELM.