Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-07-04
IHE BEECHER SCANDAL.
Triton Again-A Mass OF Gllttering
Generalities Meaning Nothing
"WOrds, Mere Words"
Another Statement from the Editor OF
the Golden Age-Beeeher Chal-
legged for the Facts-Etc.

.
editorial charge to Mr.. W. 7. Clark.
will also contain 8 further article or th,
TiltOn- -Beecher scandal, which thOs,
who have seen it interpret as quite let
ting-dOwn on Tilton's part. The follow
ing are the important parts of this sec
Ond remarkable paper, which, the GOIde7
Age says, Is written to correct the misap
prehensiOns created by the letter to DR.
Bacon: "He had been assailed by DR.
Bacon, who was led to believe that ht
wss q scandal-mOnger and falsifier who
had tried 20 ruin the most beloved o.
ministers. Mr.. Tuton's character and
standing as q man among men were in
vOlved, and silence on his part was 8
tacit acknowledgement Of the justice Of
Dr. Bacon's aspeTsiOns and the correct
ness Of the erroneous statements by
which they were supported. One SEN
tence from Mr.. Beecher's lips or pen
would have drawn the poisoned arrow,
and healed the smart. Mr.. TiitOR called
Mr.. Beecher's attention to the offensive
statements, and in the presence Of two
witnesses told him that unless be cor
rected the misrepresentation in his way
it would he necessary for himself to cor
rect them in his own way, which woul
be severe. Weeks passed, and no cor
rectiOn wss made. Longer silence on
his part was impossible. Mr.. TiitOn is
accused of intending 10 strike Mr..
Beecher q staggering if not fatal
blow. Whoever reads his letter with
care will see that he studiOUsly RETAINED
from striking any blow at all, save at
8 thick network of calumny and mis-
representation that had been adroitIy
Tsnr hfa n orI an nd
ultimately, destruction. His sole pur-
pose was to save himself, after years Of
silence and endurance; and when a Ion
ger silence and endurance would have
been fatal, aud he refrained from men,
tioniBg Mr.. Beecher at all, except as it
was necessary to do, in order TO set him
self right, his reticence in this respect
deserves eommendatiOn. If in order to
vindicate himself be was obliged to lift
the curtain, and expose { series of disIn-
genuOus and inexcUsaOle transactions,
il certainly was not his fault. If Mr..
Bseeher wishes to exculpate himself; if
Plymouth church wishes TO vindicate
the character Of the pastor, the way is
open, and the world will await the issue
with envious sOliciiude; but so far was
it from being Mr.. TiltOn's purpose to in
jure Mr.. Beecher in any way, his sole
hesitation to publish the letter was the
fear that it might iDjure Mr.. Beecher.
He said to personal friends, who urged
its publication, that be shrank from say
ing one word that could add a parg to
Mr.. Bseeher's already pierced and tor
tured heart. He said: 'I would not lay
so much IS a finger on that sad and sor-
rowing head. l would not rise by
NlnH1
has been Mr.. Tnton's prevailing
temper Of mind and way Of speech.
He regretted nothing so much as
the necessity which forced him to say
anything about the matter whatever.
If Beecher is smitten he has only hin-
self and his friends to blame for the
blow, but the essential point in this
whole controversy remains untouched.
With the scandal itself we have moth
ing to do; that IS a matter for Plymouth
church and its pastor to deal with. If
there is a skeleton in their closet, they
will probably hasten to open the door
and let daylight shine through its dark
plsce. Webster said suicide under the
weight Of an accusation was confession
of guilt. There are circumstances in
which silence is suicide. But one thing
III Nul6 hAOAE AaAAEA II 81 EVlEDAEulua
and grand that it deserves q notice it
has not received. We refer to the toll
GRAFTON, the sympathy, the s0lieitude Of
the American people for a great and
useful man under 3 cloud Of suspicious
thick and heavy enough to crush an or
dinsry character beyond recovery.
Had this thing happened twenty-five
years ago, Mr.. Beecher would have been
dragged before an ecclesiastical tribunal
for trial ia less than q month after the
accusations assumed definite share,
and had he tried to preach before that
he might have been moved. To-day
there is scarcely q man OF GOman in
America but hopes be isinDocent OF any
wrong, and tiles to believe him so, in
spite Of the circumstRntial evidence
confirmed oy bis own course. His name
is a precious household word. He has
the sympathy Of fifteen million people,
who bend forward TO save and bless him.
There is something almost sublime in
the spirit and attitude Of the American
people, who resCsc to condemn and de-
grade a great and useful man, even ifin
some moment Of temptation or under
heat Of an impulse only the strongest
natures understand, be did what be
ought not, at least until compelled to
do SO, by the necessities Of the case.
They see the terrible IL Justice Of weigh.
ing 3 whole life Of unequalled service
against a mOmentary infatua-
ton, and throwing thirty-fve years Of
effort for the highest
ends utterly away for what
nay have been done 10 a fit
# frenzy, and II they condemn
lim at all, il will be for his efforts to
.vade and conceal what should have
1een frankly acknowledged, to bis own
1eople at least, and his willingness to
ihield himself by allowing innocence 10
.uffer for his Offense so much, and 50
vast is the increase Of cbaiity, that his
greatest mistake has been in not trust
.ng himself to a people who are proud
Df his fame aud Jealous Of his reputation
Dy a courageous statement OF facts when
It was found that the air was full Of ru-
nors and sUrinises. An ounce OF sim
eerity il worth q world Of cunning. All
that Mr. Tilt0n asks for himself and all
hat his friends demand for him, is JUS
Iice. He conceals nothing that duty 10
3thers and the natural delicacy Of his
does not require him . lock
10 his own breast. he has been guilty
Of nothing but too great confidence in
people and mistakes of
judgment that were prompted by an
impulsive temperament and a yyafm
heart. The act for which he has been
most severely blamed was prompted by
a desire TO save and helD others, and
was done under the heat of a generous
impulse, which made it impossible for
him 10 count the acst 10 himself He
frankly cOnfesses mistake, ior which
he bas paid full dear He asks neither
liberation nor sympathy, but simply for
that justice which il SO natural to the
heart Of the American people, and
which, In the long 40, they are sBre %
render 10 whoever cOnfides in them
without cOncealment or double dealing.