Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-08-27

s. 1872. He further says that this letter was
written for the purpose of being shown TO him. /
had no idea of such a thing being done, us the
letter shows plainly enough on its face and did
not authorize any such use of that letter. which
was supposed by me TO be written and received
In the most sacred confidence. L am now in
formed an inspection of the original would
doubtless refresh my memory concerning the
circumstances, but this Mr. Moulton denies to
me.
The letter of Mrs. Tilton, which is here partly
quoted is as follows:
"THuRsDAY.
II leave for the West Monday next. How glad
! was TO learn you were your own self SUNDAY
morning. Theodore's mind has been hard to-
ward you of late and think he proposes an in
terview with you, BY word or note before leaving
home. If So, be not cast down. / hear this
almost always, but the God in whom trust
viii deliver us all safely. | know you do, and
are willing abundantly to help him, and also
know your embarrassment | anticipate my
Western trip, where l may be alone with him.
now come in my narrative to give an account
of the origin of the somewhat famous tripartite
agreement Shortly after the foregoing letter
was written, Mr.. Tilton returned to the CITY
thoroughly discouraged with the result of his
lecturing tour. The Golden Age, which had then
been established for about twelve months, had
not succeeded, and was understood To he losing
money. His pceuniary obligations were press
ing, and, although his claim against Bowen for
violating his two contracts had year previously
been put under the exclusive control of Moulton,
with a view of settlement, Ii had not yet been
effected. About this time Mr.. Moulton, who was
sick, sent for me and showed me galley proof
of the article prepared by Mr.. Tilton for the
Golden Age, and which has since been published
in the Brooklyn papers. in which he embodied
copy OF letter written by him to Mr.. Bowen,
dated Ian. /, 1871, in which he charged Bowen
with making scandalous accusations against my
moral character. This was the first time that
had ever seen those charges, and had never
heard of them except by mere rumor-Mr. Bowen
never having at any time said word to me
on the subject. | was amazed al the pro-
posed publication. | did not then under
a 20 nf o.
to such ISLANDERS. My firm impression was
that Mr.. Tilton designed, under cover of an at
tack upon me in the name of another, to open the
way for the publication of his own pretended
personal grievances. ! protested against the
publication in the strongest terms. but was in
formed that il was not intended AZ hostile act to
myself but to Mr. Bowen did not any the less
insist upon my protest against this publication,
On It's being SHOWN to Mr.. Bowen, | said |
would think 1t over, and perhaps write some
thing. This was Friday or Saturday, The GOV.
enaut appeared on Friday morning, and the
alarm was sounded on me immediately that Theo-
dore would do something dreadful If not re.
strained. On Sunday had made up my mind 10
write to Mr. Moulton the following letter garbled
extracts of which are given in Mr.. Iflton's state
ment:
my DEAR FRASK--The whole earth IL tran
quill. The heaven Is serener, as BELTS who
has about finished this worlds life. | could do
nothing on Saturday. My head was confused, but
a good sleep has made il like crystal | have de
termncd 10 make no more resistance. Theo-
dores temper is such that the future, even item
| filled with abrupt changes, and rendering
me liable at any hour or day to be
| Obliged TO stultify all the devices by which
| we saved ourselves. 1t IL only fair that he
| should know that the publication of the card
| which he proposed would leave him far worse of
| than before the agreement was made. After my
| letter through you was written he had had ii a
| year. He had Condoned his wife's fault; he had
| enjoined upon with the utmost earnestneSs
| him to blight ! had honestly and earnestly
| Joined In the purpose, Then his settlement was
| made aud signed by him. 1t was not my making.
He revised his part that II should wholly suit
| him. and signed IL. 1t stood unQucstioned for
more than year, Then 1t was published; moth
| ing hat that. That which he did in private,
| when made public, excited him to fury, and he
| charges me with making him appear as one gra-
| ciously pardoned by me. II was his own deliber-
ate act, with which he was perfectly content till
others saw it, and then he charges grieyous
| in haste, and shall write for the pub
| lie a statement that will bear the light
me and mine When look on earth it
| Is deep night; when look on the heavens above
] see the morning breaking; but oh! that could
| put In golden letters my deep sense of your
disinterested friendship. Your whole life too,
has been one of Gods comtorters. II Is such
| life that renewed a waning faith in maphoOd.
! Now, Frank, / would not have you waste any
more energy on hopeless task with such man
| rs +. T. There IL no possible salvation for any
| that depend upon him. With a strong nature,
| he does not know how to govern II: with gener-
| Gus impulses, the undercurrent that rules him
| Il self; with ardent affection, he cannot love
| long that which does not repay but with adj
| miration and praise; with strong theatre ma
ture, he IN constantly imposed upon with the idea
| that position, a great stroke, coup d'etat, Is
| the way To- success, Besides these he has a hun
| dred good things about him, but these named
| traits make him absolutely unreliable There
| fore there Is no use In further trying. have n
strong feeling upon me, and IL brings great peace
| with IL, that am spending my last Sunday and
| preaching my last sermon. Dear, good God,
| thank Thcel / am, indeed, beginning to feel II
| rest and triumph The pain Of life II but mo-
| ment; the glory of the everlasting emancipation
| il worthless, inconceiyable, fun Of breaking
glory. ON; my beloved Prank, shall know you
| IN. w b.
| Mr. Bcecher here details his efforts to prevent
| the scandal being made public which wac threat
ened by the trial Of TiltOn by the church, and
| says Of 'Hilton: was so determined 10 carry out
my pledges to Mouton for him, and do all in
| human power to save him even from himself that
| was ready 10 resign II that would stop the
| scandal. wrote letter Of resignation, not re-
| ferring TO the charge against me, but declaring
| that had striycn for years to maintain secrecy
| concerning scandal affecting family IN the
| church, and that az ] had failed ] herewith re-
signed This letter was never sent. little calmer
| thought showed me how futile It would be TO stop
| the trouble, mere useless sacfiHce but showed
| IL to Mr.. Moulton. and possibly he copied IL.
| have found the original of IL In my house. IT |
| could at this moment remember any Of the other
| letters which have written to Mr.. Moultou !
would do so. If he hns reserved all my illusions
| of feeling he must have large collection. |
wished him to bring them all before the commit.
| tee. should have been glad TO get such hints
| they may contain 70 refresh my recollection of
| facts aud sequences. have no fear Of their full
| and fair publication, for, though they would
| doubtless make a sad exposure OF my weakness,
| grief and dependency they do not con
| tain "A line coniessing such guilt as has
| been charged upon me, or word incon-
| sistent with my innocence, nor any other
| spirit than that Of = generous remofsc
| great and more and more irrcparable evil. But
however intense and numerous may be these
pressiOna OF grief they cannot possibly state
the anxiety which constantly felt for the future,
the perils Of which il IL clear did not exag-
gerate. nor the sorrow and remorse which felt
| originally on account OF the injury which sup
| posed had unwittingly done 70 beloved family,
| and afterward for the greater injury which be-
| came satisfied had done by my unwise, blind,
aud useless efforts TO remedy that injury, only
| II proved. at the expense OF my own name, the
| happiness Of my own family and the peace OF my
| own church.
CONCLUSION.
GENTLEMEN or THE COMMITTEE: In the note re-
anesting your appointment ! asked that you
should make a full investigation Of all the
| sources of information. You are witnesses that
! ! have in no way Influenced or interfered with
| your proceedings or duties. ! have wished the
| investigation to be 40 searching that nothing
Il III.