Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-15
Beecher'S Statement.

L
That denial now repeat and reaffirm. / also
stated in that communication that l should
appear befor your committee with more de-
tailed statement and explanation of the facts
in the case. For this, the time has now
| come. Four years ago Theodore Tilton tell
from one of the proudest editorial chairs in
| America, where he represented the cause OF
religion, humanity and patriotism and IN a
few months thereafter became the associate
and repres entatve of Victoria Woodruff and
her strange cause. By his follies he was
bankrupt in reputation, in occupation and IN
resources. The interior history OF which l
am now to give an outline, is history OF his
attempts to so employ as to restore his repu-
tation, reinstate him in business and place
him again on the eminence from which he
had fallen lit is a sad history, to the full
meaning of which have but recently awak-
ened Entapgled in a wilderness of compli-
cations l followed until lately false theory
and delusive hope, believing that the friend
who assured me of hi, determination and
ability to control the passionate vagaries OF
Mr.. Tllton, to restore his household, to re-
build his fortune and to vindcate, me would
be equal to that promise.
| His self-confessed failure has made clear
to me what for long time did not suspect
as the real motive of Mr.. Tilton.
| My narrative does not represent single
standpoint, only, as regards my opinion OF
Theodore Tilton. 1t begins at my cardinal
| intimacy with him in his earlier career; shows
my lamentation and sorrowtul but hopeful af-
lection for him during the period of his initial
| wanderings from truth and virtue. 1t de-
scribes my repentance over evils Detailing
him, of which was made to believe myself
the cause; my persevering and friendly de-
spairing efforts to save him and his family by
any sacrifice of myself, not absolutely dis
honorable, and my growing conviction that
his perpetual follies and blunders rendered
his recovery impossible. | can now see that
he is and has been from the beginning of this
difficulty a selfish and reckless schemer
pursuing plan Of mingled good and hatred,
and weaving about me network of suspicion
MISUNDERSTANDING, plots and lies, to which
my own innocent words and acts, nay, even
my thoughts of kindness towards him have
been made to contribute. These successive
views of him must bekept in mind to explain
my course through the last four years. Tha
was blind so long as to the real motive OF
the intrigue going on around me was due
partly to my own overwhelming public en-
gagements, partly to my complete surrender
of the affair and all papers and questions
connected with it, into the hands of Mr.
Moulton who was intensely confident that ht
could manage it successfully. Mr.. Moulton
was chary to me of Mr.. Tllton's confidence
to him, reporting to me occasionally in a gen
eral way Mr.. Tilton's words and out break
of passion only as elements of trouble which
he was able to control, and as additional
proofs of the wisdom Of leaving it to him.
His comments of the situation seemed tc
lae at the time complete, immersed as | was
in incessent cares and duties, and only toe
glad to be relieved from considering the de-
tails and wretched complications, the origir
and the facts of which remain in spite of al
friendly Intervention, perpetual burden &c
my SOUL"
would not read in the papers about it.
would not talk about it. l made Mouton fol
long time my confident and my only chan
mel of information. From time to time. sus
picions were aroused in me, by indications
that Mr.. Tilton was acting the part of an en-
envy, but the suspicious were rapidly allayet
by his own behavior towards me in Othel
moods and by the assurances of Mr.. Moulton
who ascrbed the circumstances to a misun
derstanding or to malice on the part of others
1t is plain to me now that it was not unit
Mr.. Tilton had fallen into disgrace and los
his salary that he thought it necessary to as
sail me with charges which he pretended tt
have had in mind for six months.
The domestic offence which he alleged wa:
very quickly and easily put aside, but in sucl
q way as to keep my feelings stirred up in or
der that l might, through my friends, be uset
to extract from Mr.. Bowen $1,000, the amount
of claim between them. The check for tina
sum in hand, MIR. Tilton signed an agree
ment of peace and concord, not drawn by me-
but accepted by me as sincere. The Colder
Age had been started. lie had the capital t.
carry it on for a while. He was sure he was
to head a great social revolution. With re-
turning prosperity, he had apparently nc
griefs which could not be covered by his sig
nature to the articles of peace.
Yet the change in that covenant made by
him before signing it and represented to me
as necessary merely to relieve him from i'm.
l putation of having originated and circulated
certain old and shameless ISLANDERS about me
were really made, as now appears, to leave
him free for future operations upon me and
against me.
Il SO long as he was, or thought he was or
the road to a new success, his conduct TOWARD
me was as frank as he knew how to make it
His assumption Of superiority and magnani
nifty and his patronizing manner were tritle,
at which could afford to smile, and which
bore with the greatest hamility, since l still
retained the profound impression Of the truth
of the narrative that l had been cause oil
overwhelming disaster to him, and that hi,
complete restoration to public standing ant
household happiness was a reparation justly
required of me, and the only one which
could make. But with peculiar genius fol
blunders, he fell almost at every step into new
complications and difficulties, and in every
such instance his policy was to bring coercion
to bear upon my honor, my conscience ant
my affections for the purpose of peIceivins
his extrication at any expense.
Theodore Tilton knew me well. He sait
again and again to his friends that if they
wished to gain any influence over me they
must work upon the sympathetic sense of m,
nature. TO this he has addressed himsel
steadily for four years, using as lever with
out scruple, my attachment to my friends ant
to my family to his own household, to renew
my old affection for himself.
Not blind to his faults, but resolved to lool
on him as favorably and hopefully as posi-
Bile, and ignorant of his deeper malice, l la
bored earnestly, even desperately for his sal
walton for four years. l have been trying t.
feed the unsuitable egotism to make the mai
great as he conceived himself to be, to restore
a prosperity and public confidence to one
who, in the midst OF my efforts IN his behalf
patronized disreputable people and doctrines
refused when besought him TO separate him